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Lionel Messi has been at the heart of Argentina's footballing story for more than two decades, and there is perhaps no song that better captures the nation's love for their captain than ‘Muchachos'.
The chant became the soundtrack to Argentina's victorious 2022 World Cup campaign, with supporters and players alike singing it throughout their journey to glory in Qatar.
Its popularity has continued long after that triumph, with ‘Muchachos' now firmly established as one of the most recognisable football chants in the world and a song that has followed Messi and Argentina into another World Cup.
With Messi now preparing to make his final appearance for the national team, the song is likely to take on an even greater emotional significance when La Albiceleste face Benin at the Estadio Monumental.
If you want to know more about the famous ‘Muchachos' chant, including the tune and story behind it, then FootballGroundGuide have got you covered below.
Lionel Messi chant lyrics and tune
The Lionel Messi chant, commonly known as ‘Muchachos', is sung to the tune of Argentine band La Mosca's 2003 song ‘Muchachos, Esta Noche Me Emborracho'.
The opening line translates as ‘I was born in Argentina, land of Diego and Lionel', with the song going on to celebrate Diego Maradona, Messi, Argentina's Copa América triumph and the country's World Cup ambitions.
The chant also references the Falklands War and the years of heartbreak suffered by Argentina supporters before their 2021 Copa América victory over Brazil.
Full lyrics in English:
“I was born in Argentina, land of Diego and Lionel,
Of the kids from Malvinas, which I will never forget.
I can't explain it to you,
Because you won't understand,
The endings we lost, how many years I cried for them.
But that's over, because in the Maracana,
The final with the ‘Brazucas', Daddy beat them again.
Guys, now we're excited again, I want to win the third,
I want to be world champion,
And Diego, in heaven we can see him,
With Don Diego and La Tota,
Encouraging Lionel!”
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Lionel Messi chant background
The song was created by Argentine supporter Fernando Romero after Argentina won the 2021 Copa America, ending a 28-year wait for a major international trophy.
Romero rewrote the lyrics of La Mosca's song, adding references to Maradona and Messi alongside the pain of Argentina's previous final defeats.
One of the most emotional parts of the song imagines Maradona watching Messi from heaven alongside his parents, Don Diego and La Tota.
Romero's version quickly went viral after he was filmed singing it outside a stadium, eventually leading to an official release before the 2022 World Cup.
It then became impossible to escape during Argentina's run in Qatar, with supporters singing it in the stands and players joining in during their celebrations.
Messi himself named ‘Muchachos' as his favourite Argentina chant before the tournament, making its eventual role in the country's World Cup triumph even more fitting.
Argentina players singing the Lionel Messi chant
‘Muchachos' has become much more than a song about Messi.
It captures the heartbreak of Argentina's previous defeats, the country's love for Maradona, the significance of the 2021 Copa América triumph and the belief that Messi could finally deliver the World Cup.
When Argentina eventually lifted the trophy in Qatar, the story told by the song felt complete.
Now, with Messi having announced his retirement from international football, ‘Muchachos' could provide the soundtrack to another emotional chapter.
The 39-year-old will make his final appearance for Argentina against Benin on October 6th, having scored 125 goals in 207 appearances for his country and inspired them to the 2022 World Cup title.
FGG says: An emotional football classic
There are plenty of football chants that are catchy, but very few carry the same emotional weight as ‘Muchachos'.
It tells the story of Argentina's footballing pain, Maradona's legacy and Messi's journey to finally becoming a world champion.
With Messi now preparing to say goodbye to Argentina, hearing thousands of supporters sing it one more time could be a fitting tribute to a player who has become one of the most important figures in the country's history.