ARGENTINA I RANK: 3 I BEST RESULT: CHAMPIONS (1978, 1986, 2022)
Lionel Messi and Argentina hope to become the first repeat World Cup champion in six decades. La Albiceleste won the 2022 final on penalty kicks over France. No men’s team has won consecutive World Cups since Brazil in 1958 led by Pelé and in 1962, when Pelé missed most of the tournament because of an injury. A second World Cup title might elevate Messi in debates of whether he, Pelé or Diego Maradona is the greatest player in football history. Messi, who turns 39 two days after Argentina’s second game, could along with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo become the first men to play in six World Cups. Lionel Scaloni, who became Argentina’s coach in 2018, hopes to become the second coach to win two World Cups after Vittorio Pozzo with Italy in 1934 and 1938.
