Argentina national football team records and statistics

This is a list of statistical records for the Argentina national football team.

Individual records

 * Players in bold are still active with Argentina.

Caps

 * Most capped player overall: 187 – Lionel Messi, 2005 – present
 * Most FIFA World Cup tournaments played: 5 – Lionel Messi in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022
 * Most FIFA World Cup appearances made: 26 – Lionel Messi
 * Most FIFA World Cup appearances made as captain: 19 – Lionel Messi
 * Most CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualification appearances made: 65 – Lionel Messi
 * Most Copa América tournaments played: 7 – Lionel Messi in 2007, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024
 * Most Copa América appearances made: 39 – Lionel Messi
 * Youngest player: Diego Maradona, 16 years, 124 days old against Hungary on 27 February 1977
 * Youngest player to reach 100 caps: Lionel Messi, 27 years, 361 days old against Jamaica on 20 June 2015
 * Youngest player to appear in a FIFA World Cup match: Lionel Messi, 18 years, 362 days old against Serbia and Montenegro on 16 June 2006
 * Youngest player to appear in a FIFA World Cup match as captain: Lionel Messi, 22 years, 363 days old against Greece on 22 June 2010
 * Oldest player: Ángel Labruna, 39 years old against Czechoslovakia at the 1958 FIFA World Cup on 15 June 1958

Goals

 * Most goals scored: 109 – Lionel Messi, 2005–
 * Most goals scored in competitive matches: 58 – Lionel Messi
 * Most goals scored in international friendlies: 51 – Lionel Messi
 * Youngest goalscorer: Diego Maradona, 18 years, 7 months and 4 days old against Scotland on 2 June 1979
 * Youngest player to score in a FIFA World Cup match: Lionel Messi, 18 years, 357 days old against Serbia and Montenegro on 16 June 2006
 * Oldest goalscorer: Ángel Labruna, 38 years, 282 days old against Brazil on 7 July 1957
 * Most hat-tricks scored in all international competitions, including friendlies: 9 – Lionel Messi
 * Most goals scored in a single match: 5 – Juan Marvezzi against Ecuador on 16 February 1941, Lionel Messi against Estonia on 5 June 2022
 * Most goals scored in a calendar year: 18 – Lionel Messi in 2022
 * Most direct free kick goals scored in all international competitions, including friendlies: 11 – Lionel Messi
 * Most FIFA World Cup tournaments scored in: 4 – Lionel Messi in 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022
 * Most goals scored at the FIFA World Cup: 13 – Lionel Messi
 * Most goals scored at one FIFA World Cup: 8 – Guillermo Stabile in 1930
 * Most hat-tricks scored at the FIFA World Cup: 2 – Gabriel Batistuta
 * Most goals scored in FIFA World Cup finals: 2 – Mario Kempes in 1978 and Lionel Messi in 2022
 * Most goals scored in CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualification matches: 31 – Lionel Messi
 * Most goals scored in one CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualification campaign: 10 – Lionel Messi in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
 * Most direct free kick goals scored in CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualification matches: 4 – Juan Román Riquelme and Lionel Messi
 * Most Copa América tournaments scored in: 6 – Lionel Messi in 2007, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024
 * Most goals scored at the Copa América: 17 – Norberto Méndez
 * Most goals scored at one Copa América: 9 – Humberto Maschio in 1957
 * Most direct free kick goals scored at the Copa América: 4 – Lionel Messi
 * Most assists provided in all international competitions, including friendlies: 55 – Lionel Messi
 * Most FIFA World Cup tournaments assisted in: 5 – Lionel Messi in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022
 * Most assists provided at the FIFA World Cup: 8 – Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi
 * Most Copa América tournaments assisted in: 7 – Lionel Messi in 2007, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024
 * Most assists provided at the Copa América: 18 – Lionel Messi
 * Most assists provided at one Copa América: 5 – Lionel Messi in 2021

World Cup awards and achievements
World Cup Golden Ball

The World Cup Golden Ball has been given by FIFA to the best player at the World Cup since 1982; Argentina players have won it thrice; Maradona in 1986 and Messi in 2014 and 2022.

World Cup top goalscorer

Guillermo Stábile in 1930 and Mario Kempes in 1978 were both the top-scoring players at their respective World Cups.

World Cup Golden Glove

The best goalkeeper at the World Cup is awarded the FIFA World Cup Golden Glove. In 2022 this award was won by Emiliano Martínez.

World Cup Young Player Award

The best player at the World Cup who is no older than 21 during the calendar year of the tournament is awarded the FIFA World Cup Young Player Award. In 2022 this award was won by Enzo Fernández.

Manager records

 * Most appearances
 * Guillermo Stábile: 127 Guillermo coached Argentina in 123 matches which made him among the few coaches who were in charge of more than 100 international matches. While still with the national team, he led them to victories in the South American Championship in 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, and 1957.

Competitive record
Champions  Runners-up   Third place   Tournament played fully or partially on home soil

FIFA World Cup

 * *Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions

 * *Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

Head-to-head record
Below is a result summary of all matches Argentina has played against FIFA recognised teams.

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