Argentina fans hugged and danced in the streets of Buenos Aires. Videos of Gonzalo Montiel’s winning penalty against France and Lionel Messi’s emotional celebration were liked and reshared across social media. The tears flowed from the eyes of a renowned television broadcaster who witnessed Argentina’s win from Doha’s Lusail Stadium.
It’s 2024 for just a little while longer and Argentines are still happily reliving their third World Cup final win. The two-year anniversary of Messi’s historic win was celebrated on December 18 in Argentina. It’s a date that will forever be linked to that moment in Qatar. Messi posted a message on Instagram that detailed his emotions about the day.
“I love December and the holidays,” Messi posted. “Two years ago it could’ve been a sour ending to the year but it ended up being the most beautiful day of my sporting career. Now, I’m reminded of this day every December. Happy second anniversary for everyone!”
Messi and Argentina continued to celebrate in 2024. They won an entertaining Copa America final in Miami over Colombia, completing back-to-back triumphs in South America’s most prestigious international competition. Argentina ended the year atop CONMEBOL’s World Cup qualifying standings, as well. Mathematically, Argentina has a shot at becoming the first country to earn a qualifying berth to the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Overall, 2024 was a success for the world champions. They did, however, suffer setbacks, both on and off the pitch. Manager Lionel Scaloni nearly walked away from the national team at the end of 2023, but has since pledged his commitment through 2026. Argentina are not unbeatable. And whatever Mauricio Pochettino thinks, Messi is no longer the best player in the world. That means 2025 is setting up to be a crossroads of sorts.
The Athletic examines the year that was for Argentina and what to expect in the new year.
Best moment: Argentina wins 16th Copa America
For the second time in eight years, the Copa America was played on U.S. soil. Argentina were heavily favored as the defending champions and they were guaranteed to be well-supported. A fanatical brigade of fans followed the team from Atlanta to New York, to Houston and Miami.
Messi was now acclimated to life in the U.S. as he began his first full MLS season with Inter Miami. The rigors of the fast-paced and physical MLS style of play took a toll on Messi’s 37-year-old body, which may have led to the Argentina captain’s less-than-spectacular form in the competition. He scored one goal in six matches.
Argentina learned to win with and without Messi by leaning on players like Lautaro Martinez, Rodrigo De Paul and Julian Alvarez. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was voted as the best goalkeeper in the world in 2024, was also hugely important. Martinez saved two penalties in a heroic performance during Argentina’s quarterfinal shootout win over Ecuador.
Lautaro Martinez continues to shine for Argentina (Juan Mabromata / AFP via Getty Images)
The final against Colombia pitted the top two teams of the tournament, but the match was marred by ugly scenes outside the Hard Rock Stadium gates hours before kickoff. Thousands of fans, some with tickets, and most without passes, attempted to forcefully enter the ground. The final was delayed by more than two hours.
In the end, however, Argentina outlasted a spirited Colombia side 1-0 in extra time. Martinez, Inter’s star striker, scored the winner and Argentina celebrated another title despite never finding their best form.
Worst moment: The chant that tarnished Argentina’s summer
It didn’t take long for Argentina’s win over Colombia to be shrouded in controversy. Hours after the win, a live broadcast from midfielder Enzo Fernandez’s Instagram page showed the Chelsea midfielder and several of his teammates singing a racist chant against members of the France national team.
It became a politically charged incident in both countries, with state officials taking jabs at each other. Fernandez was protected and defended by most in Argentina, but in England, where he plays his football with several Black teammates, the 23-year-old had teammate Wesley Fofana accuse him of “uninhibited racism” via a social media post. Fernandez later apologized to his Chelsea teammates, but the scandal overshadowed the start of the Enzo Maresca era in London.
In Argentina, Fernandez’s behavior, and that of the rest of the team during that video, was categorized as dressing room humor. It did spur conversations, however, about race, class and culture in the South American country. Still, nothing was allowed to spoil Argentina’s celebration of their third consecutive trophy in a major tournament.
Best game: The Copa America final
Argentina were favored but Colombia were the darlings of the tournament. James Rodriguez had a second breakout tournament, harkening back to his golden boy performance at 2014 World Cup. The Colombians were a confident team, but history was not on their side. Argentina is a footballing country accustomed to big finals. Colombia is not.
