5 footballers who had the chance to represent Argentina

Footballers dream to represent their country at a major international tournament. For some, it becomes a reality, for many it does not, and there are few who reach their dream but by donning a different set of colours at the World Cup.

Argentina lost the 2014 FIFA World Cup to Germany after Mario Götze shattered their dreams by scoring an extra-time winner in the final. In their history, the La Albiceleste have witnessed many quality players don the jersey at a major international tournament. But there are players who were born in the South American country yet decided to play for another national team.

Players like Alfredo di Stefano, Raimundo Orsi left a permanent mark but there are various other examples of Argentinians donning the jersey of other nations in the 21st century.

We take a look at 5 players who could have played for Argentina but decided to play for another country.

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#1 Christian Ledesma (Italy)

A Boca Juniors youth academy product, Ledesma has never participated in a single professional club match in Argentina.

The majority of his career was spent in Italy and after tying the knot with an Italian, he became eligible to play for the Italian national team. A powerful midfielder at Lazio for around a decade, he was called into the national squad at the start of Cesare Prandelli's tenure.

However, he never played at an international tournament, but that does not take away the fact that Ledesma chose to represent the Azzurri instead of Argentina.

#2 Franco Vasquez (Italy)

Vazquez

Vazquez became very popular as a youngster at Palermo alongside another dual eligibility holder, Paolo Dybala. While Dybala decided to represent Argentina, Vasquez accepted the call to play for the Azzurri in 2015.

However, after getting the nod two play in only two international games for Italy, the 29-year-old was dropped from Italy's 2016 Euro squad.

The Sevilla midfielder is still eligible to represent Argentina as he has played only in friendly games and not in an international tournament.

Till now, he has scored 11 goals in 53 appearances for Sevilla and had scored 22 goals in 105 appearances for his previous team Palermo.

With his former Sevilla manager Jorge Sampaoli at the charge of the Argentine national team, the door is not completely shut for the midfielder.

#3 Mariano Pernia (Spain)

Pernia made 11 appearances for Spain

Pernia witnessed one of the finest careers for both club and country. An extremely talented left-back, he came into the limelight while playing for Getafe and then moved to Atletico Madrid in the mid-2000s.

A San Lorenzo academy product, Pernia never got a chance to represent their first-team. His first professional football appearance came for Argentine-club Independiente, where he made 46 appearances, scoring 2 goals.

Eligible for Spanish citizenship through a grandparent, he represented Spain in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He played in three of the four game in the mega event which was held in Germany.

The former Atletico Madrid man was dropped from the Spanish squad that went on to win the 2008 European Championships, while a car accident ended his chances to play in that historic team.

#4 Nestor Ortigoza (Paraguay)

San Lorenzo v Banfield - Torneo Primera Division 2016/17

Ortigoza was born, raised and trained as a footballer in Argentina but was eligible to play for Paraguay through his father who hails from Paraguay.

Ortigoza started his footballing journey with Argentino Juniors, where he came through the youth ranks and made the cut for the senior team, making 127 appearances with 17 goals for the club.

An extremely smart midfielder, Ortigoza was the heartbeat of the San Lorenzo squad that won the 2014 Copa Libertadores. He first played international football at the age of 25 after he represented Paraguay, after never representing any country at youth international football.

The tough midfielder went on to play at the 2010 FIFA World Cup for Paraguay as well as the 2011 and 2015 Copa America tournament. He won a runners-up medal for Paraguay in the 2011 Copa America.

#5 David Trezeguet (France)

David Trezeguet

Trezeguet is the only player in this list to not born in Argentina. The former Juventus forward was born in France to Argentine parents. He was raised in Buenos Aires and started his footballing journey in the academy of Platense, where he made his first professional appearance.

Trezeguet scored 34 goals in 71 appearances for the France national team between 1998 and 2008, after representing France at under-18, under-20, and under-21 levels. He scored 34 goals in 71 appearances for the France national team between 1998 and 2008.

Trezeguet marked his name in the history of football by scoring the golden goal against Italy in the final of Euro 2000, helping France to the European title. He decided to play club football in France and Italy at the peak of his career. However, he decided to end his career at Argentina's historic club Newell's Old Boys. Later, he played in India for Pune City FC in a short stint. A World Cup winner with France in 1998,

Later, Trezeguet became the part of FIFA 100 list of 125 greatest living players.