The Anthem
Himno Nacional Argentino
▶ Listen on YouTube ↗“¡Oíd, mortales, el grito sagrado: Libertad! / Hear, mortals, the sacred cry: Liberty!”
Originally so long it took 20 minutes to perform; today only the soaring finale is sung.
The Legends
Names that echo
Diego Maradona
Forward · 1980s
Almost single-handedly won the 1986 World Cup; a deity in Argentina.
Lionel Messi
Forward · 2000s–20s
Completed football's holy grail by lifting the 2022 World Cup.
Gabriel Batistuta
Forward · 1990s–2000s
'Batigol'; long Argentina's record World Cup scorer.
Fun Facts
Worth knowing
- 01
Argentina's anthem was once so long that, by tradition, only its rousing final section is now performed.
- 02
Lionel Messi's 2022 triumph is regarded by many as the perfect ending to the greatest career in the game.
- 03
Buenos Aires has more bookshops per capita than almost any city on earth — and an unrivalled football fervor to match.
At the World Cup
The story so far
The reigning world champions, and a founder nation with three titles. From Maradona to Messi, Argentina has produced the game's most worshipped icons — and football itself is close to a national religion.
Maradona's masterpiece
The 'Hand of God' and the 'Goal of the Century' within minutes against England — the most famous four minutes in World Cup history.
Messi's coronation
A 3-3 epic with France, settled on penalties, finally gave Messi the trophy that crowned his career.
Group Stage