Argentina

🌍 World Cup Story

Argentina have won the World Cup three times (1978, 1986, 2022) and have a rich, turbulent history. In 1978 they won it on home soil under controversial circumstances. In 1986, Diego Maradona single-handedly carried them to the title — scoring the "Hand of God" goal and the "Goal of the Century" in the same quarterfinal against England, then inspiring them to the final. Maradona is widely considered the greatest World Cup performance by an individual in any tournament. After Maradona, Messi — considered his equal as the greatest player in history — joined a generation of near-misses: runners-up in 2014 (lost to Germany in extra time), quarter-finals in 2010 and 2018. Then 2022: the greatest World Cup final in history, Argentina defeating France 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Messi, in his fifth and final World Cup, finally claimed the one prize that had eluded him. In 2026, at 38, he plays one more time.