That historical difference was a factor on the night of July 14. Argentina had found ways to win even when their typically fluid play was absent for most of the tournament. Messi could still win a game with one snap chance. And despite Colombia’s 28-game unbeaten run entering that final, there was a sense that the stage would be too big for them. Colombia, though, were fearless. They dominated the first half and managed Argentina’s better moments with a steely resolve.
Stadium issues marred the Copa America final (Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)
In football, though, it really does often come down to the basics. Colombia finished with 19 shots (four on target), but could not beat Aston Villa goalkeeper Martinez. And when Messi limped off with an ankle injury in the second half, Argentina became more direct, more dynamic. The breadth of their depth was put on display. Gio Lo Celso, Leandro Paredes and Martinez came on as substitutes and created the winning goal in extra time.
It wasn’t a glamorous performance, but it was an example of Argentina’s resilience and their growing independence from Messi.
Best player: Lautaro Martinez
Martinez was a deserved Ballon d’Or candidate this year. The 27-year-old scored 24 goals during the 2023-2024 Serie A season to claim the coveted title of Capocannoniere. His season included 30 goal involvements in 33 matches for Inter. Martinez was seventh in the Ballon d’Or voting and finished as Serie A’s highest-ranked player ahead of African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman of Atalanta.
For Argentina, a team whose personality for over a decade has been linked to Messi, and with well-known players in nearly every position, Martinez at times has gone unnoticed. He has been partly to blame for this. Martinez has not replicated his consistent form in Italy for Argentina.
It was a problem that Martinez addressed publicly when his fortunes began to change this past summer.
“I’m happy,” Martinez said after scoring the winner against Chile on June 25. In a hotly-contested group-stage match against a rival, Martinez was the hero. “I’m happy because I scored and helped the team. It has been 16 games without a goal for me, but I’m always willing to contribute however this group needs me to.”
Scaloni dropped Martinez from the starting XI in 2024 in favor of Atletico Madrid striker Alvarez. But the Inter star was never left out in the cold. Scaloni praised his professionalism and his ability to win games when given the opportunity.
The Copa America allowed Martinez to shake off the rust and make squad selection a good problem to have for his manager. He finished the tournament with five goals and claimed the Golden Boot award. Martinez’s coolly taken winner against Colombia in the final rekindled his star power in Argentina.
The stat that sums up 2024: Martinez reaches 35th clean sheet
Messi is given much of the credit for Argentina’s rise to the top of the football world over the past two years. He has inspired his national team with incredible resilience and game-changing goals. But it’s Martinez, an imposing goalkeeper with elite reflexes, who has been the national team’s linchpin.
Martinez ended 2024 for his national team by helping them to a 1-0 win over Peru in World Cup qualifying. It was his 35th shutout in 49 matches for his country — a stunning statistic that tells the story of Martinez’s dominance in goal. With Argentina, Martinez has won two Copa America titles, a World Cup final and the inaugural Finalissima against Italy in 2022.
Emi Martinez’s Argentina performances helped him win acclaim as the world’s best goalkeeper (Charly Triballeau / AFP via Getty Images)
It wasn’t long ago the charismatic and controversial Martinez was an unknown journeyman player to most fans, both in Argentina and around the world.
Now, the menacing Martinez is the top dog in goal for both his club, Aston Villa, and his national team. No goalkeeper in world football is perfect. Martinez certainly isn’t, but his legend continues to grow.
Favorite quote
Emiliano Martinez in the pre-match press conference before the 2024 Copa America final:
“Kids will never insult you. Whether you win or lose you’ll always be their idol. Older people (in Argentina) have lived through other national teams, so to see kids today so engaged (with us), it motivates their parents and their parents motivate us. It’s a relationship that I never saw when I was child. My father tells me that he has never seen the people have such a close bond with the (national team’s) players.”
Did that really happen? (Messi’s missed Panenka)
With Argentina facing elimination against Ecuador during a Copa America quarterfinal in Houston, Messi stepped up to take his country’s first penalty in a tense shootout. Messi has never been, well, consistent from the spot. But since 2022, his penalties have been very good. He scored four of five penalties at the World Cup in Qatar, and one in the shootout in the final.
