Argentina still hold up their 1986 World Cup win as their greatest footballing moment. The shadows of the military dictatorship always emerge when referencing their first win in 1978 but eight years later, Diego Armando Maradona's brilliance led them to triumph in Mexico.
To repeat what was achieved in Estadio Azteca 31 years ago is the dream of the nation that came so close to winning it in Brazil last time out.
It also seems that any time Lionel Messi is discussed in comparison with Maradona, it is to point out that he has never led his country to glory in the way that the former Napoli man did.
This time, La Albiceleste secured their place in Russia 2018 in agonising manner, similar to the way which Argentina qualified for Mexico 1986.
Gareca's goal that sent the Argies to Mexico
Ricardo Gareca, now Peru's coach, scored a late equaliser on June 30, 1985 at Estadio Monumental to prevent the Argentines from falling into the play-offs.
Once again this year, Argentina found themselves in the position of being on the ropes going into the final day but this time, it was Messi who stood up to be counted and punched the nation's ticket to the World Cup with a hat-trick.
The similarities were also present in terms of the coaches then too, with Carlos Bilardo facing intense scrutiny, as Edgardo Bauza and Jorge Sampaoli suffered throughout the current campaign.
In addition, the criticism that Maradona received during qualification in '86 was echoed throughout the past year with Messi, who was also a focus of ire from fans.
Bilardo recently told Radio La Red how much criticism his No. 10 had received, having been named as captain instead of Daniel Passarella.
"Diego is like Pele, a monster of a player who comes along once every 20 years," Bilardo explained.
The decision to remove the armband from the 1978 captain did not go down well with many of the fans packed into the Monumental prior to the game against Peru and chants of 'Passarella, Passarella' were loud and frequent.
So much so that goalkeeper that Ubaldo Fillol was confused and turned to ask Passarella what was going on and if he wasn't going to the World Cup.
Just a year later though, Maradona was the god of the Argentine nation, one which is still waiting for Messi to put a third star on their jersey.
Nobody today doubts that their only chance of doing that is if the Barcelona man is at his best in Russia.