Why This Argentine National Team Is the Best of All Time

The debate over which Argentine national team reigns supreme in history is a passionate one, but the current squad, according to this analysis, stands as the greatest ever. This assertion is made after a 48-year journey that began with a lost final against Uruguay in 1930 and culminated in a hard-fought victory over the Netherlands in 1978. During this extensive period, Argentine football witnessed legendary teams like River Plate's "Machine" in the 1950s and produced iconic players such as Charro Moreno, Federico Sacchi, Enrique Omar Sívori, and Alfredo Di Stéfano. The nation also secured titles in South American championships and the Copa de las Naciones, alongside a significant setback in the 1958 World Cup, including a 6-1 defeat to Czechoslovakia.

That humbling loss in 1958 served as a stark realization: technical skill alone was insufficient. The need for rigorous physical preparation and robust institutional organization, prioritizing the national team, became evident. Argentina struggled in the 1962 World Cup in Chile, failing to advance past the group stage. While the team improved under Juan Carlos Lorenzo, reaching the quarterfinals in England '66 before losing to the eventual champions, the absence of a cohesive "national team concept" prevented stars like Di Stéfano and Sívori from participating in World Cups for various reasons. This organizational void persisted even as Argentine clubs dominated the Copa Libertadores, with the national team missing the 1970 Mexico World Cup after a qualifying elimination by Peru.

The path to the 1978 World Cup in Germany was marked by multiple coaching changes. Young talents like Ubaldo Fillol and Mario Kempes emerged, but despite captaining the team, they suffered a significant defeat against Johan Cruyff's Netherlands in the second group stage. This elimination, without a win in that phase, coupled with Argentina securing the hosting rights for 1978, sounded an alarm within the Argentine Football Association (AFA). A clear, long-term policy for the national team was imperative. The AFA found its man in Cesar Luis Menotti, "El Flaco," who had led Huracán to a championship in 1973 with a formidable team.

Menotti's arrival heralded the creation of the "Selección Argentina" concept. He convinced football authorities of the necessity for a project that would attract players, coaches, developers, and talent scouts. In his first full year, 1975, he assembled five different teams, scouring the country for raw talent, skill, and competitive spirit. Players like Osvaldo Ardiles, Daniel Valencia, and Luis Galván were discovered, contributing to the eventual triumph on home soil. Menotti laid the foundation for the national team. Diego Maradona debuted for Argentinos Juniors in 1976 and, less than six months later, made his senior national team debut against Hungary, mirroring Lionel Messi's trajectory in 2005. In 1979, Julio Grondona became AFA president and continued this strategic policy, leading Argentina to its first U-20 World Cup title in Japan with a squad featuring Maradona and Ramón Díaz. The 1980s solidified Argentine football's global dominance.