Ranking the top 15 Argentine footballers | All Time

Some of the greatest footballers the world has ever seen in football history have come from Argentina. Argentina’s footballers are known for their technical skills, creativity, impressive vision, and passion & hunger for success and greatness. Argentina footballers have been at the forefront of football, whether due to its legendary status or their impact on the football pitch. They have enjoyed success at global levels whether it is a domestic circuit or major international tournaments.

From Diego Maradona to Lionel Messi, the list of top Argentine footballers is filled with talented individuals gifted with impressive defending, goal-scoring abilities, and playmaking skills. Many Argentine footballers have not only won numerous amount of titles but have also inspired generations of fans with their ability to entertain and perform at the highest stage possible for decades. In this list, we will be looking at the top 15 Argentine footballers of all time:

List of Top 15 Argentine Footballers of All Time

15. Javier Mascherano

Javier Mascherano made his international debut for his nation in 2003 and went on to become a key figure for his nation in the defensive half. He has appeared in 147 games and scored 3 goals as well. He is known for his leadership, tactical intelligence, and tenacious defending. Javier Mascherano started as a defensive midfielder but later turned into a center-back. Mascherano is the second most capped Argentine footballer.

14. Sergio Aguero

Sergio Aguero is also known as ‘Kun’, he is considered as one of Argentina’s greatest modern-day strikers. He was a very effective striker for the Argentina team during the period of 2006 to 2021 as he possessed excellent goal-scoring, good movement, and had a special tendency to score important goals whenever match was on decisive moments. He is the record goal-scorer for Manchester City. Aguero during his playing days gave a stellar account of himself when representing his country Argentina. He was a member of the 2021 Copa America champions.

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13. Angel Di Maria

Angel Di Maria is among the most talented and versatile Argentine footballers in recent times. Angel Di Maria is known for his speed and dribbling, he had played for his national team as a creative winger almost his entire career. His numerous trophies and accolades at club levels with Benfica, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-German, together with his impressive and pivotal role with his national team, speaks for itself. Angel Di Maria played a significant role in winning the 2021 Copa America & the 2022 FIFA World Cup where he scored goals in both finals and lifted the trophies with his team.

12. Ricardo Bochini

Ricardo Bochini is a legend in Argentine football. Independiente is the only club that he played with and achieved 634 games in his entire footballing career. With his extraordinary vision and passing ability, he was the playmaker with the potential for pure genius and was the brain behind one of the most successful spells in the club’s history.

11. Ubaldo Fillol

Ubaldo Fillol is known as one of Argentina’s greatest goalkeepers ever. He was a key figure in the 1978 World Cup winning team, he was such a high performer whose shot-stopping ability, reflexes, and composure between the sticks made it easier for his team. He was the hero behind Argentina winning the 1978 World Cup.

10. Hernan Crespo

Hernan Crespo was one of Argentina’s most deadly and consistent strikers, he was known for his clinical finishing and excellent positioning. He had an illustrious club career in Italy for teams like Parma, Lazio, and Inter Milan. He has scored over 300 goals during his footballing career and played a pivotal for Argentina in three World Cup campaigns. Crespo’s ability to find the back of the net made him one of Argentina’s best strikers of his generation.

9. Carlos Tevez

Carlos Tevez also known as ‘El Apache’, was known for his tenacity, strength, and goal-scoring ability. His relentless playing style made him a fan favorite wherever he played for. From Boca Juniors to Manchester United, Manchester City, and Juventus, his ability to easily convert half chances made him a global star. His important goals and clutch moments combined with his work ethic made him win numerous domestic and international titles.

8. Omar Sivori

Omar Sivori is considered as one of Argentina’s most skillful and creative forwards in history. He was known for his dribbling, creative vision, and goal-scoring ability; Sivori was a magician with a ball. His club career with Juventus in Italy earned him widespread fame. In 1961, he won Serie A and Ballon d’Or.

7. Juan Roman Riquelme

Juan Roman Riquelme was an Argentine midfielder with one of the clearest and most technically talented footballing brains ever seen. Control of the ball and his ability to seemingly pace the tempo of a game was what he was known for. Riquelme had been brought in as a playmaker with a god-given vision and set pieces to launch attacks from deep. He played a pivotal role in the Argentine 2006 World Cup campaign.

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6. Javier Zanetti

Javier Zanetti was an icon known for longevity and consistency above all, he’s one of the most consistent players of all time. Zanetti played, throughout his career, both as a right-back and defensive midfielder. Zanetti played over 1000 games as a professional footballer and for Inter Milan he made more than 850 appearances for the club which endeared him to fans for his loyalty.

5. Daniel Passarella

Daniel Passarella is one of the most respected and one of the best defenders to have played football ever. In 1978 and 1986, he helped Argentina win the World Cups. He was known for his tackling, airplay, and leadership. With 130 goals to his name, he was a threat going forward.

4. Gabriel Batistuta

Gabriel Batistuta affectionately known as ‘Batigol’, is considered one of Argentina’s most prolific strikers in history. He had a powerful shot, excellent heading, and a knack for scoring goals. He was a force to be reckoned with on the international stage. He has scored 54 goals in 77 appearances for Argentine in his career, he was Argentina’s all-time leading goal scorer until Lionel Messi broke his record. He has played for Roma and Florentina in Seria A, his lethal finishing has earned him a legendary status.

3. Mario Kempes

Mario Kempes was a part of Argentina’s first-ever World Cup-winning team in 1978. He was a star of the finals against the Netherlands as he finished as a top scorer with six goals in the 1978 World Cup. Known for his dynamic and quick feet, dribbling, and powerful shots, he was a threat as he could score from anywhere on the pitch. His performances in the 1978 World Cup cemented his place and legacy in Argentine football history.

2. Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is the only player to have come close to Diego Maradona’s status as the greatest Argentine footballer in history. Messi’s footballing skills, creative vision, and goal-scoring abilities are unrivaled and unparalleled in the football world. His unmatched consistency for his nation and club and his ability to consistently perform at the highest level throughout his career sets him apart from his peers. Apart from winning numerous trophies and accolades for his club, he has also won seven Ballon d’Or awards and has broken numerous records at Barcelona. He lifted the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and cemented his place among the greatest Argentine footballers as well as in football history as well.

1. Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona is widely considered one of the greatest Argentine footballers to have ever played and graze this beautiful football game. His career with Argentina’s national team has been filled with trophies and countless memories, from winning the 1986 World Cup to scoring his legendary goal ‘Hand of God’ against England in the World Cup quarter-finals to his remarkable solo dazzling run. Maradona was a gifted footballer, he had all the skills needed to become one of the greatest footballers ever in history. His dribbling, quick foot movements, creative playmaking, vision, agility, and most importantly his leadership to lead his team to victories made him a globally recognized star.

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