Argentina have repeated the achievement of Diego Maradona's generation by reaching the World Cup final for the second consecutive time, following their 2-1 victory over England in the semi-finals — recreating what the national team accomplished when it reached the finals of the 1986 and 1990 editions.
FIFA's official website noted that Argentina have become the sixth national team to win the World Cup and then successfully reach the final of the following edition.
The list includes Italy in 1934 and 1938, Brazil in 1958 and 1962, Argentina in 1986 and 1990, Brazil again in 1994 and 1998, France in 2018 and 2022, before Argentina repeated the feat across the 2022 and 2026 editions.
The Squawka network reported that the Argentine national team have now recorded the most victories in World Cup semi-final matches, after adding their win over England to their record at that stage.
Argentina recorded their first semi-final victory against the United States, winning 6-1 at the 1930 World Cup, before beating Belgium 2-0 in the 1986 edition.
Argentina eliminated Italy and the Netherlands on penalties in the semi-finals of the 1990 and 2014 editions respectively, then beat Croatia 3-0 at the 2022 World Cup, before defeating England 2-1 in the current edition.
Argentina have now recorded their third victory over England in direct World Cup encounters, having previously won 2-1 at the 1986 World Cup and then prevailed on penalties in the knockout stage of the 1998 edition.
England, for their part, have achieved three victories over Argentina at the World Cup, coming in the 1962, 1966, and 2002 editions.