Argentina vs England

Historic Rivalry

Football Rivalry / International Matches / World Cup Encounters

Notable matches: 1986, 1998, 2002, 2022

Sports History

Expert Insight: The Argentina vs England football rivalry extends beyond sports, encompassing historical and cultural dimensions that make it one of football's most intense matchups.

Historic Matches

11986 World Cup Quarterfinal

Maradona's "Hand of God" and "Goal of the Century"

Argentina won 2-1 in Mexico

21998 World Cup Round of 16

England lost on penalties after 2-2 draw

Beckham's red card was decisive

32002 World Cup Group Stage

England won 1-0 with Beckham's penalty

First competitive win since 1966

42022 World Cup Quarterfinal

Argentina won on penalties after 2-2 draw

Messi's last World Cup victory over England

Key Fact: The Falklands War in 1982 intensified the sporting rivalry, particularly influencing the atmosphere of the 1986 World Cup match.

Key Players

1Diego Maradona

Scored both goals in the iconic 1986 match

Considered Argentina's greatest player

2Lionel Messi

Led Argentina to victory in 2022

Scored penalty in shootout

3David Beckham

Red card in 1998, redemption in 2002

England's captain in crucial matches

Cultural Significance

1Post-colonial tensions

Matches often reflect historical relations

Falklands/Malvinas dispute background

2Style contrast

Argentina's flair vs England's physicality

Different football philosophies

3Global audience

Among most watched football matches worldwide

Massive TV ratings every encounter

Remember: While the rivalry is intense on the pitch, it has also produced moments of sportsmanship and mutual respect between players.