An in-depth explanation of Argentina s six U20 World Cup titles: Menotti laid the foundation and Pekerman built a dynasty!

The Argentina U20 national team has won 6 U20 World Cup championships, making it the team with the most championships in this event. Argentina will challenge for its seventh championship trophy in team history in Chile.

The Argentina U20 team shined in the World Youth Championship (U20 World Cup). Argentina has participated in a total of 7 finals and won 6 championships. This record is still unmatched by any team - Brazil has won 5 championships. From the legendary 1979 team that featured Maradona and Ramon Diaz to the 2007 championship team led by Aguero, Argentina has established an era-long dominance in the competition.

The only time Argentina missed the championship was in the 1983 U20 World Cup in Mexico, when Argentina lost 0-1 to Brazil. Apart from that, every other final was filled with glory, talent and goals, and is deeply engraved in the collective memory of fans.

[In-depth explanation of Argentina’s U20 national team’s six World Cup championships]

1.[1979: Won the first championship under Menotti]

In the 1979 U20 World Cup in Japan, Argentina ushered in its first World Cup championship in team history. At the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Argentina defeated the Soviet Union 3-1, with goals scored by Hugo Alves, Ramon Diaz and Diego Maradona. Under the coaching of Cesar Luis Menotti, this Argentine team showed absolute dominance: they scored 20 goals in the entire tournament and conceded only 2 goals. Ramon Diaz won the Golden Boot with 8 goals, and Maradona was elected the best player of the tournament.

2. [1995: Revenge against Brazil in Qatar]

In the 1995 Qatar U20 World Cup, Argentina once again reached the top. After 16 years, Argentina returned to the top of the championship. Led by Jose Pekerman and captained by Juan Pablo Solin, the "Blue and White Army" defeated Brazil 2-0 in the final, with goals scored by Leonardo Biagini and Francisco Guerrero. This victory in Doha was symbolic revenge for the defeat in the 1983 final and marked the beginning of the Pekerman era - Argentina scored 12 goals and conceded only 3 goals in the tournament.

3.[1997: Two consecutive championships in Malaysia]

In the 1997 U20 World Cup in Malaysia, Argentina won the third championship in team history. The Shah Alam Stadium witnessed another Argentina championship. They defeated Uruguay 2-1 in the final, with Esteban Cambiaso and Diego Quintana scoring a goal each. Many players from this championship team have now become an important part of the Argentine football system: Pablo Aimar, Lionel Scaloni, Walter Samuel, Diego Placente, and Riquelme, the current president of Boca Juniors. Throughout the tournament, Argentina scored 15 goals and conceded 7, further consolidating its dominance in youth competitions.

4.[2001: Winning the title in local competition]

In the 2001 Argentina U20 World Cup, the "Blue and White Army" won the cup for the fourth time. Amid the cheers of the home fans, the Argentina team led by Pekerman defeated Ghana 3-0 and won the fourth U20 World Cup championship in team history. The goalscorers were Diego Colotto, Javier Saviola and Maxi Rodriguez. Javier Saviola is the absolute core of the tournament: he scored 11 goals in total, won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards, and led this offensive team to score 27 goals and conceded only 4 goals. This championship in 2001 was Pekerman's last championship when coaching Argentina U20, and it brought an end to his brilliant youth team coaching career. In 2004, Pekerman became the head coach of Argentina's adult national team.

5.[2005: Messi leads the way, reaching the top for the fifth time]

In the U20 World Cup held in the Netherlands, Messi stood out and became the biggest highlight of the event. Argentina defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the final, with Messi scoring both goals. This team also includes Fernando Gago, Pablo Zabaleta, Oscar Ustari and other well-known players in the future. Messi won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards in one fell swoop. No one knew at the time that he was embarking on a legendary career of his own. This championship is the fifth U20 World Cup championship in the history of Argentina. The Argentina team, coached by Pancho Ferraro, scored 12 goals and conceded only 5 goals in the entire tournament.

6.[2007: The sixth star shines in Canada]

In the Canada U20 World Cup, the Argentina team coached by Hugo Tokali (Pekerman's assistant) defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 and won the sixth championship trophy in team history. The goals were scored by Aguero and Mauro Zarate. Aguero was the central figure of the tournament: not only was he the tournament's top scorer, he was also the team's leader in winning the title. Angel Di Maria, Yver Banega, Sergio Romero and other future main players of the national team also emerged in this team. The Argentine team scored 16 goals and conceded only 2 goals throughout the tournament, once again confirming their top status in the U20 competition.

Now, with such a glorious past, the Argentina U20 national team is preparing for a new final. In the 2025 U20 World Cup, Argentina will face Morocco in the final. Argentina is eager to win its seventh championship trophy in team history and continue to consolidate its dominance in youth competitions.