The epic victory of the Argentine national team in Qatar 2022 not only restored hope The World Cup after 36 years of waitingBut she jumped Lionel Messi And the technical staff Lionel Scaloni To the most glorious pages in football history. However, on the horizon for USA-Mexico-Canada 2026, there is a challenge that goes beyond just defending the title: The possibility of equaling the record that Brazil alone held for 64 years on the American continent.
The achievement that Albiceleste will try to achieve is Two consecutive world championshipsThis is an achievement that only two countries have achieved since 1930. Italy did it in 1934 and 1938, in the era before World War II. But the last and most resonant of these achievements was that of the Brazilian national team, which lifted the Jules Rimet Cup in Sweden in 1958 and retained it in Chile in 1962. Since then, modern football has shown that regaining the title is the most difficult task, with the green and yellow team making the goal of Argentina. If Messi and company achieve this, the Albiceleste will not only add a fourth star, but they will join an exclusive club and, in the process, catch up with their eternal rival on this list of achievements.
Scaloni, a coach chasing a record, has been around for more than 60 years.
Two-time Brazilian championship legend: Pele and Garrincha, two pillars of an unattainable achievement
The scale of what Argentina is aiming for can be measured by the era of records. When the 2026 World Cup will be held. It will have been 64 years since the last time a team won the Double Crown.
The Brazilian achievement began in Sweden 1958with a young and dazzling appearance Pelletonly 17 years old. O Rey’s talent was key in Canarinha’s 5-2 final win over the local team, which was the beginning of their dominance. Four years later, in Chile 1962Fate tests the quality of a hero. Pele was injured in the second match of the tournament, leaving the team below its highest level. And there another legend appeared: Manny Garrincha.
Garrincha, nicknamed the “Angel of Crooked Legs,” took over with a performance that many compare to the influence of Diego Maradona in 1986. He scored two goals against England in the quarter-finals and two more goals against hosts Chile in the semi-finals. Despite the suspension (which was later lifted through diplomatic efforts), Garrincha was in the final, as Brazil beat Czechoslovakia 3-1, showing that their dominance did not depend on one player. Thus coach Emory Moreira became the only one, besides Italian Vittorio Pozo, to lead the tournament twice, representing a model of continued success.
Italy, the first two-time champion in World Cup history
To put the weight of the record into context, it’s important to remember what other team was able to reassert their title. The Italian team was the first to win the title on two consecutive occasions, but in a radically different and more controversial historical context.
Under the leadership of the legendary Vittorio Pozo (the only coach in history to win two World Cups), the Azzurra became champions in Italy 1934a tournament surrounded by controversies due to the alleged political influence of Benito Mussolini’s regime. Four years later, in France 1938Italy succeeded in defending its title by defeating Hungary in the final. But this dual invasion was interrupted by World War II, which halted the World Cup finals in 1942 and 1946. When the competition returned in 1950, Italy’s achievement was a feat from a bygone era.
The challenge of Scaloni and the Argentine national team: Will the golden generation be able to maintain the summit?
Lionel Scaloni’s Argentine national team arrives at the 2026 World Cup in a privileged position that it rarely enjoys: not only is it the current champion, but it has consolidated a sporting project based on collective solidity and high competitiveness. The big difference with champions who failed in their attempts to rehabilitate (such as France in 2022 or Brazil in 1998) is the foundation of the team.
Albiceleste will not only have a proven tactical structure, but will, in principle, maintain its main characters: Draw Martinez In goal and the defenders’ double, for the midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Alexis McAllisterAnd of course Lionel Messi.
The main obstacle, other than the quality of competitors, is recent history. After the Brazilian Championship twice, eight teams tried to retain the title, and none of them succeeded. Those who were closest, having reached the next final, were:
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Argentina (1986 champion), which lost the 1990 final to Germany.
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Brazil (1994 champion), which lost in the 1998 final to France.
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France (2018 champion), who failed in the exciting 2022 final against Argentina itself.