Messi doesn’t overthink his penalties, either. So it was a major surprise to see him try a Panenka in a do-or-die knockout match. It wasn’t a hasty decision, though. Messi told reporters after the match he had consulted Martinez and Argentina backup goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli. They agreed with Messi’s strategy.
GO DEEPER
Martinez the saviour after Messi’s Panenka miss – how Argentina beat Ecuador on penalties
Yet with a sellout crowd of 69,456 watching anxiously, Messi popped his Panenka off the crossbar as Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez dived hopelessly to his left. Jaws dropped. Heads went into hands. And Ecuador’s fans celebrated.
“My goodness,” said FOX Soccer analyst Stu Holden, in disbelief. Messi, meanwhile, trudged back to the center circle with his head down. But after Martinez saved Ecuador’s subsequent penalty from Angel Mena, he pointed at Messi from the corner flag in support of his captain. Argentina would escape with a 4-2 shootout win.
Player to watch in 2025: Thiago Almada
Former Real Madrid midfielder Nico Paz (now with Como) and Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho are two young players with bright international futures. But take a minute to appreciate Thiago Almada’s budding career.
The former Velez Sarsfield prodigy made a surprise move to MLS side Atlanta United in 2022. He was a last-minute replacement on Argentina’s World Cup squad that year as a 21-year-old and came home from the tournament a world champion.
Thiago Almada starred for Atlanta United before leaving for Brazil, now Europe beckons (Rich von Biberstein / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
With a move to Europe in his sights, this summer Atlanta instead accepted an MLS-record fee of $21million/£17.7m (which could rise to $30million if certain conditions are met) from Brazilian club Botafogo, owned by American billionaire John Textor. The 59-year-old Textor manages Eagle Football Holdings, which also operates French side Lyon and has a share in Crystal Palace of the Premier League.
Almada helped lead Botafogo to their first Copa Libertadores trophy last month, then celebrated the club’s third league title days later. He is set to be transferred to Lyon in January. The creative playmaker is a goal threat and a skilled ball progressor. He has consistently got better since leaving Argentina for the U.S. in 2022 and he appears to be a magnet for major international trophies. The bar is incredibly high for anyone to claim Argentina’s No 10 shirt after Messi retires, but Almada is a candidate beyond 2026.
Scaloni appreciates his skill set, and in Argentina, Almada is considered a jewel, a big-time talent that will be part of the national team’s next generation.
A wish for 2025: No second thoughts for Scaloni
The Argentina manager has guided the national team to their most successful period in its history. Scaloni is now compared to his most qualified predecessors like Cesar Luis Menotti and Carlos Bilardo, World Cup-winning coaches in 1978 and 1986, respectively.
Additionally, the 46-year-old has come to define a new era for international managers. Scaloni had served as an assistant on Argentina’s 2018 World Cup staff, but had never coached a senior side when he was appointed interim manager in 2019. His man-management is perhaps his greatest asset, but tactically, Scaloni has matured into an astute decision-maker and a progressive thinker.
When he considered resigning as Argentina coach in 2023, the players and the country’s fans were in a state of shock. Scaloni told reporters he suffered mentally and emotionally after Argentina’s World Cup win. It made him rethink his purpose as a coach.
“I was close to leaving because I wasn’t in a good place,” he told Argentine journalist Alejandro Fantino in November. “I think it’s best to admit it. It’s useless to be in a place where you don’t feel like yourself.”
Scaloni bravely opened up about his mental health (Pablo Morano / BSR Agency/Getty Images)
As a guest on Fantino’s podcast, Scaloni revealed he experienced fears that he had never felt after winning the World Cup. Those fears intensified after Argentina defeated Brazil in Rio de Janeiro during a World Cup qualifier in 2023. It was Argentina’s first qualifying win on Brazilian soil and Brazil’s first home loss in 65 World Cup qualifiers. Scaloni has since committed his future to Argentina through 2026.
“If you stop and think about it, the mind can play tricks on you,” Scaloni said. “I don’t wake up every morning thinking that I’m a world champion. That’s not how I am.”
It was brave of Scaloni to open up about his mental health. His ability to conduct the national team like a seasoned composer is highly valued. It’s difficult for Argentines to imagine a future without Messi, but a similar sentiment now exists for Scaloni. For now, he’s on board to defend their World Cup trophy in two years. Argentines will hope he doesn’t change his mind.
(Top photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
