Honestly, if you scripted the 2022 final, a Hollywood producer would probably throw it in the trash for being too "unrealistic." It was absurd. It was loud. It was, for anyone watching in Buenos Aires or even through a grainy stream in a basement, probably the most emotionally taxing two hours of sports ever televised. When we talk about the football world cup argentina story, we aren't just talking about a trophy. We’re talking about the exorcism of a thirty-six-year-old ghost that had been haunting an entire nation since Diego Maradona lifted the gold in 1986.
People forget how dire things looked. Argentina started that tournament by losing to Saudi Arabia. Read that again. One of the greatest squads in history, led by a Lionel Messi who looked like he had the weight of the Andes on his shoulders, lost to a team that wasn't even supposed to make it out of the group.
But that's the thing about this specific Argentinian era. It wasn't about perfection; it was about grit.
The Scaloneta: How an "Underqualified" Coach Fixed a Broken Team
When Lionel Scaloni took over after the disastrous 2018 campaign in Russia, the reaction in Argentina was... skeptical. To put it mildly. Diego Maradona himself—God rest his soul—actually said Scaloni "couldn't even direct traffic," let alone the national team. Scaloni had zero experience as a head coach. None.
He didn't care.
He built what fans now call "La Scaloneta." It wasn't just about Messi. It was about finding guys like Rodrigo De Paul, who would quite literally run through a brick wall if Messi asked him to. It was about discovering Emi Martínez, a goalkeeper who spent years as a backup at Arsenal and turned into a psychological warfare specialist during penalty shootouts.
The football world cup argentina campaign succeeded because Scaloni understood something his predecessors didn't: you don't build a team for Messi; you build a team with Messi as the North Star.
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The midfield trio of Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, and Rodrigo De Paul provided a literal engine room. Enzo wasn't even a starter when the tournament began. Think about that. By the end of the final, he was the Young Player of the Tournament and a hundred-million-dollar asset. That’s how fast things move in a World Cup.
That Final Against France Was Actually Insane
Let's look at the 80th minute. Argentina is up 2-0. They are cruising. They are outplaying France so badly that Kylian Mbappé had barely touched the ball. It felt over.
Then, ninety-seven seconds happened.
Mbappé scores a penalty. Then, he hits a volley that defies physics. Suddenly it's 2-2. You could feel the collective heart of Argentina drop into their stomachs. This is the "Argentina Curse" everyone talks about—the idea that they are destined to suffer.
Most teams would have folded. If you look at the body language of the players, they were gassed. But the extra time period was a slugfest. Messi scores. Mbappé scores again to get his hat-trick. 3-3.
And then came "The Save."
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Randal Kolo Muani is one-on-one with Emi Martínez in the 123rd minute. If that ball goes in, France wins, and Messi's legacy is forever shadowed by "what ifs." Martínez spreads himself like a starfish, his left leg making a save that will be studied in goalkeeping manuals for the next century. It wasn't luck. It was positioning and sheer, unadulterated intimidation.
Why the 2022 win was different from 1978 and 1986
- 1978: Held in Argentina during a military dictatorship. It was celebratory but carried a heavy, dark political undertone.
- 1986: This was the Maradona show. It was about one man’s genius and the Falklands War context.
- 2022: This was a collective sigh of relief for a generation that had seen Messi lose four major finals in a row before finally winning the Copa América in 2021.
The Economic Reality Behind the Celebration
It is impossible to talk about the football world cup argentina victory without mentioning that the country was—and still is—facing staggering inflation. When the team returned to Buenos Aires, five million people flooded the streets. Five million.
The victory parade had to be cut short because people were literally jumping from bridges onto the team bus. The players had to be evacuated by helicopters. Why does this matter for SEO or for history? Because it proves that for Argentina, football isn't "entertainment." It’s the only thing that works when everything else feels like it’s breaking.
Misconceptions About the Squad
A lot of casual fans think Argentina "carried" Messi to the trophy. That’s a bit of a stretch. Messi scored in every single round—group stage, round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final, and the final. That had never been done before. He wasn't just a passenger; he was the primary creative hub.
However, the "Messidependencia" (Messi-dependence) of the 2014 or 2018 eras was gone. When Messi wasn't on the ball, Julian Alvarez was chasing down defenders like a rabid dog. When the defense was under pressure, Cristian "Cuti" Romero was putting in tackles that would make old-school defenders blush.
How to Analyze Argentina’s Tactics Moving Forward
If you're looking at what made this team tick, it was their flexibility. Scaloni switched from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 to a 5-3-2 depending on the opponent. Against the Netherlands, they matched the Dutch wing-backs. Against Croatia, they flooded the midfield to stifle Modrić.
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This tactical fluidity is the new blueprint for international football. Gone are the days when a team has one "identity." Now, you have to be a chameleon.
Key Stats from the 2022 Campaign
- Lionel Messi: 7 goals, 3 assists.
- Emi Martínez: 2 penalty shootout wins (Netherlands, France).
- Enzo Fernández: 92% pass completion rate throughout the knockout stages.
- Total Fouls: Argentina wasn't afraid to be "the bad guys." They picked up more yellow cards than almost anyone, showing a "win at all costs" mentality.
What’s Next for the World Champions?
Winning the football world cup argentina wasn't the end. They followed it up by winning the 2024 Copa América. The big question everyone asks is: "Will Messi play in 2026?"
As of now, he’s playing in MLS with Inter Miami, keeping his fitness levels high. But the team is evolving. We are seeing younger talents like Alejandro Garnacho and Valentin Carboni start to integrate. The "post-Messi" era is being built while he’s still in the room.
If you want to understand the current state of Argentinian football, you have to look at the youth academies. AFA (Argentine Football Association) has doubled down on scouting "Euro-Argentines"—kids born in Europe to Argentinian parents. This ensures the talent pipeline doesn't dry up like it did for Italy after 2006.
Actionable Takeaways for Football Students
- Study the Low Block: Argentina’s ability to defend deep and counter-attack through Mac Allister and Alvarez is a masterclass in modern transition play.
- Mental Fortitude: Watch the Saudi Arabia game and then the Mexico game. The psychological shift from "panicked" to "clinical" is a lesson for any athlete.
- Goalkeeper Influence: Emi Martínez proved that a keeper's job isn't just shot-stopping; it's about commanding the entire penalty box and getting under the skin of the opposition.
- Value of the "Engine": Rodrigo De Paul’s heat maps from the tournament show he covered more ground than almost any other player. Every superstar needs a "bodyguard" player.
To truly appreciate the football world cup argentina journey, you have to stop looking at it as a series of matches. It was a cultural event. It was the closing of a circle for the greatest player to ever lace up boots. It was proof that even in a world of high-tech analytics, sometimes a team fueled by pure, chaotic emotion is the one that comes out on top.
Keep an eye on the 2026 qualifiers. Argentina currently leads the CONMEBOL standings, proving that there is no "World Cup hangover" for this group. They are still hungry, still aggressive, and still the team to beat.
Watch the full replay of the 2022 final if you ever have three hours to spare. It’s better than any movie you’ll see this year.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Track the Qualifiers: Follow the CONMEBOL standings to see how the squad depth is changing as older players like Angel Di Maria retire.
- Scout the Youth: Watch for Alejandro Garnacho’s development at Manchester United; he is widely considered the heir to the creative throne.
- Analyze the "Scaloni Effect": Look for how other national teams are now hiring younger, "unproven" former players as coaches in an attempt to replicate Argentina's success.