Argentina will now play in a sixth World Cup final after Lionel Messi inspired a 3-0 win over Croatia at Qatar 2022. So what is La Albiceleste’s all-time record in the showpiece FIFA tie?
The South Americans are one of the most successful nations on the global stage and one of just eight champions. But Argentina have not lifted the title since Mexico 1986 when Diego Maradona produced a Golden Ball-winning campaign and beat West Germany in the final.
Messi can now follow in Maradona’s footsteps by leading Argentina to a World Cup title at Qatar 2022. He fell just short at Brazil 2014 when Germany secured a 1-0 win in extra time. The forward could not avoid a quarter-finals exit in 2006 and 2010 and the last 16 in 2018.
What is Argentina’s all-time record in the World Cup final ahead of Qatar 2022?
Qatar 2022 will now see Argentina add a sixth World Cup final to their all-time record after eliminating Croatia. Only Germany (including as West Germany) and Brazil have played in more thus far. They have appeared in eight for four titles and seven for a record five titles.
Italy, who failed to qualify for Qatar 2022, have also won four titles but from six World Cup finals. France, meanwhile, won their second World Cup title in their third final appearance at Russia 2018. No side has ever lost more finals without a title than the Netherlands on three.
Argentina have also lost in three finals to date after suffering defeats in 1930 and 1990, as well as 2014. But La Albiceleste won their first title in 1978 whilst the host nation and took a second crown with Maradona in 1986. They departed in the second round at Spain 1982.
Messi will be desperate to now avoid losing another World Cup final to finally add the only major trophy to elude the iconic attacker. A defeat on Sunday, December 18 would also see Argentina match Germany’s record four defeats in the FIFA showpiece in two fewer finals.
Argentina can become the fourth-most successful World Cup side in the 2022 final
So, Argentina go into the final of Qatar 2022 with an all-time World Cup record of two wins to three defeats across their previous five FIFA showpiece ties. A win on Sunday will see La Albiceleste go fourth behind Brazil (5), Germany and Italy (4) with three titles thus far, too.
The South Americans are currently tied on two titles with France (1998, 2018) and Uruguay (1930, 1950). England (1966) and Spain (2010) are the only one-time champions so far and have also played in just one final each. Uruguay won each of their appearances in the final.
One of Uruguay’s titles also came at Argentina’s expense after they played in the inaugural World Cup final in 1930. So, with that in mind, HITC Football runs through La Albiceleste’s complete record in the FIFA showpiece fixture ahead of the final of Qatar 2022 on Sunday.
Uruguay beat Argentina to win the first World Cup title as the hosts in 1930
Uruguay beat Argentina 4-2 in the 1930 World Cup final to win the maiden title. La Celeste also did so as the host team as FIFA took its tournament to South America to coincide with the centenary of the country’s first constitution. Yet only 13 sides agreed to compete then.
The 1930 edition in Uruguay was also by invite only yet FIFA struggled to entice more sides to feature owing to the travel commitments required. In the end, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Peru joined Uruguay in representing South America over that summer.
Argentina would come through Group 1 after beating France 1-0, Mexico 6-3 and Chile 3-1. They then swept aside the United States of America in the semi-finals with a 6-1 win. But a 4-2 loss to Uruguay saw the title go to the hosts at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.
Argentina would not make another final before winning the 1978 World Cup
Argentina would not make another final before La Albiceleste won it all as the host nation in 1978. The South Americans also crashed out in the first round in 1934, 1958 and 1962. They did not feature in 1938, 1950 or 1954, while later making the quarter-finals in 1966.
Yet it was Italy who topped Group 1 over Argentina with a perfect three wins from three to the South American’s two. The Azzurri beat La Albiceleste 1-0 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires in their last first-round game. Yet Italy then fell out in the second group stage.
Meanwhile, Argentina topped Group B to advance straight to the final where they met the Netherlands, who topped Group A. Mario Kempes would give the hosts the ideal start with a 38th-minute goal, too. But Dick Nanninga would equalise for Oranje in the 82nd minute.
Nanninga’s goal sent the final to extra time but it only took Kempes 15 minutes to restore Argentina’s lead. Daniel Bertoni then secured their win at the Estadio Monumental on 115 minutes. While Kempes’ double saw him finish as the top-scorer (6) and as the best player.
Maradona won Argentina the World Cup and the Golden Ball at Mexico 1986
Maradona made his World Cup debut at Spain 1982 but would not prevent Argentina from departing in the second round. But when Mexico 1986 rolled around, the iconic playmaker was La Albiceleste’s captain and led his team in scintillating fashion to win the Golden Ball.
The Lanus native struck five goals and created a further five over his seven appearances to produce an unbeaten campaign. He created each goal in their opening 3-1 win over South Korea, scored in a 1-1 draw against Italy and hit both to beat England 2-1 and Belgium 2-0.
Then came West Germany in the final led by captain Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Yet Jose Luis Brown (21’) and Jorge Valdano (55’) handed Argentina a 2-0 lead. Only for substitute Rudi Voller to assist Rummenigge (73’) before scoring himself (81’) to pull Die Mannschaft level.
But Maradona was not going to let Voller and West Germany upstage him and found Jorge Burruchaga in the 84th minute. The midfielder’s goal restored Argentina’s lead and proved enough for the South Americans to add to their title from 1978 on foreign soil in Mexico.
West Germany would take their revenge for Mexico 1986 at Italia 90
Argentina would make it to successive World Cup finals as they strived to defend their title from Mexico 1986 during Italia 90. But their trip to Europe would end with disappointment as West Germany took their revenge for four years previous to win the third of their titles.
La Albiceleste’s title defence would not start with a lot of authority, either. Argentina could only finish third in Group B after beating the Soviet Union 2-0 and securing a 1-1 draw with Romania. They also started with a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon, who finished first to Romania.
It meant Argentina only made the knockout stages through having the best ranking among the third-placed teams as four advanced. They would then only edge Brazil 1-0 in the 81st minute in the last 16 and beat Yugoslavia 3-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the quarters.
Another penalty shootout followed against Italy in the semi-finals after a 1-1 draw, which La Albiceleste won 4-3. It appeared like extra time may be required in the final, as well, before Andreas Brehme – who lost in the 1986 final – scored an 85th-minute penalty to win 1-0.
Messi’s magic dragged his country all the way to Rio de Janerio in 2014
Argentina struggled on the World Cup stage during their next five appearances after losing to West Germany at Italia 90. They could not make it any further than the quarter-finals at France 1998, Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010 following the Round of 16 at USA 1994.
They also crashed out in the group stage in 2002 in Japan and South Korea. But Messi had the magic to drag Argentina all the way to the fifth World Cup final in their record at Brazil 2014. Yet the magic ran out in the final as Mario Gotze hit the only goal after 113 minutes.
Argentina needed Messi to carry the nation to get out of Group F with a perfect three wins from three. He almost single-handedly inspired La Albiceleste with a goal in a 2-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, netted in a 1-0 win over Iran and twice in a 3-2 win over Nigeria.
It was the 171-cap icon’s assist that then saw Angel Di Maria break the deadlock after 118 minutes to beat Switzerland in the Round of 16. Gonzalo Higuain would then step up with his only goal at Brazil 2014 over his seven outings to beat Belgium 1-0 in the quarter-finals.
But neither Argentina nor the Netherlands could break the deadlock in the semi-finals as it went to a penalty shootout. Sergio Romero then emerged as the hero after denying Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder to win 4-2. Messi converted with La Albiceleste’s first spot-kick.
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