Leo compared the present Argentina national team with Pep Guardiola’s legendary side that captured six titles in 2009.
In football, there aren’t absolute certainties and much depends on interpretation. The different eras, evolving styles, and the scarcity of audiovisual material that lets us witness what happened on the pitch before the 1970s can skew memory when discussing the game’s great teams and players. Yet there are few arguments anyone would dispute: Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona ranks among the finest teams ever to grace a field with a ball and a goal as the destination.
For Lionel Messi, nothing less than this is the reference point. He has stated that the current Argentina squad is “very close” to the Blaugrana side — a squad, in Messi’s view, that is “the best team in history.” The captain’s admiration underlines not only his enjoyment while wearing the national shirt but also how much what has been crafted by Lionel Scaloni over the last five years matters to Argentina’s identity and ambitions.
But beyond Messi’s praise, does the comparison hold water? How far can Scaloni’s group go when measured against Guardiola’s Barcelona? The conversation touches on systems, player development, the balance between defense and attack, and the way different generations define greatness on the international stage. It also invites reflection on the evolution of football tactics, the role of star talents, and the importance of a cohesive national project that blends youth with experience. The Argentina team built by Scaloni has combined technical precision with a renewed attacking spirit, prioritizing ball movement, pressing intensity, and a pragmatic approach to matches that demand both patience and decisive breakthroughs.
Looking at the broader landscape, the debate resonates with fans who remember the magical runs of Barcelona in the late 2000s, the way their game combined high pressing, positional play, and a fearless approach to possession. It also resonates with supporters who have watched Argentina shape a new era on the world stage, a team that has learned from its own storied past while seeking to redefine what it means to balance tradition and modernity. The question remains not only about trophies won or aesthetics on the field, but about the enduring impact a national team can have on a sport’s history and on the aspirations of a nation that lives and breathes football.
In this sense, the comparison becomes less about a checklist of titles and more about a shared language that connects two eras. It is a conversation about influence, resilience, and the ability to adapt while preserving an unmistakable identity. Whether Scaloni’s side will reach the same pristine levels as Guardiola’s Barcelona is a question that will be settled on the pitch over time, through a series of performances that echo beyond a single match. For now, Argentina’s evolution under Scaloni stands as a significant chapter in the country’s rich football narrative, one that continues to invite thoughtful discussion among fans, analysts, and players who watch with a keen eye for what makes a team truly legendary.