After years without silverware, Argentina has reemerged as one of the most dominant national teams in history, with Lionel Messi at the helm. But in a country where soccer is deeply ingrained in the culture, not everyone agrees that this era is the greatest. An Argentine legend has weighed in, pointing out what Messi’s team still lacks to be considered the best in the nation’s history.
Since 2021, Argentina has won one World Cup, two Copa Americas, and a Finalissima, marking one of the most successful runs for any national team in the modern era. Even 1986 World Cup champion Oscar Ruggeri has publicly praised the current squad led by Messi.
However, Mario Alberto Kempes—a World Cup winner in 1978 who was also that tournament’s top scorer and best player—offered a different perspective. He emphasized the accomplishments of past generations and what this current group must achieve to earn the title of Argentina’s greatest:
“These guys won just one World Cup, they didn’t win two. The 1978 team won a World Cup, and the 1986 team won a World Cup. Now, if they win the next World Cup, then I can tell you they’re absolutely right, but you have to win two World Cups before being called the best national team,” Kempes said in an interview with the AZZ YouTube channel.
When asked about Argentina’s back-to-back Copa América titles, Kempes downplayed their significance: “The Copa America? Yes, it’s great to win it, but Argentina lost two finals against Chile and the world didn’t end. Just because Argentina won two in a row doesn’t mean they’re the best of the best. If they win another World Cup, then I’ll tip my hat.”
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“The history of Argentine football was written by all of us—it’s not just about the most recent chapter,” he added. Despite the criticism, Argentina remains a dominant force in international soccer and has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup. With Messi still leading the team, they’ll have a shot to cement their place as one of the all-time great squads.
Argentina: Two years at the top
Argentina first reached the No. 1 spot in the FIFA World Rankings on April 6, 2023, and has maintained it through the latest update this Thursday. With 1,886 points, the reigning world champions have now held the top position for over two years—chasing the fifth-longest reign since the rankings were introduced in 1993.
That mark is currently held by Spain, who spent 2 years, 9 months, and 25 days at No. 1 between September 21, 2011, and July 17, 2014, following their triumphs at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup. With nearly a year and a half remaining until the next World Cup, Argentina has a real shot at surpassing that milestone if their dominant form continues.
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