News of albiceleste

No Messi but plenty of youth in squad for Argentina's World Cup qualifiers

19-08-2024 14:27 Lionel Scaloni names 28-,man squad for qualifiers against Chile and Colombia; Injured Messi misses out, while Armani, Acuña, Palacios and Dybala also fail to make the cut.

Copa América 2024

Argentina's old masters lead way to Copa América final

10-07-2024 15:04 Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María are enjoying every minute of what could be their international farewell. But thankfully, this Argentina team remains so resilient as to absorb almost any departure, even those two legends.

by Dan Edwards

Football

Countdown to Argentina's Copa América defence begins

07-06-2024 16:58 After four games no fewer than four teams sit at the top of the Liga Profesional de Fútbol, but in Argentina, all eyes are about to switch to Lionel Messi and the Albiceleste.

by Dan Edwards

International football

Argentina to tour US after China cancels friendlies in Messi spat

22-02-2024 21:12 World champions will play El Salvador in Philadelphia on March 22 and Nigeria in Los Angeles four days later.

FOOTBALL

Scaloni confirms he will stay on as national team coach

24-01-2024 17:40 National team coach Lionel Scaloni confirms will be stay on until the upcoming Copa América tournament in the United States.

SAY IT AIN'T SO!

Lionel Scaloni casts doubt over his future with national team

22-11-2023 12:29 World Cup winning coach says "it's complicated to continue" in his role and that the side needs someone in charge who has the energy to take the team forward.

International football

Albiceleste continue to impress, with or without Messi

19-10-2023 16:56 Shorn of the team's heart against Paraguay, Argentina reacted by recreating him across the pitch. Against Peru, on the other hand, the system was king, centred around Messi.

by Dan Edwards

WORLD CUP QUALIFERS

Messi double helps Argentina stay perfect in World Cup qualifiers

18-10-2023 08:27 Lionel Messi's first-half brace against Peru left reigning world champions Argentina on top of the South American qualifying table with 12 points from four games.

WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Do-or-die mentality ensures La Scaloneta retains necessary intensity

14-09-2023 11:32 Argentina approach every match as if the fate of the world hung on its outcome, and that furious mentality – and no little class – saw them through a potentially tricky start to their World Cup title defence.

by Dan Edwards

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Lionel Messi mulls international retirement, but not quite yet

12-07-2023 15:13 Argentina's World Cup winning captain says he doesn't know when he'll call time on his international career and that it will "happen when it happens."

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Argentina unveils Women’s World Cup squad, aims for second round

08-07-2023 16:37 Albiceleste eyeing a first win and qualification for the knockout stage at the upcoming FIFA’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Football

Messi helps Román and Maxi serve up two unforgettable shows

29-06-2023 09:15 Way back in 2006, Lionel Messi was already sharing a World Cup stage with Juan Román Riquelme and Maxi Rodríguez. Never one to forget his roots – and some 16 years on – the Albiceleste skipper pulled out the stops for their fond farewells.

by Dan Edwards

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Asian jaunt leaves Argentina and Messi with plenty to ponder

23-06-2023 01:00 Lionel Messi is irreplaceable, but with any luck the collective spirit and unity he has helped foster in the Albiceleste will ensure that the glory days will continue.

by Dan Edwards

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Indonesia fans vexed after Messi pulls out of friendly

16-06-2023 09:28 Indonesian fans devastated after star pulled out of a friendly in Jakarta.

International Football

Lionel Messi stars as Argentina down Australia 2-0 in Beijing

15-06-2023 12:22 Argentina dominates ball and dispatches Australia in 2-0 friendly win played before adoring Chinese crowd; Skipper scores opening goal with Pezzella notching second.

MESSI ON THE MOVE

Lionel Scaloni: Messi 'deserves' move to MLS

14-06-2023 13:47 Argentina coach says he's "very happy" that Messi has decided to move to the MLS and that he "deserves" his move to Miami.

ARGENTINA IN ASIA

A drink with Messi for US$42,000? Chinese police warn over scams

11-06-2023 08:58 Argentina skipper's presence in China for a friendly against Australia has drawn scammers and ticket-scalpers desperate to capitalise on Messi mania.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Argentina given rockstar welcome in China ahead of Australia friendly

10-06-2023 08:37 Frantic scenes at Beijing airport and hotel as Argentina's World Cup winning football team is greeted by hundreds of adoring Chinese fans ahead of friendly match with Australia.

ALBICELESTE IN ASIA

Argentina's Asia tour: Australia in China, Indonesia in Jakarta

22-05-2023 12:23 National team agrees to play two matches on 'Asia Tour' in June; Albiceleste will face Australia in Beijing and Indonesia in Jakarta.

FOOTBALL

FIFA confirms Argentina as host of U20 World Cup

17-04-2023 17:29 Confirmation that Argentina will host the tournament in May and June arrives just hours after Economy Minister Sergio Massa says AFA has the government’s “financial backing” to stage youth football showcase.

FOOTBALL

Reports: Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni agrees new contract until 2026

16-02-2023 13:52 Local media outlets report that World Cup-winning coach will ink new deal with Argentine Football Association (AFA) when he returns to the country next month for upcoming friendlies; Scaloni’s contract has technically ended – but all signs point to a new deal lasting until the next World Cup in 2026.

Messi's "Corniest" Fan

Corn farm in Córdoba gets its own Messi 'tattoo'

20-01-2023 11:19 The size of almost four football fields, one corn farm in Ballesteros, Ballesteros, has made its own Messi "tattoo" on its crops.

