If Argentina is involved, you already know the anthem is going to be emotional. The Himno Nacional Argentino is long, dramatic, and sung with the kind of tears-in-the-eyes passion that only Argentine fans can summon — especially with this possibly being Lionel Messi’s final World Cup.
| Anthem | Himno Nacional Argentino |
| Lyrics | Vicente López y Planes (1813) |
| Music | Blas Parera |
| Adopted | May 11, 1813 |
| Language | Spanish |
| Opening Line | “Oíd, mortales, el grito sagrado…” |
What Argentina’s Anthem Means
The opening line is iconic: “Oíd, mortales, el grito sagrado: ¡Libertad!” (“Hear, mortals, the sacred cry: Liberty!”). Written during the independence era, it’s a proud declaration of freedom and the breaking of colonial chains. The original version was enormous — so today an abbreviated version is performed, which is a relief for everyone’s lungs.
The Emotion (and the Messi Factor)
Argentine fans don’t just sing the anthem — they live it. Combine that with the wave of emotion around Messi and the team’s recent success, and you get some of the loudest, most heartfelt pre-match moments of the entire tournament. And once the anthem ends, the fans usually roll straight into “Muchachos,” their beloved fan song.
A Little History
The lyrics were written by Vicente López y Planes with music by Blas Parera, and it was adopted on May 11, 1813 — making it one of the older national anthems still in use. Full text and background live on Wikipedia.
More World Cup 2026 host & team anthems: Mexico · USA · Canada. See also our history of every World Cup anthem.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Argentina’s national anthem called?
The “Himno Nacional Argentino,” with lyrics by Vicente López y Planes and music by Blas Parera.
What does the Argentine anthem mean?
It’s an independence-era declaration of freedom, opening with “Hear, mortals, the sacred cry: Liberty!”
When was it adopted?
It was adopted on May 11, 1813.
Why is a shorter version sung?
The original anthem was very long, so a shortened official version is used at events like World Cup matches.