The Agony of Almost
For nearly a decade, the story of Argentina’s national team was a tragedy told in three acts. First, the 2014 World Cup final, a gut-wrenching 1-0 extra-time loss to Germany in Brazil. Then, back-to-back Copa América final heartbreaks in 2015 and 2016,
both lost on penalties to Chile. Each defeat added another layer of scar tissue to the national psyche and to the legacy of their singular superstar, Lionel Messi. He was the best player in the world, yet for his country, he presided over an era of agonizing near-misses. The team felt top-heavy and fragile, a collection of brilliant individuals who crumbled under pressure. Messi even briefly retired from the national team in 2016 out of sheer frustration. The 2018 World Cup was a low point, a chaotic campaign that ended with a resounding loss to France, confirming the narrative: Argentina was a mess.
The Unlikely Scaloni Revolution
After the 2018 disaster, Argentina didn’t turn to a world-renowned tactician. Instead, they handed the reins, on an interim basis, to Lionel Scaloni, a former national team player with virtually no senior management experience. The move was widely mocked as uninspired, a sign of an organization out of ideas. But Scaloni quietly went to work, ignoring the noise. His mandate was simple but profound: rebuild. He phased out some of the older, high-profile names and infused the squad with young, hungry players. He wasn't building a team of stars; he was building a team. His low profile was an asset. Free from the ego of a big-name manager, he created an environment based on merit, sacrifice, and a collective spirit that had been missing for years. He was the rookie coach the team didn't know it desperately needed.
A Team Built to Protect a King
Scaloni’s masterstroke was solving the Messi paradox. For years, the strategy was simply “give the ball to Messi and hope.” This placed an impossible burden on him and made the team predictable. Scaloni built a system designed not just to serve Messi, but to protect him. He surrounded his captain with a new generation of fierce, loyal teammates who viewed him with reverence. Players like Rodrigo De Paul became Messi’s on-field bodyguard, a relentless midfielder who would run through a wall for his captain. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez brought a swagger and an almost insane competitive fire. Defenders like Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez played with an old-school Argentine aggression, while young forwards like Julián Álvarez provided the tireless running Messi could no longer sustain for 90 minutes. The team’s new identity was clear: everyone fights so Leo can flourish.
Breaking the Curse, Then Conquering the World
The first sign that this new formula was working came in 2021. At the Copa América in Brazil, Argentina played with a grit and unity that culminated in a 1-0 victory over their arch-rivals in the final at the legendary Maracanã stadium. It was the country's first major trophy in 28 years, and, critically, Messi's first. The emotional dam broke. Freed from the weight of that curse, the team, now known as 'La Scaloneta,' played with a joyful arrogance. They entered the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on a 36-game unbeaten streak. After a shocking opening loss to Saudi Arabia, their resilience was tested. But this wasn't the fragile Argentina of old. They rallied, battling through one dramatic game after another, culminating in what many consider the greatest World Cup final ever played—a dizzying, epic victory over France. Messi, at long last, had his crown.