EDITORIAL

Christmas this Sunday or last (or both)?

24-12-2022 06:45 The word “catharsis” has been overused in the past month because of its tempting overlap with the World Cup host country’s name but the shoe fits – there was an element of catharsis for a country still emerging from the coronavirus pandemic and enduring over a decade without any sustained growth since that 2010 bicentenary.

ARGENTINA: WORLD CHAMPIONS

Argentina’s World Cup victory parade in Buenos Aires – from AFA's training ground to the Obelisk

20-12-2022 10:39 Information on the route the open-top bus parade will take on the national holiday and where you can see the players and the World Cup.

EDITORIAL

You can only dream when there’s a team

17-12-2022 05:55 The Scaloneta’s smooth passage into tomorrow’s World Cup final in Qatar following last Tuesday’s semi-final has given a troubled nation an outburst of unanimous joy not seen in a long time. The key? Teamwork.

Qatar 2022 World Cup

Álvarez arrives as Messi's partner in crime

14-12-2022 12:00 In 1986, Diego Maradona had Jorge Valdano. Now Lionel Messi has found his own accomplice: Julián Álvarez.

MUNDO ALBICELESTE

World Cup magic: Pakistani neighbourhood goes mad for Argentina

14-12-2022 11:41 People poured through the streets of Lyari, Karachi, Pakistan, in the early hours of Wednesday morning to watch Lionel Messi and his teammates beat Croatia 3-0 in the semi-final.

INTERVIEW: THE EXPERT'S VIEW

Jorge Burruchaga: ‘Messi has been the best in the world for 20 years’

14-12-2022 11:29 Jorge Burruchaga, the scorer of the goal that last won the World Cup for Argentina, professes his admiration for Lionel Messi.

Qatar 2022 World Cup

Ruthless Argentina reach the World Cup final – and who would bet against them now?

13-12-2022 21:23 Argentina are back in the World Cup final, and at this late stage who would bet against them fulfilling the dreams of 45 million citizens and bringing the trophy home?

by Dan Edwards

Qatar 2022 World Cup

La Albiceleste revel in 'home' support at World Cup

12-12-2022 11:19 Argentina's bid for a third World Cup crown is being boosted by hordes of travelling fans that have transformed each of their matches in Qatar into virtual home games.

Qatar 2022 World Cup

Argentina v Croatia: Keys to the World Cup semi-final

12-12-2022 11:05 Croatia are unlikely to put a specific man-marker on Lionel Messi, relying on what has been a solid defence and one of the best midfields in the tournament to gain the upper hand.

Qatar 2022 World Cup

Messi slams referee after Argentina win on penalties

09-12-2022 21:53 Albiceleste skipper complains referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz should not have officiated clash against the Netherlands.

Qatar 2022 World Cup

Enzo Fernández provides Argentina with much-needed oxygen

27-11-2022 07:30 Enzo Fernández's 57th-minute introduction coincided with the moment things began to look up for the Albiceleste. Benfica star is living the dream and he is becoming ever more important for Argentina.

Qatar 2022 World Cup

Argentina looks to Messi to salvage World Cup dream

26-11-2022 08:16 Argentina know they cannot afford a repeat of their opening match against Saudi Arabia and are looking to their talisman to save their World Cup campaign.

Qatar 2022 World Cup

Saudi coach not dwelling on 'crazy' World Cup win over Argentina

22-11-2022 10:38 Saudi Arabia's French coach Herve Renard warned his players not to celebrate for too long after their "totally crazy" win and hinted that maybe the Albiceleste underestimated his team.

LONG READ: ARGENTINA / WORLD CUP 2022

Argentina dares to dream as Lionel takes his Scaloneta to Qatar

18-11-2022 00:26 These past three years have truly been golden for Lionel Scaloni, Lionel Messi and Co, transforming a much-questioned Argentina team into a dynamic, well-oiled unit which has destroyed whatever opposition stands in its way. Argentina has been gripped by the build-up to the competition, with a fervour and expectation that is palpable in every corner of the country.

by Dan Edwards

EDITORIAL

Qatar – catharsis or the opposite?

18-11-2022 00:13 Argentina’s main risks currently lie in peso rather than dollar debt since obtaining rollovers from the IMF seems to be pushing at an open door. In contrast, peso bonds and the resulting quasi-fiscal deficit cannot be underestimated as prime causes of swelling the peso demand for the dollar.

Qatar 2022 World Cup – Factfile

Argentina at the 2022 World Cup: What you need to know

17-11-2022 11:21 A beginner’s guide to the national side, its coach, key player and who’s who.

Qatar 2022 World Cup

Welcome to Doha, Señor Messi

17-11-2022 10:49 Argentina fans – from all over the world – gather outside a university in Doha, trying to catch a glimpse of their heroes.

Qatar 2022 World Cup

Scaloni seeks to take World Cup pressure off fancied Argentina

15-11-2022 16:51 Argentina coach seeks to reduce the pressure on his fancied team at the World Cup in Qatar, insisting there are no guarantees in football.

Qatar 2022 World Cup

Scaloni confirms Argentina's 26-man squad for World Cup

11-11-2022 12:30 Lionel Scaloni's 26-man squad for World Cup in Qatar confirmed via video on social media; Exequiel Palacios, Paulo Dybala, Juan Foyth and Joaquín Correa make final cut.