Argentina have been a force at enough Copa America and FIFA World Cup tournaments by now for football fans to instantly recognise the tune of the South American nation’s anthem.
Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and more have sung their national song before plenty of the FIFA competition’s biggest matches, from the very first World Cup final to the 2014 climax.
Having won the 2022 World Cup, Lionel Messi will now lead his side into the 2024 Copa America in the United States, where they will hope to have their anthem sung as many as six times, seeing them reach all the way up to the final in Miami.
The Argentine supporters bellow every word of the anthem before matches, creating a special atmosphere wherever they play. But if you have ever wondered what they are singing, The Sporting News has you covered!
Argentina national anthem lyrics in English
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The ‘Himno Nacional Argentino’ (simply ‘Argentinian National Anthem’) became the South American nation’s anthem in 1813.
Here’s what the words mean:
Oíd, mortales, el grito sagrado: (Hear, mortals, the sacred cry:)
¡Libertad! ¡Libertad! ¡Libertad! (Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!)
Oíd el ruido de rotas cadenas (Hear the sound of broken chains)
ved en trono a la noble igualdad. (See noble equality enthroned)
Ya su trono dignísimo abrieron (Their most worthy throne have now opened)
las Provincias Unidas del Sud (The United Provinces of the South)
y los libres del mundo responden: (And the free people of the world reply:)
¡Al gran pueblo argentino, salud! (“We salute the great people of Argentina!”)
Y los libres del mundo responden: (And the free people of the world reply:)
¡Al gran pueblo argentino, salud! (“We salute the great people of Argentina!”)
Sean eternos los laureles, (May the laurels be eternal)
que supimos conseguir. (that we were able to achieve)
Coronados de gloria vivamos (Let us live crowned in glory)
¡O juremos con gloria morir! (Or let us swear to die with glory!)
¡O juremos con gloria morir! (Or let us swear to die with glory!)
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What is Argentina national anthem about?
The national song originates from the Argentinian War of Independence, which raged between 1810 and 1818 as patriot forces sought to drive the Spanish Monarchy out.
Vicente Lopez y Planes, who would later serve as interim president, wrote the song initially titled ‘Patriotic March’.
It was adopted as the country’s anthem in 1813, three years before independence from Spain was declared.
The original national anthem is much longer and includes an emotional anti-Spanish section, with lyrics on Argentina’s struggle for independence.
Argentina national anthem music
Ironically, the music for Argentina’s national anthem was composed by a Spaniard, Blas Parera.
Here is the full version of Himno Nacional Argentino: