Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in men's international football and is administered by the Argentine Football Association, the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti in Buenos Aires.
La Selección, also known as the La Albiceleste, has appeared in five World Cup finals, including the first final in 1930, which they lost 4–2 to Uruguay. Argentina won in their next final appearance in 1978, beating the Netherlands at extra time, 3–1. Argentina won again in 1986, through a 3–2 victory over West Germany, and a tournament campaign led by Diego Maradona. They made the World Cup finals once more in 1990, and lost 1–0 to West Germany following a controversial penalty call in the 87th minute. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, made their fifth appearance in a World Cup final in 2014, again losing to Germany, 1–0 during extra-time. Argentina's World Cup winning managers are César Luis Menotti in 1978 and Carlos Bilardo in 1986.
Argentina has also been very successful in the Copa América, winning it 14 times, second only to Uruguay. The team also won the 1992 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 1993 Artemio Franchi Trophy. Argentina is known for having rivalries with Brazil, Uruguay, England, and Germany due to particular occurrences with one another throughout football history.
History
The first match ever recorded for Argentina was against Uruguay. The game was held in Montevideo on 16 May 1901 and Argentina won 3–2. During the first years of its existence, the Argentina national team only played friendly matches against other South American teams. The reasons for this varied, including long travel times between countries and the interruption of World War I.La Selección, also known as the Albicelestes, has appeared in five World Cup finals, including the first final in 1930, which they lost, 4–2, to Uruguay. Argentina won in their next final in 1978, beating the Netherlands, 3–1. Argentina, led by Diego Maradona won again in 1986, a 3–2 victory over West Germany.
Argentina last reached the World Cup final in 2014, where it lost 1–0 to Germany national football team.
Previous to this their last World Cup final was in 1990, which it also lost, 1–0, to West Germany by a much disputed penalty. Argentina's World Cup winning managers are César Luis Menotti in 1978, and Carlos Bilardo in 1986.
Argentina has been very successful in the Copa América, winning it 14 times. The team also won the FIFA Confederations Cup and the Kirin Cup, both in 1992, and the 1993 Artemio Franchi Trophy. An Argentina team won the Olympics football tournaments in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
Argentina also won seven of the 18 football competitions at the Pan American Games, winning in 1951, 1955, 1959, 1971, 1995, 2003 and 2019.
In March 2007, Argentina reached the top of the FIFA World Rankings for the first time.
Home stadium
The River Plate stadium, Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, is a national stadium of Argentina national team that plays most qualifying and friendlies at that stadium.They play their matches outside the stadium at Córdoba, Rosario, Mendoza, La Plata, San Juan and Salta.
Team image
Uniform
The kit first worn by Argentina was a white shirt, at the official debut of the national side against Uruguay in 1902. In August 1908, Argentina debuted the light blue vertical stripe on white jersey. That kit would become the official kit. The away kits usually have been in dark blue shades, varying the colors of shorts and socks.Argentina has sported other kits until the blue strip on white kit was made official. On 3 June 1919 in Rio de Janeiro playing the "Roberto Chery Cup" against Brazil, Argentina wore a light blue kit, similar to Uruguay. The trophy was established by Brazilian Football Confederation for the benefit of Roberto Chery's relatives. Chery was Uruguay's substitute goalkeeper and died during the 1919 South American Championship after collapsing in a game against Chile.
At the 1958 World Cup, Argentina wore the yellow jersey of Swedish club IFK Malmö in the match against West Germany, as the team arrived in Sweden without an away kit.
A last moment jersey changed at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico is memorable. Then manager Carlos Bilardo asked the team kit supplier Le Coq Sportif for a lighter blue shirt for the quarter-final in three days against England, that could not be provided. A member of coaching staff scour the shops of Mexico City for 38 shirt plain shirts. They were transformed with an improvised version of the AFA emblem embroidered on to the shirts, and silvery American football numbers ironed to the backs. Argentina beat England with Diego Maradona's "goal of the century". The shirt style became an emblem of the occasion and a collector's item.
At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Argentina debuted a black away kit, a first in their history.
Kit suppliers
Kit supplier | Period | Notes |
Gath & Chaves | 1930–1934 | |
Sportlandia | 1966 | |
Adidas | 1973–1979 | |
Le Coq Sportif | 1980–1989 | |
Adidas | 1990–1998 | |
Reebok | 1999–2001 | |
Adidas | 2001–present |
Crest
The Argentine Football Association logo has been always used as the team emblem. It debuted in the 1958 World Cup held in Sweden, when Argentina added the AFA logo to their jackets, but not to the shirts.Nevertheless, the AFA emblem was not used on jerseys until 16 November 1976, when Argentina played the Soviet Union at Estadio Monumental. The first emblem was a simplified version of the crest.
In 2004, the two stars added above the crest symbolized the national team FIFA World championships of 1978 and 1986.
Competitive record
FIFA World Cup
Copa América
FIFA Confederations Cup
Olympic Games
Pan American Games
All-time head-to-head record
Below is a result summary of all matches Argentina have played against FIFA recognized teams.Opponents | ||||||||
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 100.0% | |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 100.0% | |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 100.0% | |
7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 71.4% | |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 50.0% | |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | |
5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 4 | +8 | 80.0% | |
38 | 26 | 5 | 7 | 98 | 38 | +60 | 68.6% | |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 100.0% | |
107 | 39 | 26 | 41 | 161 | 165 | –4 | 49.1% | |
9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 6 | +12 | 88.8% | |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | –1 | 0.0% | |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 100.0% | |
91 | 60 | 25 | 6 | 192 | 71 | +121 | 66.2% | |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | –1 | 0.0% | |
37 | 19 | 9 | 9 | 68 | 36 | +32 | 54.8% | |
7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 5 | +9 | 72.4% | |
5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | –2 | 50.0% | |
6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 10 | –3 | 35.3% | |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | –1 | 50.0% | |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 50.0% | |
35 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 91 | 34 | +57 | 58.9% | |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | +8 | 100.0% | |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 100.0% | |
15 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 22 | –4 | 26.6% | |
12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 11 | +4 | 50.0% | |
23 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 34 | 33 | +1 | 45.4% | |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 100.0% | |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 100.0% | |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | +13 | 100.0% | |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | +11 | 100.0% | |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 100.0% | |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 100.0% | |
7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 6 | +9 | 71.4% | |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 100.0% | |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 50.0% | |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 50.0% | |
5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 6 | +8 | 60.0% | |
15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 22 | –7 | 26.6% | |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 100.0% | |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 100.0% | |
8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 4 | +14 | 87.5% | |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 100.0% | |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | |
30 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 50 | 27 | +23 | 50.0% | |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 100.0% | |
9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 13 | –7 | 11.1% | |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 100.0% | |
9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 13 | +2 | 62.5% | |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 100.0% | |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | –2 | 0.0% | |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 100.0% | |
102 | 54 | 32 | 16 | 212 | 107 | +105 | 59.0% | |
51 | 32 | 14 | 5 | 102 | 45 | +57 | 62.7% | |
11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 12 | +6 | 58.3% | |
8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 7 | +6 | 62.5% | |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 100.0% | |
6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 100.0% | |
9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 6 | +6 | 80.0% | |
13 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 11 | +2 | 36.4% | |
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 50.0% | |
10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 15 | +6 | 44.4% | |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 50.0% | |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 100.0% | |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 50.0% | |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | +6 | 75.0% | |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 100.0% | |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 100.0% | |
14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 19 | –1 | 42.8% | |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 33.3% | |
7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 3 | +12 | 71.4% | |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 100.0% | |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.0% | |
11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 30 | 9 | +21 | 62.0% | |
194 | 89 | 46 | 59 | 310 | 235 | +75 | 47.8% | |
25 | 21 | 2 | 2 | 84 | 17 | +67 | 87.0% | |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 50.0% | |
Total | 1015 | 550 | 250 | 219 | 1919 | 1071 | +848 | 54.7% |
Results and fixtures
2019
2020
2021
Players
Current squad
The following players were selected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Bolivia on 27 and 31 March 2020, respectively. A complementary list including Argentine Primera División players will be released at a further date.On 12 March 2020, the FIFA announced that the matches originally scheduled to take place during the international window of 23–31 March 2020 are postponed to later dates. Details of the postponed matches will be discussed and announced soon.
Caps and goals correct as of: ''18 November 2019, after the match against Uruguay.
