
<p><strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/mario-kempes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mario Kempes</a></strong> has analyzed <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/argentina/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Argentina</a></strong>‘s performance in the <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2026 World Cup</a></strong> final against <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/spain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spain</a></strong>, admitting that the team did not produce the performance that many expected while defending the players from claims that they failed to compete.</p>



<p>Kempes said: <em>“I want to tell you something quickly. You know what it meant to me to put on the Argentina jersey: there is nothing greater that can happen to a player than representing his country. And I was lucky enough to have that opportunity. I’m not going to lie, <strong>it wasn’t the game we all expected</strong>.”</em></p>



<p>The Argentina legend knows what it means to represent the national team after <strong>winning the competition in 1978 as the tournament’s top scorer</strong> with six goals, including two in the 3-1 victory over the Netherlands in the final.</p>



<h2>Kempes on Argentina’s performance</h2>



<p>The World Cup winner acknowledged that <strong>Argentina fell short of the level it had shown earlier in the tournament</strong>, but said that such fluctuations are part of soccer and that the team must now move forward.</p>



<div class="ck-instagram"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbGWOuSxsBK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;margin: 1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:99.375%;width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px);width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbGWOuSxsBK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <div style="flex-direction: row;align-items: center"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 40px;margin-right: 14px;width: 40px"></div> <div style="flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 100px"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 60px"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0"></div> <div style="height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"></div><div style="padding-top: 8px"> <div style="color:#3897f0;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:550;line-height:18px">Ver esta publicación en Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0"></div> <div style="flex-direction: row;margin-bottom: 14px;align-items: center"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px;flex-grow: 0;margin-right: 14px;margin-left: 2px"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 20px;width: 20px"></div> <div style="width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 2px solid transparent;border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom: 2px solid transparent"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto"> <div style="width: 0px;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right: 8px solid transparent"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;flex-grow: 0;height: 12px;width: 16px"></div> <div style="width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left: 8px solid transparent"></div></div></div> <div style="flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center;margin-bottom: 24px"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 224px"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 144px"></div></div></a><p style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbGWOuSxsBK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Una publicación compartida por Mario kempes (@mario.kempes78)</a></p></div></blockquote></div>




<p>For the former striker, it was also essential to reject claims suggesting that Argentina did not compete in the final, <strong>arguing that a team can have a poor performance</strong> without its commitment being questioned.</p>


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="WST#/news/spain-coach-luis-de-la-fuente-surprisingly-compares-ferran-torres-to-alvaro-morata-after-2026-world-cup-title/"></div>


<p>Kempes said: <em>“It was clear that the team was not at the level of the previous three. And that happens in soccer: there are better days and worse days. I’ve experienced it many times. A team dropping its level in a game is not the same as a team that doesn’t compete. <strong>Those versions going around out there without any evidence don’t do anyone any good</strong>.”</em></p>



<h2>Kempes asks for criticism to be based on facts</h2>



<p>The former player asked supporters and the media not to amplify claims that have no basis. Kempes said: <em>“I ask that, if we want to be demanding of the team, let’s do it properly, but let’s not echo every unfounded thing that circulates. This jersey is respected in good times and bad, so let’s go, <strong>Argentina forever</strong>.”</em></p>


‘It wasn’t the match we all expected,’ Argentina legend Mario Kempes analyzes World Cup loss to Spain

'It wasn't the match we all expected,' Argentina legend Mario Kempes analyzes World Cup loss to Spain - World Soccer Talk

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<p>After years without silverware, <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/argentina/">Argentina</a></strong> has reemerged as one of the most dominant national teams in history, with <strong>Lionel Messi</strong> at the helm. But in a country where soccer is deeply ingrained in the culture, not everyone agrees that this era is the greatest. <strong>An Argentine legend has weighed in, pointing out what <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Messi</a>’s team still lacks to be considered the best in the nation’s history</strong>.</p>



<p>Since 2021, <strong>Argentina has won one World Cup, two Copa Americas, and a Finalissima</strong>, marking one of the most successful runs for any national team in the modern era. Even <strong>1986 World Cup champion Oscar Ruggeri</strong> has publicly praised the current squad led by Messi.</p>



<p>However, <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/mario-kempes/">Mario Alberto Kempes</a></strong>—a World Cup winner in <strong>1978</strong> who was also that tournament’s top scorer and best player—offered a different perspective. He emphasized the accomplishments of past generations and what this current group must achieve to earn the title of Argentina’s greatest:</p>



<p>“<em><strong>These guys won just one World Cup, they didn’t win two. The 1978 team won a World Cup, and the 1986 team won a World Cup</strong>. Now, if they win the next World Cup, then I can tell you they’re absolutely right, but <strong>you have to win two World Cups before being called the best national team</strong></em>,” Kempes said in an interview with the AZZ YouTube channel.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/04144414/Mario-Kempes-Argentina-1200x675-1200x675.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-563728" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></div></figure>



<p>When asked about Argentina’s back-to-back Copa América titles, Kempes downplayed their significance: “<em>The Copa America? Yes, it’s great to win it, but Argentina lost two finals against Chile and the world didn’t end. <strong>Just because Argentina won two in a row doesn’t mean they’re the best of the best. If they win another World Cup, then I’ll tip my hat</strong></em>.”</p>


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/lionel-messis-argentina-reigns-supreme-in-fifa-rankings-where-do-kylian-mbappes-france-vinicius-brazil-and-cristiano-ronaldos-portugal-stand/" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.worldsoccertalk.com%2Fwebp%2Ffull%2FWST_20250403_WST_563521_mbappe-ronaldo-vinicius-messi-fifa-argentina-portugal-brazil-france.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="Argentina has tightened its grip on the No. 1 spot in FIFA&apos;s latest world rankings after an impressive international break. While Lionel Messi’s side continues to set the standard, other major nations, including the teams of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius, and Cristiano Ronaldo, have seen changes in their positions.
" title="Lionel Messi’s Argentina reigns supreme in FIFA Rankings: Where do Kylian Mbappe’s France, Vinicius’ Brazil, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal stand?" publication_id="WST#/news/lionel-messis-argentina-reigns-supreme-in-fifa-rankings-where-do-kylian-mbappes-france-vinicius-brazil-and-cristiano-ronaldos-portugal-stand/"></div>


<p>“<em><strong>The history of Argentine football was written by all of us—it’s not just about the most recent chapter</strong></em>,” he added. Despite the criticism, Argentina remains a dominant force in international soccer and <strong>has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup</strong>. With Messi still leading the team, they’ll have a shot to cement their place as one of the all-time great squads.</p>



<h2>Argentina: Two years at the top</h2>



<p><strong>Argentina first reached the No. 1 spot in the FIFA World Rankings on April 6, 2023, and has maintained it through the latest update this Thursday</strong>. With 1,886 points, the reigning world champions have now held the top position for over two years—chasing the fifth-longest reign since the rankings were introduced in 1993.</p>



<p>That mark is currently held by <strong>Spain</strong>, who spent <strong>2 years, 9 months, and 25 days</strong> at No. 1 between September 21, 2011, and July 17, 2014, following their triumphs at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup. With nearly a year and a half remaining until the next World Cup, Argentina has a real shot at surpassing that milestone if their dominant form continues.</p>


Argentina legend says Lionel Messi’s team isn’t the best in history, reveals what it still lacks

Argentina legend says Lionel Messi’s team isn’t the best in history, reveals what it still lacks - World Soccer Talk

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‘It wasn’t the match we all expected,’ Argentina legend Mario Kempes analyzes World Cup loss to Spain

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Argentina legend says Lionel Messi’s team isn’t the best in history, reveals what it still lacks