Retaining the World Cup is historically rare. Italy managed a successful title defense in 1938 and Brazil did the same in 1962, but both second wins came on their home continent; no team has ever retained the trophy at a tournament played so far from home. Argentina heads to the United States as one of the favorites, seeking to buck that history after winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The current Argentina side arrives on the back of a string of trophies: the Copa América in 2021 and 2024 either side of the 2022 World Cup, giving them three consecutive major titles. Before that run, Argentina’s previous Copa América victory dated to 1993.
Argentina also enjoyed a dominant CONMEBOL qualifying campaign. The team finished comfortably atop the table, nine points clear of their nearest rivals, in a marathon schedule that offers few easy matches despite appearances that qualifying can look straightforward because many teams make the cut.
Lionel Messi remains central to the side but is no longer the only source of goals and creativity. Messi will turn 39 during the World Cup and was the team’s top scorer in qualification, yet Argentina produced strong results without him: 3-0 wins away to Bolivia and at home to Chile, a 1-0 victory in Uruguay, and a 4-1 win over Brazil that has been described as perhaps the finest display of the almost eight years under coach Lionel Scaloni. Argentina’s performance in the 2024 Copa América final against Colombia reportedly improved after Messi left the field injured, and the team has been able to rest him occasionally.
Julián Álvarez has emerged from a reserve role at the start of the Qatar campaign into one of Argentina’s most potent weapons, able to play as a primary forward or drop deeper, and his partnership with Thiago Almada looks promising. In the locker room, Messi’s presence is also cited as a motivating factor: Rodrigo De Paul told ESPN, “Anyone who knows Leo knows that wherever he is, winning is the goal.” Former Argentina defender Oscar Ruggeri compared Messi to Diego Maradona and said he believes Messi will lead the team down the right path.