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up for the team in the last 12 months.INJ Withdrew due to injury
PRE Preliminary squad
RET Retired from the national team
SUS Suspended
Previous squads
;World Cup- 1930 FIFA World Cup squad
- 1934 FIFA World Cup squad
- 1958 FIFA World Cup squad
- 1962 FIFA World Cup squad
- 1966 FIFA World Cup squad
- 1974 FIFA World Cup squad
- 1978 FIFA World Cup squad
- 1982 FIFA World Cup squad
- 1986 FIFA World Cup squad
- 1990 FIFA World Cup squad
- 1994 FIFA World Cup squad
- 1998 FIFA World Cup squad
- 2002 FIFA World Cup squad
- 2006 FIFA World Cup squad
- 2010 FIFA World Cup squad
- 2014 FIFA World Cup squad
- 2018 FIFA World Cup squad
- 1992 FIFA Confederations Cup squad
- 1995 FIFA Confederations Cup squad
- 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup squad
- 1916 South American Championship squad
- 1917 South American Championship squad
- 1919 South American Championship squad
- 1920 South American Championship squad
- 1921 South American Championship squad
- 1922 South American Championship squad
- 1923 South American Championship squad
- 1924 South American Championship squad
- 1925 South American Championship squad
- 1926 South American Championship squad
- 1927 South American Championship squad
- 1929 South American Championship squad
- 1935 South American Championship squad
- 1937 South American Championship squad
- 1941 South American Championship squad
- 1942 South American Championship squad
- 1945 South American Championship squad
- 1946 South American Championship squad
- 1947 South American Championship squad
- 1955 South American Championship squad
- 1956 South American Championship squad
- 1957 South American Championship squad
- 1959 South American Championship squad
- 1959 South American Championship squad
- 1963 South American Championship squad
- 1967 South American Championship squad
- 1975 Copa América squad
- 1979 Copa América squad
- 1983 Copa América squad
- 1987 Copa América squad
- 1989 Copa América squad
- 1991 Copa América squad
- 1993 Copa América squad
- 1995 Copa América squad
- 1997 Copa América squad
- 1999 Copa América squad
- 2004 Copa América squad
- 2007 Copa América squad
- 2011 Copa América squad
- 2015 Copa América squad
- Copa América Centenario squad
- 2019 Copa América squad
Coaching staff
Statistics
Most capped players
is the most capped player in the history of Argentina with 147 caps.Rank. | Name | Career | Caps | Goals |
1 | Javier Mascherano | 147 | 3 | |
2 | Javier Zanetti | 1994–2011 | 143 | 4 |
3 | Lionel Messi | 2005– | 138 | 70 |
4 | Roberto Ayala | 1994–2007 | 114 | 7 |
5 | Diego Simeone | 1988–2002 | 106 | 9 |
6 | Ángel Di María | 2008– | 102 | 20 |
7 | Sergio Agüero | 2006– | 97 | 41 |
7 | Oscar Ruggeri | 1983–1994 | 97 | 7 |
9 | Sergio Romero | 2009– | 96 | 0 |
10 | Diego Maradona | 1977–1994 | 91 | 34 |
Top goalscorers
celebrates after scoring against Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup. He is the highest goalscorer in the history of Argentina with 70 goals.Rank. | Player | Career | Goals | Caps | Avg/Game | Official Match Goals |
1 | Lionel Messi | 2005– | 70 | 138 | 36 | |
2 | Gabriel Batistuta | 54 | 77 | 38 | ||
3 | Sergio Agüero | 2006– | 41 | 97 | 20 | |
4 | Hernán Crespo | 1995–2007 | 35 | 64 | 26 | |
5 | Diego Maradona | 1977–1994 | 34 | 91 | 15 | |
6 | Gonzalo Higuaín | 2009–2018 | 31 | 75 | 23 | |
7 | Luis Artime | 1961–1967 | 24 | 25 | ? | |
8 | Daniel Passarella | 1976–1986 | 23 | 70 | 6 | |
9 | Leopoldo Luque | 1975–1981 | 21 | 45 | 8 | |
9 | José Sanfilippo | 1956–1962 | 21 | 29 | ? |
World Cup winning captains
Year | Name | Caps | Goals |
1978 | Daniel Passarella | 70 | 23 |
1986 | Diego Maradona | 91 | 34 |
Individual records
- Most goals scored in all international competitions, including friendlies: 70 – Lionel Messi, 2005–
- Most goals scored in official international competitions, including FIFA World Cup qualification and FIFA Confederations Cup: 38 – Gabriel Batistuta, 1991–2002
- Most goals scored in all major international tournaments, not including FIFA World Cup qualification and FIFA Confederations Cup: 23 – Gabriel Batistuta, 1991–2002
- Most goals scored in international friendlies: 34 – Lionel Messi, 2005–
- Most goals scored in one calendar year, including friendlies: 12 – Lionel Messi, 2012; Gabriel Batistuta, 1998
- Most goals scored in one FIFA World Cup qualification: 10 – Lionel Messi, 2014
- Most goals scored in all FIFA World Cup qualifications: 21 – Lionel Messi, 2005–
- Most goals scored in one FIFA World Cup tournament: 8 – Guillermo Stábile, 1930
