Copa América Traditions
The Argentine Soul: the only FIBA Americas team to win the quintuplet crown.
The Argentina men's national basketball team represents Argentina in men's international basketball. It is officially nicknamed The Argentine Soul (Spanish: El Alma Argentina) and is controlled by the Argentine Basketball Confederation (CAB). Argentina's national basketball team remains among the most successful in the Americas and one of the most successful in the world. It is the only national team in the FIBA Americas zone that has won the quintuplet crown: FIBA World Cup (1950), Olympic Gold Medal (2004), FIBA Diamond Ball (2008), FIBA AmeriCup (2001, 2011 and 2022) and Pan American Gold Medal (1995, 2019 and 2023). They are also one of only four countries to have won the Olympic gold medal and FIBA World Cup, joining the Soviet Union, the United States of America, and Yugoslavia.
- Total Titles Won
- 15
- Most Consecutive Wins
- 2 (1993-1993; 2021-2024)
- Host Nation Record
- Argentina has hosted the tournament a record 6 times
- Key Rivalry
- Uruguay and Brazil
- Status
- Active Biennial/Triennial Tournament
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The practice of basketball in Argentina was started by the YMCA in 1912. Argentina played its first international game against Uruguay in 1921. In 1950 Argentina won its first and only World Championship to date, with a squad formed entirely of amateur players, after defeating France (twice), Brazil, Chile, Egypt and the United States in the decisive match. With the creation of the Liga Nacional de Básquet in the mid-1980s, a new generation of players led Argentina to moderate success in the 1986 World Championship where the squad defeated the United States for the first time. 2001 was the year of the Golden Generation, winning Argentina's first FIBA Americas Championship – held in Neuquen – where they defeated all of their rivals. In the 2002 FIBA World Championship, Argentina became the first team to defeat a United States roster composed entirely of NBA players, winning 87–80 in Indianapolis. They reached the final, losing to Yugoslavia in overtime. The most important achievement came in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens when Argentina won their first gold medal, including another victory over the United States at the semi-finals. The Olympics title in 2004 was the highest honor and most important title won in Argentine basketball history.
In Their Own Story
In 2002, Argentina became the first country to defeat a United States national team with a full squad of NBA players. They did so by 87–80 in the 2002 FIBA World Championship held in Indianapolis. In that tournament, Argentina came second behind FR Yugoslavia, losing the final in overtime. Due to the series of good results since the beginning of the 2000s, Argentina reached the first position in the FIBA Men's Ranking at the end of the 2008 Olympic Games. Argentina is a founding member of the International Federation of Basketball (FIBA) and has South America's longest basketball tradition.
Reader's Guide
For Argentine supporters, the FIBA AmeriCup is a key stage for the national team's success. Argentina has won the FIBA AmeriCup three times: in 2001, 2011, and 2022. They have also won silver seven times (1995, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2015, 2017, 2025) and bronze five times (1980, 1993, 1999, 2009, 2013). The team's uniforms have evolved over time: from Topper (1970s to 2007), to Li-Ning (2007–2013), to Kappa (2013–2020), to Air Jordan/Nike (until 2020), to Kelme (2022–2025), and then to Peak (from August 2025 through 2032). In July 2017, the Argentine Basketball Confederation announced that numbers 5 and 13 would be retired from the senior team starting with the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup.
Did You Know?
- Argentina is a founding member of the International Federation of Basketball (FIBA).
- Argentina is the only national team in the FIBA Americas zone that has won the quintuplet crown: FIBA World Cup, Olympic Gold Medal, FIBA Diamond Ball, FIBA AmeriCup, and Pan American Gold Medal.
- Argentina was the first country to defeat a United States national team with a full squad of NBA players, winning 87–80 in the 2002 FIBA World Championship.
- Argentina reached the first position in the FIBA Men's Ranking at the end of the 2008 Olympic Games.
- In July 2017, the Argentine Basketball Confederation retired jersey numbers 5 and 13 from the senior team.