The History of the Albiceleste
The Argentina national football team was officially formed on May 16, 1901, playing its first match against Uruguay in Montevideo, losing 3-2 in what is the oldest football derby outside of Great Britain. The white and sky-blue vertical stripes of the jersey, inspired by the Argentine national flag, have since been the identifying symbol of the Albiceleste, one of the most glorious national teams in world football. Argentina has won three World Cups, placing it among the most decorated teams in history. The first triumph came on June 25, 1978, in Buenos Aires under César Luis Menotti, a controversial and symbolic victory played during the military dictatorship but of immense sporting significance, with champions such as Daniel Passarella (captain), Mario Kempes (top scorer and absolute star), Daniel Bertoni, Osvaldo Ardiles, Ricardo Villa, Ubaldo Fillol, and Leopoldo Luque. The second arrived on June 29, 1986, in Mexico under Carlos Bilardo, and it was Diego Armando Maradona's World Cup, considered by many to be the greatest individual performance ever in a tournament: from the famous "Goal of the Century" and the "Hand of God" against England in the quarter-finals, to the final won 3-2 against West Germany, El Diez carried a team that included Jorge Burruchaga, Jorge Valdano, Sergio Batista, Oscar Ruggeri, Jorge Olarticoechea, and Nery Pumpido. The third and most anticipated triumph came on December 18, 2022, in Doha under Lionel Scaloni, after 36 years of waiting: Lionel Messi's World Cup, won in the final against Mbappé's France in one of the most beautiful matches in history (3-3 after extra time, penalty shootout victory), fulfilling a lifelong dream for the greatest Argentine footballer after Maradona. That team included Emiliano Martínez, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Rodrigo De Paul, Ángel Di María (scorer of a historic goal in the final), Julián Álvarez, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, and captain Lionel Messi, who had already won the Copa América 2021 at the Maracanã against Brazil, his first international trophy as captain of the Seleção. In addition to the three World Cups, Argentina has won 16 Copas América (a record shared with Uruguay), 6 Olympic gold medals, and numerous Finalissimas, including the 2022 one against European champions Italy at Wembley. Among the great legends of the Albiceleste are Diego Armando Maradona (eternal symbol of world football), Lionel Messi (8 Ballons d'Or, all-time leading scorer of the Seleção), Alfredo Di Stéfano, Mario Kempes, Daniel Passarella, Gabriel Batistuta (all-time leading scorer until Messi), Juan Sebastián Verón, Hernán Crespo, Sergio Agüero, Javier Mascherano, Ángel Di María, and captain Lionel Messi.
Argentina Jerseys: Signed Store, Player Issued, and Match Worn
The Argentina jerseys available on MTM Memorabilia represent a high-level collection of the Albiceleste National Team. The catalog includes three distinct types of official jerseys. Signed store jerseys are commercial versions signed by the protagonists of Argentine history, from the champions of the 1978 and 1986 Maradona World Cups to the 2022 Messi winners. Player issued jerseys are official examples assigned by the Federation to players for training, bench, or reserve, identical to those used in games but not used in official matches. Match worn jerseys are actually worn on the field during official competitions, the rarest and most sought-after piece by international collectors. Each jersey covers different tournaments and protagonists: from the historic Adidas vintages of the seventies and eighties, with the famous 1986 World Cup jersey worn by Maradona, to the Adidas eras (a continuous historical technical supplier), up to the recent seasons of Messi's triumphs. The provenance of each jersey is documented and authenticity verified by our experts.
Original Argentina Autographs and Memorabilia on MTM Memorabilia
MTM Memorabilia is the reference point in Italy for high-level collecting related to the Argentina National Football Team. In addition to jerseys, on MTM you will find signed photographs, signed balls, framed legends, and collectible memorabilia dedicated to the protagonists of the Albiceleste. Every piece of Argentina memorabilia available on MTM is selected with rigorous criteria of provenance and authenticity by our experts. Every signed piece is always accompanied free of charge by the MTM Letter of Authenticity (LOA), a document issued by our experts that declares the provenance and veracity of the autograph according to our direct knowledge. Depending on the type and value of the item, MTM autographs can be accompanied by additional third-party certifications recognized internationally — including the COA-R issued by Associazione Autografia, or certificates from entities such as PSA and JSA — included in the price or purchasable separately.