- Most goals scored in all FIFA World Cup tournaments: 10 – Gabriel Batistuta, 1991–2001
- Most goals scored in one FIFA Confederations Cup: 4 – Luciano Figueroa, 2005
- Most goals scored in all FIFA Confederations Cup: 4 – Gabriel Batistuta, 1991–2002, Luciano Figueroa, 2004–2005
- Most goals scored in one Copa América: 6 – Gabriel Batistuta, 1991
- Most goals scored in all Copas América: 13 – Gabriel Batistuta, 1991–2002
- Most goals scored in one South American Championship: 9 – Humberto Maschio, 1957
- Most goals scored in all South American Championships: 17 – Norberto Méndez, 1945–1956
- Most goals scored in one Football Summer Olympics: 9 – Domingo Tarasconi, 1928
- Most goals scored in all Football Summer Olympics: 9 – Domingo Tarasconi, 1922–1929
- Most goals scored in all U-20 international competitions, including friendlies: 18 – Lionel Messi, 2005
- Most goals scored in official U-20 international competitions: 11 – Lionel Messi, 2005; Javier Saviola, 2001
- Most goals scored in one FIFA U-20 World Cup tournament: 11 – Javier Saviola, 2001
- Most goals scored in all FIFA U-20 World Cup tournaments: 11 – Javier Saviola, 2001
- Most goals scored in one South American Youth Football Championship: 9 – Luciano Galletti, 1999; Giovanni Simeone, 2015
- Most goals scored from the penalty kick: 13 – Lionel Messi, 2005–
- Most direct free kick goals scored in all international competitions, including friendlies: 6 – Lionel Messi, against Paraguay, Uruguay, Nigeria, Panama, United States, Colombia
- Most hat-tricks scored in all international competitions, including friendlies: 6 – Lionel Messi, against Switzerland, Brazil, Guatemala, Panama, Ecuador, Haiti
- Most assists provided in all international competitions, including friendlies: 38 – Lionel Messi, 2005–
- Most assists provided in Copa América matches: 11 – Lionel Messi, 2005–
- Most Man of the Match awards won in one FIFA World Cup: 4 – Lionel Messi, 2014
- Most Man of the Match awards won in FIFA World Cup matches: 5 – Lionel Messi, 2005–
- Most Man of the Match awards won in one Copa América: 4 – Lionel Messi, 2015
- Most Man of the Match awards won in Copa América matches: 9 – Lionel Messi, 2005–
- Oldest player that have ever scored a goal: Martín Palermo, 36 years and 7 months old in 2010 against Greece
- Oldest player that have scored a goal at FIFA World Cup tournament: Martín Palermo, 36 years and 7 months old in 2010 against Greece
- Youngest player that have ever scored a goal: Diego Maradona, 18 years, 7 months and 4 days old in 1979 against Scotland
- Youngest player that have ever scored a goal at FIFA World Cup tournament: Lionel Messi, 18 years and 357 days old in 2006 against Serbia and Montenegro
- Youngest player that have ever captained the team at FIFA World Cup tournament: Lionel Messi, 22 years and 363 days old in 2010 against Greece
- Youngest player to ever reach 100 caps: Lionel Messi, 27 years and 362 days old in 2015 against Jamaica
- Youngest player that have scored a goal at South American Championship/Copa America: Diego Maradona 18 years and 10 months old in 1979 against Brazil
- Only player that have scored against all 9 South American Nations: Lionel Messi, against Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
- Players that have scored the most goals in a match at any competition: 5 – Manuel Seoane, in 1925; Juan Marvezzi, in 1941
- Players that have scored in all 3 matches of the group stage in one FIFA World Cup: Oreste Corbatta, in 1958; Lionel Messi, in 2014
- Players that have scored the most goals in a match at FIFA World Cup: 3 – Guillermo Stábile, in 1930; Gabriel Batistuta, in 1994 & 1998; Gonzalo Higuaín, in 2010
- Players that have scored the most goals in a match at South American Championship/Copa América: 5 – Manuel Seoane, in 1925; Juan Marvezzi, in 1941
- Players that have won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: Diego Maradona, in 1986; Lionel Messi, in 2014
- Players that have won the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: Guillermo Stábile, 8 goals in 1930; Mario Kempes, 6 goals in 1978
- Players that have won the Copa América era Golden Shoe: Leopoldo Luque, 4 goals in 1975; Jorge Burruchaga, 3 goals in 1983; Gabriel Batistuta, 6 goals in 1991, 4 goals in 1995
