The fireworks shot out from the top rafters of the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. Argentina’s players mingled together in the center circle, jumping and clapping to the chants of the national team’s die-hard fans. The Albiceleste had just humiliated their eternal rival Brazil 4-1 in a 2026 World Cup qualifier on March 25.

The win mathematically secured Argentina’s qualification, with four games to spare. It was an affirmation that the defending world champion remains a formidable force in international football. The thrashing of Brazil was followed by a hard-fought 1-0 victory over nemesis Chile in Santiago, and with those two wins, Argentina’s 2025 was off to a flying start.

Now, six months away from their World Cup opener against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Argentina again looks the part of a tournament contender. The same group of players who won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are hungry for more glory in 2026. After winning the Copa América for the second straight time in 2024, Argentina strutted into the 2025 international calendar with new hardware and clear objectives.

Argentina won all but one of its nine matches this past year. The lone loss came against Ecuador in Quito on the final day of World Cup qualifying. To be clear, Argentina is far from infallible, but under head coach Lionel Scaloni, the South American champions are almost always in control on matchday. With a gigantic target on their back, Argentina have embraced their role as international football’s villains.

Argentines have never shied away from the arrogance that defines them in international football. Three years after winning their third World Cup, they are more brash than ever. After dismantling Brazil without Lionel Messi, who was unavailable through injury, the swagger reached an even higher level.

In spite of not playing for a trophy in 2025, the Argentines were tested throughout qualifying. They defeated Brazil and Uruguay, and played to a 1-1 draw against Colombia in Buenos Aires. As they head into a World Cup year, Argentina will stick out their chests, as always – while still waiting patiently for Messi’s decision to join them in North America next summer.

Lionel Messi in national team action against Puerto Rico. (Megan Briggs / Getty Images)

Outlook for 2026: Will Messi play at the World Cup?

The March victories over Brazil and Chile came during a FIFA window in which Messi remained in Fort Lauderdale. The start of his MLS season started slow, and when the adductor injury sidelined Messi, Scaloni replaced his captain with Atlético Madrid midfielder Thiago Almada. The result confirmed what we already know: Argentina can hit another gear when Messi is not on the field.

Argentina has been in this position before. They won the Copa América in 2024 with Messi struggling to put his stamp on matches. In the final against Colombia, a bad ankle injury took him out of the game in the second half. From there, Argentina became more direct in possession with the inclusion of winger Nicolás González and central midfielder Giovani Lo Celso. Here’s how Argentina’s tactics without Messi overwhelmed Brazil.