Argentina National Team Squad, Coach and Competitions

Argentina’s national football team is one of the defining identities in the international game, combining a celebrated blue-and-white tradition with a deep technical culture. Founded in 1893 and administered by the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino, the selection carries a history shaped by landmark World Cup eras, intense South American rivalries and an exceptional connection with supporters. Its modern profile brings together established leaders, emerging talent and a coaching structure rooted in the national football system, with major tournament participation and regular international competition forming its sporting backdrop.

Xtra rating

2017

Conservative: 1390

Rank national

Updated: 19 July 2026

Argentina Upcoming matches by league

Argentina Last matches by league

World Cup

19 July 2026 - 19:00 Final

Spain

1 - 0

Argentina
15 July 2026 - 19:00 Semi-finals

England

1 - 2

Argentina

Mercedes-Benz Stadium
12 July 2026 - 01:00 Quarter-finals

Argentina

3 - 1

Switzerland
7 July 2026 - 16:00 Round of 16

Argentina

3 - 2

Egypt

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Friendlies

10 June 2026 - 01:00 Friendly International

Argentina

3 - 0

Iceland
7 June 2026 - 00:00 Friendly International

Argentina

2 - 0

Honduras
31 March 2026 - 23:30 Friendly International

Argentina

5 - 0

Zambia
27 March 2026 - 23:15 Friendly International

Argentina

2 - 1

Mauritania

World Cup - Qualification South America

9 September 2025 - 23:00 Group Stage - 18

Ecuador

1 - 0

Argentina

Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha
4 September 2025 - 23:30 Group Stage - 17

Argentina

3 - 0

Venezuela

Estadio Mâs Monumental
11 June 2025 - 00:00 Group Stage - 16

Argentina

1 - 1

Colombia

Estadio Mâs Monumental
6 June 2025 - 01:00 Group Stage - 15

Chile

0 - 1

Argentina

Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos

Copa America

15 July 2024 - 00:30 Final

Argentina

1 - 0

Colombia
10 July 2024 - 00:00 Semi-finals

Argentina

2 - 0

Canada
5 July 2024 - 01:00 Quarter-finals

Argentina

1 - 1

Ecuador
30 June 2024 - 00:00 Group Stage - 3

Argentina

2 - 0

Peru

Argentina Team Roster

Argentina’s recorded selection contains 26 players: four attackers, eight defenders, three goalkeepers and eleven midfielders. L. Messi and Lautaro Martínez are among the listed attackers, alongside J. López and N. Paz. The defensive group includes C. Romero, Lisandro Martínez, N. Otamendi and N. Molina. Goalkeeping is represented by E. Martínez, G. Rulli and J. Musso. The midfield includes A. Mac Allister, E. Fernández, R. De Paul, L. Paredes, G. Lo Celso, J. Álvarez and T. Almada, supported by additional options including M. Senesi, N. González and V. Barco.

position Goalkeeper

Juan Agustín Musso

GK Argentina

Gerónimo Rulli

GK Argentina

Damián Emiliano Martínez Romero

GK Argentina

position Defender

Nicolás Alejandro Tagliafico

DEF Argentina

Gonzalo Ariel Montiel

DEF Argentina

Lisandro Martínez

DEF Argentina

Cristian Gabriel Romero

DEF Argentina

Exequiel Alejandro Palacios

DEF Argentina

Nicolás Hernán Gonzalo Otamendi

DEF Argentina

Facundo Axel Medina

DEF Argentina

Nahuel Molina Lucero

DEF Argentina

position Midfielder

Marcos Nicolás Senesi Barón

MID Argentina

Leandro Daniel Paredes

MID Argentina

Rodrigo Javier De Paul

MID Argentina

Valentín Barco

MID Argentina

Julián Álvarez

MID Argentina

Giovani Lo Celso

MID Argentina

Nicolás Iván González

MID Argentina

Thiago Ezequiel Almada

MID Argentina

Giuliano Simeone Baldini

MID Italy

Alexis Mac Allister

MID Argentina

Enzo Jeremías Fernández

MID Argentina

position Attacker

Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini

FWD Argentina

Nicolás Paz Martínez

FWD Spain

José Manuel Alberto López

FWD Argentina

Lautaro Javier Martínez

FWD Argentina

Last Argentina Coachs

Lionel Scaloni is Argentina’s current head coach, having begun the role in August 2018. The recorded chronology places Jorge Sampaoli in charge from June 2017 to July 2018, following Edgardo Bauza’s tenure from August 2016 to April 2017. Gerardo Martino led the selection from August 2014 to July 2016, while Sergio Batista is listed from July 2010 to July 2011. The sequence captures the recent coaching transition before Scaloni’s ongoing tenure.

Lionel Sebastián Scaloni

Argentina

Coach since 1 August 2018

Coach until

History

Coach	Coach country	Coach since	Coach until
Lionel Sebastián Scaloni	Argentina	1 August 2018
Jorge Luis Sampaoli Moya	Argentina	1 June 2017	1 July 2018
Edgardo Bauza	Argentina	6 August 2016	10 April 2017
Gerardo Daniel Martino	Argentina	1 August 2014	1 July 2016
Diego Armando Maradona	Argentina	1 October 2008	1 July 2010
José Néstor Pekerman	Argentina	1 September 2004	1 July 2006
Marcelo Alberto Bielsa Caldera	Argentina	1 September 1998	1 September 2004
Francisco Olazar	Argentina	1 July 1930	1 July 1930

Argentina Transfers

Argentina has no club-transfer arrivals because a national selection does not sign, buy, loan or receive players in the market sense. Additions to the squad occur through international call-ups, eligibility decisions and returns to selection after a player becomes available. No specific incoming call-up or individual selection return is identified. Movement into the national setup is therefore a sporting and administrative process tied to squad announcements and international windows, not a transfer transaction involving contracts, fees or clubs.

No transfers in

Argentina has no club-transfer departures to report, since national selections do not sell, loan or release players through the market. A player leaving an international group is instead an omission, withdrawal, non-selection or the end of a window followed by a return to club duty. The available selection information does not identify a specific departure, withdrawal or omitted player, and the 26-player group should not be treated as a complete account of every selection decision. The relevant movement is between international availability and national-team selection, not a paid or temporary transfer.

Latest player transfers to

Player	Team to	Transfer type	Transfer date
Fabio Rinaldi	Lucchese	Free	14 July 2016
G. Gagliardi	Savona	Free	15 July 2015
D. Valeri	Portland Timbers	Loan	4 January 2013

Transfers Synthesis

Argentina’s selection cycle is built around eligibility, availability and sporting decisions. Before an international window, the coaching staff and federation identify a group from eligible players, with call-ups bringing them into the national setup. Injuries, withdrawals, form, tactical needs and returns to availability can alter that group, while omissions simply reflect a selection decision. The 26-player selection recorded is therefore a time-specific snapshot, not a permanent squad. Players return to club duty when the window ends, and later windows can produce different inclusions without changing the underlying national structure. Argentina’s AFA framework also links the senior selection with Under-20 and Under-23 pathways, giving the wider program a continuing development channel.

Leagues Argentina has participated in

Argentina’s recorded competition profile through 2026 includes the World Cup and South American World Cup qualification, both recent parts of the active international cycle. Friendlies remain a recent component, with participation recorded through 2025. Copa America is historical in this profile, with entries running through 2024, while the CONMEBOL-UEFA Finalissima is a historical single-year entry from 2022. Together, these competitions reflect Argentina’s schedule across global finals, South American qualifying, preparation matches and major continental or inter-confederation events.