Argentina will grace the grandest stage in football for a sixth time on Sunday, taking on France in the 2022 World Cup final.
La Albiceleste have not got their hands on the trophy since 1986 despite reaching two finals since then, with Germany proving to be their Achilles heel on both occasions.
Indeed, Argentina have lost three of their previous five appearances in the final of a World Cup, dating all the way back to the first-ever edition when they were beaten by Uruguay.
A memorable triumph on home turf in 1978 saw them crowned world champions for the first time before their unforgettable journey to glory eight years later, but the biggest prize in the sport has since eluded them.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look back at each of their previous five World Cup final appearances.
1930: Lost 4-2 vs. Uruguay
Argentina have the bittersweet honour of being the first runners-up in World Cup history, having lost 4-2 to fierce rivals Uruguay in the final of the inaugural edition in 1930.
Hosts Uruguay only needed to play three games en route to the final, beating Peru, Romania and Yugoslavia, while Argentina secured wins over France, Mexico, Chile and USA to set up a repeat of the 1928 Olympic gold medal match at the Estadio Centenario.
Uruguay took the lead through Pablo Dorado after only 12 minutes, but Argentina turned things around before half time courtesy of strikes from Carlos Peucelle and tournament top-scorer Guillermo Stabile.
The second half belonged to the home side, though, as they scored three unanswered goals to run out 4-2 winners, Jose Nasazzi becoming the first captain to get his hands on the Jules Rimet trophy.
1978: Won 3-1 vs. Netherlands (after extra time)
Following the disappointment of 1930, it took 48 years for Argentina to make it back to the World Cup final, although it may well have been worth the wait.
This time boasting the home advantage themselves, a Mario Kempes-inspired Argentina team came through two group stages to book their spot in the final, beating Hungary, France, Poland and Peru, but losing to Italy and drawing with Brazil.
The images of the subsequent 'Ticker Tape' final against Netherlands will be forever etched into the minds of every Argentine watching on the day, as they edged an ill-tempered affair 3-1 after extra time.
In keeping with his excellent performances throughout the tournament, Kempes opened the scoring with a clinical finish seven minutes before half time, but Netherlands almost broke the hosts' hearts with a late comeback in normal time.
Dick Nanninga levelled things up in the 82nd minute before Rob Rensenbrink came within inches of stealing the victory with an effort that came back off the post.
Extra time was required, and once again it was Kempes to the rescue as he restored Argentina's lead in the 105th minute, albeit aided by a lucky ricochet in the process of scoring.
There was also an element of fortune about Argentina's third as Daniel Bertoni wrapped up the victory five minutes before the end.
1986: Won 3-2 vs. West Germany
The 1986 World Cup will forever be associated with Diego Maradona courtesy of his virtuoso performances throughout the tournament, in particular against England in the quarter-finals and Belgium in the semis.
The presence of Lothar Matthaus for West Germany largely nullified the Argentine icon in the final itself, although he would still manage to have a decisive impact with a perfectly-weighted, defence-splitting through-ball sending Jorge Burruchaga through on goal to score the winner in the 86th minute.
That goal capped off a dramatic 10-minute spell which had already seen Germany come from two goals down, Argentina having taken a seemingly commanding lead through strikes from Jose Luis Brown and Jorge Valdano either side of half time.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge pulled one back in the 74th minute before Rudi Voller levelled things up just seven minutes after that, but parity lasted only three minutes before Burruchaga's World Cup-winning strike.
1990: Lost 1-0 vs. West Germany
Four years later, the same two sides renewed hostilities on the grandest stage for the first repeat of a final in World Cup history, and what remains the only back-to-back World Cup finals involving the same two teams.
This time the result was different, though, and the spectacle was much less enjoyable as only a late Andreas Brehme penalty separated the two sides in a cynical and ill-tempered final.
Indeed, in addition to becoming the first team to fail to score in a World Cup final despite still having Maradona in their ranks, Argentina also received the first two red cards to be handed out in the fixture, Pedro Monzon having the dubious distinction of being the first for a foul on Jurgen Klinsmann.
Gustavo Dezotti followed him into the changing rooms early in the 87th minute, two minutes after Brehme had scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.
2014: Lost 1-0 vs. Germany
Twenty-four years after their defeat in Rome, Argentina were once again on the end of a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Germany in a World Cup final.
This time it was Lionel Messi rather than Maradona who was stifled throughout the 120 minutes, although the then-Barcelona maestro did have a chance to score early in the second half.
Ultimately it was an introduction from the bench which proved decisive, with Mario Gotze firing home the only goal of the game in the 113th minute - normal time ending without either team having registered on the scoreboard.
The defeat denied Argentina the chance to win the World Cup at the home of their bitter rivals Brazil, who themselves had fallen to Germany in the semi-finals in an infamous 7-1 humiliation.
Read more on Argentina vs France
- Click here to read our full preview for Argentina vs France
- How Argentina could line up against France
- How France could line up against Argentina
- World Cup 2022: Argentina vs. France Combined XI
- World Cup Golden Boot race: Messi, Mbappe, Alvarez, Giroud all in contention
- World Cup leading goalscorers of all time: Lionel Messi eyes Pele mark in final
- World Cup clean sweep: Messi, Mbappe vying to join exclusive club
- World Cup 2022: Reasons for Argentina to be confident of beating France
- World Cup 2022: Reasons for France to be confident of beating Argentina
- World Cup 2022: Argentina vs. France head-to-head record
- Argentina vs. France: How do both squads compare ahead of World Cup clash?
- A look at Argentina's route to the 2022 World Cup final
- A look at France's route to the 2022 World Cup final
- All-time combined XI: Argentina vs. France - Messi, Maradona, Zidane
- Argentina vs. France: Who will win the 2022 World Cup final?
- World Cup 2022: Why to expect an Antoine Griezmann assist against Argentina
body check tags ::
