Argentina

Argentina, nicknamed La Albiceleste, are one of the most successful national teams in football history — three-time world champions and record 16-time Copa América winners, led by captain Lionel Messi under coach Lionel Scaloni.

Argentina played their first international on 20 June 1902, beating Uruguay 6–0, and adopted their iconic light-blue-and-white striped shirt in 1908. They established themselves as a South American powerhouse through the 1920s–1950s, reaching the very first World Cup final in 1930 (lost 4–2 to Uruguay).

Their breakthrough came at home in 1978 under César Luis Menotti, beating the Netherlands 3–1 in the final. Diego Maradona then inspired the 1986 triumph, a 3–2 win over West Germany, and dragged the team back to the 1990 final, lost 1–0 to the Germans.

After a 28-year senior-trophy drought, the Messi era delivered: the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup (beating France on penalties after a 3–3 final), and the 2024 Copa América. Argentina hold the record for most official international titles with 23.