If you happened to pay attention to Argentina’s men’s national football team during the 2026 World Cup, you definitely have come across music from legendary Argentine cumbia singer Gilda.
The key was to listen to the fans.
Whether it was the stadium stands in the lead-up to a game, the get-together between matches (known as banderazos), or the celebrations following a win, you saw troves of them singing and dancing to “La cuarta estrella” (The fourth star).
The lyrics, which were written by Argentine musician Pablo Quintana (better known as Palmito Música), included many of the same references you might find in traditional stadium songs. There were calls to “avenge” Diego Maradona for his ban from the 1994 World Cup and win another cup with Lionel Messi (the mentioned “fourth star”), as well as tributes to the veterans of the Malvinas War.
The catchy tune? That was the rhythm of “No me arrepiento de este amor” (I don’t regret this love), one of Gilda’s biggest hits and a song that continues to make Argentines dance decades after it was released.
