Argentina have long been known as ‘La Albiceleste‘, a reference to the iconic home kit of their national team, but in recent years, another nickname has become just as closely associated with the reigning world champions: ‘La Scaloneta‘.

The nickname has exploded in popularity during Argentina’s remarkable run of recent success, becoming a rallying cry for supporters as the team ended a 28-year trophy drought before going on to conquer the world.

What started as a light-hearted term has since evolved into a symbol of unity, resilience and one of the most successful eras in the nation’s football history.

Explained: Why Argentina’s National Team is Called ‘La Scaloneta’

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After taking over Argentina’s national team in 2018, Lionel Scaloni was left with one of the biggest tasks in world football, ending what was then, a 25-year trophy drought. His appointment followed Jorge Sampaoli’s resignation, for whom Scaloni was an assistant, and was met with widespread criticism from across the nation.

Speaking to Clarin, via El Tiempo, Argentinian legend Diego Maradona claimed that the new manager was “unqualified”, adding that:

But Scaloni refused to succumb to the doubters, and guided Argentina to their first trophy since the 1993 Copa América, with their triumph at the 2021 edition of the tournament.

After a 3-0 win over Ecuador in the quarter-finals, a meme went viral on social media, featuring Scaloni driving a van, with Messi at his side and the rest of the team in the back. The vehicle was adorned with the colour of the national team’s kit, with the phrase ‘La Scaloneta’, a combination of the manager’s name and the Spanish term ‘camioneta’, meaning ‘bus’, written on top.

After securing the 2021 Copa América, Scaloni oversaw their 3-0 victory over Italy in the 2022 Finalissima at Wembley Stadium, before winning their first World Cup in 36 years with their title in 2022.

The head coach’s most recent success came at the 2024 Copa América in the US, with Lautaro Martinez’ strike just eight minutes before penalties securing a 1-0 win over Columbia and back-to-back continental titles.

What Other Nicknames Do Argentina Have?

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Before their recent domination, the Argentinian national team were often referred to by a different nickname: ‘La Albiceleste’.

Translating directly as ‘the white and sky blue’, the term refers to the coloured stripes that feature on the Argentinian national team’s home kit, borrowing its colour palette from the nation’s flag.

The iconic stripes have featured on their kit for well over 100 years, but their 2026 World Cup jersey features a subtle nod to their previous successes.

This year’s kit features three vertical blue stripes that each fade through a two-tone gradient. The three shades of blue used have been taken from each World Cup winning kit, with their victories in 1978, 1986 and 2022 honored throughout the strip.

Whilst all World Cup winners will have a gold star for every victory above their crest, Argentina’s 2026 kit features another discreet nod to their past, with the years of their titles detailed within each star.

The Argentinian national team are also sometimes referred to simply as ‘La Seleccion’, meaning ‘the selection’.