AFA Historical Records

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Argentina's first ever match was against Uruguay on 20 June 1902 in Montevideo, winning 6–0. The team reached the first World Cup final in 1930, losing 4–2 to Uruguay. Argentina won their first World Cup on 25 June 1978, beating the Netherlands 3–1 in extra time. In 1986, Diego Maradona led Argentina to a 3–2 victory over West Germany. Maradona also led the team to the 1990 final, losing 1–0 to West Germany on a disputed penalty. With Lionel Messi as captain, Argentina reached the 2014 final, losing 1–0 to Germany in extra time. Argentina won their third World Cup in 2022 by defeating France in a penalty shoot-out after a 3–3 draw. In the 2026 World Cup, Argentina reached the final again but lost 1–0 to Spain; this match was controversial as many fans deemed the team's behavior after losing unprofessional. World Cup-winning managers are César Luis Menotti (1978), Carlos Bilardo (1986), and Lionel Scaloni (2022). Argentina reached the top of the FIFA Men's World Ranking for the first time in March 2007.

In Their Own Story

In the archives lies the story of the 'Olimpico' goal scored on 2 October 1924 at Estadio Sportivo Barracas. Forward Cesáreo Onzari struck directly from a corner kick against Uruguay, who had recently won Olympic gold; this act forever changed football terminology. The collection also safeguards the memory of 9 July 1906, when the team first wore the light blue and white striped shirt against South Africa at Sociedad Sportiva Argentina. Other entries detail the somber tribute on 3 June 1919 in Rio de Janeiro, where a light blue kit was worn out of respect for the late Roberto Chery. The 1986 narrative is further enriched by the improvised silver numbers ironed onto shirts for the England match, now a collector's item symbolizing that historic victory.

Reader's Guide

Argentina plays most home matches at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, and also uses Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades and La Bombonera. The first home stadium was Estadio GEBA, where the team debuted its white and light blue striped jersey in 1908. Estadio Sportivo Barracas was used from 1920 to 1932; there, Cesáreo Onzari scored the first reported goal directly from a corner kick in 1924, now called an Olimpico. The classic albiceleste shirt was first worn on 9 July 1906 against South Africa. Away kits have been dark blue; at the 1958 World Cup, Argentina wore a yellow jersey against West Germany due to lacking an away kit. At the 1986 World Cup, the team wore makeshift light blue shirts for the quarter-final against England, in which Maradona scored the 'Hand of God goal.' At the 2018 World Cup, Argentina debuted a black away kit; at the 2022 World Cup, they wore a purple away kit for the first time in a competitive match. The AFA emblem was added to kits in 1976; two stars were added above the crest in 2004 for the 1978 and 1986 World Cup titles, and a third star in 2022. The crest was designed by Norberto 'Toto' Rud.

Did You Know?

• Argentina is the only nation to win the Copa América three consecutive times (1945, 1946, 1947).
• Argentina players have won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball three times: Diego Maradona in 1986, and Lionel Messi in 2014 and 2022.
• Lionel Messi holds the records for most appearances (207) and most goals (125) for Argentina.
• The first goal scored directly from a corner kick in football was by Argentina's Cesáreo Onzari in 1924, now called an Olimpico.
• Argentina's 1986 World Cup quarter-final shirts were makeshift, with plain shirts and silvery American football numbers.