- Players that have won the South American Championship Golden Shoe: Julio Libonatti, 3 goals in 1921; :es:Juan Francia|Juan Francia, 4 goals in 1922; :es:Vicente Aguirre|Vicente Aguirre, 3 goals in 1923; Manuel Seoane, 6 goals in 1925; Alfredo Carricaberry & Segundo Luna, 7 goals in 1927; Herminio Masantonio, 4 goals in 1935; Juan Marvezzi, 5 goals in 1941; Herminio Masantonio & José Manuel Moreno, 7 goals in 1942; Norberto Méndez, 6 goals in 1945; Rodolfo Micheli, 8 goals in 1955; Humberto Maschio, 9 goals in 1957; José Sanfilippo, 5 goals in 1959; Luis Artime, 5 goals in 1967
- Players that have won the Football Summer Olympics Golden Shoe: Domingo Tarasconi, 9 goals in 1928; Hernán Crespo, 6 goals in 1996; Carlos Tevez, 8 goals in 2004
Managers
RivalriesBrazilArgentina have a long and fierce rivalry with their South American neighbours.EnglandWith a rivalry stemming from the 1966 World Cup and intensified by the Falklands War of 1982, Argentina and England have had numerous confrontations in World Cup tournaments. Among them was the quarter-final match in 1986, where Diego Maradona scored two goals against England. The first was a handball, but was ruled legal by the referee. The second, scored minutes later, saw Maradona passing five England outfield players before scoring, and is often described as one of the greatest goals in football history.The nations were paired together in the Round of 16 at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, won by Argentina on penalties, and again at the group stage in 2002, England winning 1–0 through a penalty by David Beckham who had been sent off in the tie four years earlier. GermanyArgentina have played Germany in seven FIFA World Cup matches including three FIFA World Cup finals: In 1986 Argentina won 3–2, but in 1990 it was the Germans who were the victors by a 1–0 scoreline.In 1958 they met for the first time in the group stage, where Argentina suffered a 1–3 loss to defending champions West Germany. In 1966 both again faced each other in the group stage which ended in a scoreless draw. 2006 they met in the quarter-finals; Argentina lost on penalties after a 1–1 draw. They met again at the same stage in 2010, this time ending with a 4–0 victory for Germany. They played each other for the third consecutive World Cup in the Brazil 2014 event's final, where Argentina were defeated in extra time by a score of 1–0. UruguayArgentina have a long-standing rivalry with their neighbors, that came into existence from the early South American Championships, the 1928 Summer Olympics and the first World Cup final, held in 1930.Argentina and Uruguay hold the record for most international matches played between two countries. The two teams have faced each other 198 times since 1901. The first match between Argentina and Uruguay was also the first official international match to be played outside the United Kingdom. NigeriaA minor rivalry developed from the 1990s between Argentina and Nigeria, based not on geographical proximity, long-term battles for honours or factors outside football, but due to the frequency of significant matches between them. This has included five World Cup group games, all won by Argentina by a single goal margin: 2–1 in 1994, 1–0 in 2002, 1–0 in 2010, 3–2 in 2014 and 2–1 in 2018. The fixture is the most common in the competition's history involving an African nation, and has occurred in five of the six tournaments for which Nigeria has qualified. The sides also met in the 1995 King Fahd Cup as champions of their respective continents, drawing 0–0.Below full international level, their Olympic teams also faced off in the gold medal match in 1996, and 2008. The final of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship was also played between them; both Argentina goals in their 2–1 win were scored by Lionel Messi, who would go on to find the net for the senior team in the 2014 and 2018 World Cup fixtures. On 6 September 2011, Bangabandhu National Stadium hosted an international friendly football match between the full-strength Argentina and Nigeria teams, featuring Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, Javier Mascherano and John Obi Mikel among the other star players of both nations. Argentina won 3–1 with goals from then-Real Madrid teammates Gonzalo Higuaín and Ángel Di María, and an own goal from Nigeria's Elderson Echiéjilé with Chinedu Obasi scoring Nigeria's lone goal. The sense of rivalry is more keenly felt on the Nigerian side, as Argentina have won almost all of their encounters and have more important traditional opponents to concentrate on, in contrast to the West Africans who remain keen to finally overcome a more illustrious foe. HonoursCompetitiveFIFA World Cup
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