When it comes to soccer in general, the first South American country that usually comes to mind for many is Brazil. However, there is another South American country crazy for "futbol," and that is Argentina. 

Much like Brazil, the sport has already been woven into their culture. With the World Cup in Qatar going on, Argentina seems poised to win it all, even with that opening game hiccup against Saudi Arabia. 

Argentina has also produced some of the biggest names in soccer, including "god" himself, Diego Maradona, and of course, the man many considered the "GOAT," Lionel Messi.

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Argentina's Futbol Culture 

Argentina is a melting pot of European, indigenous, and Latino people, and soccer, or "futbol" as it is called there, was first introduced in the late 19th century by British immigrants.

The sport has been played in the country for over a century now, with Argentina's first league having its first-ever match back in 1891. Since then, the sport has slowly integrated into the country's culture, becoming the most popular sport in Argentina today.

In professional leagues, Europe's various leagues that are part of UEFA, such as the English Premier League and the Spanish Premier League, are undoubtedly the most well-known and popular worldwide. However, Argentinian fans can match that devotion to their own local clubs.

The Argentine Football Association's (AFA) top league is the Liga Profesional de Futbol or the Primera Division. Two very important teams are playing in this league, and their rivalry is legendary, even among non-Argentinians. Of course, we are talking about Boca Juniors and River Plate.

According to the Fund for Education Abroad, the support for these two teams last generations, with families passing down the love for the team to the next generation, and that cycle continues to this day.

Matches between Boca Junior and River Plate are often intense and exciting. According to Celebrity Cruises, there is always "a sea of chanting and stomping revelers, rocket flares flying overhead and banners swaying in the wind."

Argentina and the World Cup

While Brazil is the winningest team in the World Cup, its South American neighbor Argentina is considered its regional rival for winning twice. Argentina won the World Cup for the first time in 1978 and then again in 1986.

According to The History of Soccer, the country was also the World Cup runner-up thrice in 1930, 1990, and 2014. That makes Argentina one of the most successful soccer teams in the prestigious tournament's history.

In 1978, Argentina hosted the World Cup final and saw the home team defeat the Netherlands. Like Qatar, the tournament was also controversial off the field, as this was when a military junta took over the country.

Argentina's last win was in 1986, and it was controversial on the field because of Diego Maradona and the infamous incident known as "The Hand of God." It was in the quarterfinals, and Maradona appeared to have punched the ball into the net, earning Argentina the victory against England.

Officials missed that Maradona's fist touched the ball, which is illegal by soccer rules and allowed the goal to stand. To this day, the English still have not let that notorious handball incident slide. 

The Argentinians then went on to beat West Germany in the final and secure their second World Cup. This year, Lionel Messi aims to cement his "GOAT" status as Argentina seeks to win its third World Cup and end its decades-long drought.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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