Argentina are one of the most successful nations in FIFA World Cup history, with the South American powerhouse winning the competition twice in their history and finishing runners-up a joint-record three times.
Whilst it has been 36 years since Argentina’s last success in the competition, La Albiceleste have always remained a favourite to win the World Cup in almost every edition of the tournament since their first triumph back in 1978. And this year is no exception.
With Qatar likely to be Lionel Messi’s last ever World Cup, many are hopeful that the greatest player the sport has ever seen can end his international career on the biggest of highs by finally winning the game’s greatest prize with Argentina. And recent form seems to suggest that there is a strong chance of this happening.
Lionel Scaloni’s side head to Qatar as both Copa America champions and winners of the newly-revamped Finalissima, yet what lessons should Argentina take from their previous triumphs if they’re to win the World Cup for a third time? HITC Football takes a deep dive.
1978 – Argentina controversially win the World Cup on home soil
Argentina had come close to World Cup success on numerous times before they eventually hosted the competition in 1978. The South American side contested the first-ever final in 1930 as Uruguay won 4-2 in Montevideo before making it to the quarter-finals in 1966 and the second group stage in 1970.
With Argentina hosting the World Cup in 1978, expectations were at an all-time high for La Albiceleste to finally claim football’s biggest prize. And win so they did, with Mario Kempes aspiring the host nation to a 3-1 win against the Netherlands. Though to say their triumph was controversial is an understatement, to say the least.
Argentina’s 6-0 second group win against Peru is widely considered one of the most controversial fixtures in World Cup history, with Peruvian officials since coming out that they were politically bribed to throw the match to ensure the host nation would progress to the final, which in of itself was also a messy affair as the Dutch side were seemingly conspired against to ensure they were as ill-prepared for the match as possible.
1986 – Diego Maradona stuns the world in Mexico
The 1986 World Cup is remembered fondly by people of a certain generation as arguably one of the best international competitions football has ever seen, and that’s largely due to one man. Diego Maradona.
The Argentina legend is simply one of the most famous sportsmen to ever live, and the 1986 World Cup in Mexico was the playmaker’s magnum opus, with Maradona stealing the show and guiding Argentina to arguably their most famous win in the competition.
Maradona’s performance against England is still regarded as one of the best and most controversial in all of football, with the attacking midfielder scoring a goal with his hand 51 minutes in before producing what many dads consider the greatest goal the sport has ever seen, as the-then Napoli star slalomed his way through the Three Lions entire squad to make it 2-0 as Gary Lineker and company lost 2-1.
An equally brilliant performance from Maradona against Belgium in the semi-finals booked Argentina’s ticket to the final, where they dismantled West Germany 3-2 to win the World Cup for the second, and so far last, time in their history, with Messi no doubt hopeful of recapturing the spirit of Diego ahead of Qatar.
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