From Moore to Messi – A History of the Argentine National Football Team 1902-2026

The fascinating story of the Argentine national football team, and how it became a major symbol of national identity for the people of Argentina.

From its first international in 1902, with a side largely of British and Irish origin, to the World Cup wins of 1978, 1986 and 2024, the book charts all the highs and lows of the Argentine national team:

• The team's British and Irish roots at the turn of the 1900s, and how it soon included Italian and other immigrants, helping to forge a new distinctive Criollo identity through football
  
• Neglected topics such as how the team became a political tool under Juan Perón and various military dictatorships and the Argentine women's team's long struggle for recognition
  
• The mavericks who shone for Argentina in the pre-Maradona days, such as Harry Hayes, José Manuel Moreno and Oreste Corbatta
  
• The national team's lesser-known stories, including the player who died twice and the 'ghost squad' of unknowns abandoned for weeks in the Andes
  
• How La Scaloneta was constructed to help Lionel Messi finally become a world champion and build a team that the Argentine people could fall in love with again

From Moore to Messi is a must-read for anyone interested in South American football, the international game or sports books that tackle bigger themes. Published in 2026.

Size: 160mm x 240mm – 416 pages.