Defending World Cup champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, are spending the first half of the 2023 calendar year celebrating their title triumph, but serious competition is not too far away.
Fans in Argentina got to see their national team return home to contest friendlies against Panama and Curacao as they celebrate the careers and accomplishments of their Albiceleste champions.
With the next competitive matches for Argentina not until the fall when 2026 World Cup qualifying begins, Messi and company will be playing friendlies through the first half of the year. Those should give fans a chance to see their World Cup heroes on the field before the page truly turns to the coming 2026 World Cup cycle.
The Sporting News brings you the latest information regarding known Argentina fixtures throughout the 2023 calendar year.
MORE: Can Lionel Messi reach Cristiano Ronaldo's all-time goals scored record?
Argentina schedule for 2023 fixtures, matches
As of the March international break, only two friendlies were on the schedule for Argentina in 2023. Dates have not yet been confirmed for the start of CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, which begins in September.
So far, just friendly matches against Panama and Curacao in March were confirmed for Argentina, who do not have any competitive action on the horizon this summer. That means the Albiceleste will need to fill out the schedule with friendlies as they gear up for the start of World Cup qualifying, and the 2024 Copa America next year.
June 2023 will provide the next opportunity for Argentina to bring the squad together, with matches versus Australia and Indonesia scheduled for that month.
When World Cup qualifying begins in September 2023, Argentina will have fixtures against Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay before ending the calendar year with a high-profile road matchup against Brazil.
MORE: Breaking down the numbers behind Lionel Messi's record-breaking hat-trick against Curacao
| Date | Competition | Match | Location |
| Thu, Mar. 23 | International Friendly | Argentina 2-0 Panama | Estadio Monumental (Buenos Aires, Argentina) |
| Tue, Mar. 28 | International Friendly | Argentina 7-0 Curacao | Estadio Madre de Ciudades (Santiago del Estero, Argentina) |
| Thu, Jun. 15 | International Friendly | Argentina vs. Australia | Workers' Stadium (Beijing, China) |
| Mon, Jun. 19 | International Friendly | Argentina vs. Indonesia | TBD |
| TBD (Sept. 2023) | 2026 World Cup qualifying | Argentina vs. Ecuador | TBD |
| TBD (Sept. 2023) | 2026 World Cup qualifying | Bolivia vs. Argentina | TBD |
| TBD (Oct. 2023) | 2026 World Cup qualifying | Argentina vs. Paraguay | TBD |
| TBD (Oct. 2023) | 2026 World Cup qualifying | Peru vs. Argentina | TBD |
| TBD (Nov. 2023) | 2026 World Cup qualifying | Argentina vs. Uruguay | TBD |
| TBD (Nov. 2023) | 2026 World Cup qualifying | Brazil vs. Argentina | TBD |
Lionel Messi stats, goals for Argentina
Lionel Messi became the third player in the history of international football to reach 100 goals for a national team by scoring a hat-trick against Curacao on March 28.
The goals moved him to 102 on his international career, moving Messi ever closer to the 109 of Iran's Ali Daei in second. Only Cristiano Ronaldo stands above him, with now above 120 goals in his international career with Portugal.
Messi also passed the 800 career goal mark in 2023, as his goal for Argentina against Panama moved him into elite company, as just Cristiano Ronaldo has more goals for club and country combined.
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