Argentina is a country which has provided us with some amazing and astonishing footballers. Be it Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona, Argentina has never been short of spectacular individual talent. One of the most successful international teams in history with two world cups and 14 Copa Americas, Argentina has time and again entertained the fans with some brilliant, entertaining and enterprising football.
Picking an all time XI for a country like Argentina is no easy task, but here we try to form a team with 11 of the greatest Albiceleste players.
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Goalkeeper
Arguably the greatest South American goalkeeper of all time, Amadeo Carrizo just edged out Ubaldo Filliol as Argentina’s best shot-stopper. Carrizo was a pioneer in the position. He was the first goalkeeper to start wearing gloves.
Before Carrizo, goalkeepers usually were stationed in the penalty-box all the time, mostly getting involved in the game only when the ball reached the six-yard box. Carrizo changed all that by getting himself involved in the game, getting out of his box to start counter-attacks, and with that changed the dynamics of a goalkeeper’s role in a team.
A River Plate legend, Carrizo also enjoyed significant success with the Argentina national team especially against bitter continental rivals Brazil. Amadeo Carrizo was a game changer for South American goalkeeping.
Defenders
One of the best defenders ever, Daniel Passarella was the captain of the Argentina national team which won the World Cup for the first time in 1978. A true leader on and off the pitch, Passarella’s leadership ability, passion and organisational skills helped Argentina create history in 1978. He was a defender who often joined the attack, and helped generate and finish offensive plays. He was the top scoring defender, with 134 goals in 451 matches, a record since broken by Dutch defender Ronald Koeman.
Oscar Ruggeri is one of the most successful defenders to emerge from Argentina. The Argentine was one of the leading centre-backs in the 1986 World Cup triumph and he also played a major role in Argentina’s twin Copa America triumphs in 1991 and 1993. Ruggeri also had a single successful season at Real Madrid where he won the La Liga and foreign player of the year award.
Former Inter Milan captain and legend Javier Zanetti takes the right-back position for this amazing team. Zanetti had a long and successful career for Argentina making a stunning 143 appearances for the Albicelesete. Although he did not win any major trophy with the national team, his impact on Argentine football can never be discounted.
Fiery Argentine defender Alberto Tarantini takes the left-back position. Tarantini was known for his temper, but what made him more famous was his exceptional defensive ability. He was one of the key reasons for Argentina’s 1982 World Cup triumph.
Midfielders
Current Atletico Madrid manager, Diego Simeone was one of the best defensive midfielders in Argentina history. The combative Argentine made a staggering 106 appearances for the Albiceleste scoring 11 goals. Simeone won two Copa Americas and a confederation cup with his national side. Simeone’s positioning skill, combative nature, determination and discipline made him an asset to any side.
Javier Mascherano along with Diego Simeone will provide the much needed defensive cover for this amazing team. Although Mascherano plays as a centre-back these days for Barcelona, he has played the majority of his career as a defensive midfielder. With 123 appearances for Argentina, Mascherano has been one of the longest serving players for the Albiceleste and he will be hoping to capture his maiden Copa America title at USA.
Diego Maradona will be playing in the number 10 role for this incredibly strong team. One of the greatest players of all time if not the greatest, Maradona will walk into any football squad. Silky dribbling, excellent playmaking skills and a knack for the spectacular, Maradona has cemented himslef as a true football legend. and he almost singlehandedly won Argentina the World Cup in 1986.
Forwards
The only footballer ever to win the Ballon d’Or five times, Lionel Messi is an absolute phenomenon. Although he has not been as successful with Argentina as he has been with Barcelona, Messi will be hoping to be at his best and silence his critics once and for all at the Copa America Centenario.
His pace and technical ability enable him to undertake individual dribbling runs towards goal, in particular during counterattacks, usually starting from the halfway line or the right side of the pitch. Tactically, Messi plays in a free attacking role; a versatile player, he is capable of attacking on either wing or through the centre of the pitch. Messi is quite simply a phenomenon.
Batigol as he was fondly known, Batistuta is Argentina’s all-time top scorer with 56 goals. Batistuta was as complete a striker as you could see. Clinical finishing, powerful header, and pinpoint free kicks. At his best, he was a joy to watch. He played in 3 World Cups, in 1994, 1998 and 2002, and scored 2 World Cup hat-tricks, against Greece in 1994 and Jamaica in 1998. Batistuta had all the attributes of a conventional centre-forward, and easily makes any all-time Argentina XI.
Mario Kempes was the first man to win the Golden Ball, Golden Boot and the World Cup in the same tournament. He was served brilliantly in the triumphant 1978 World Cup campaign by Ardilles. He scored six goals in the 1978 World Cup Campaign, and was instrumental in his country’s triumph.
He was brilliant in that final against the Netherlands, scoring 2 goals, as the Argentines won 3-1 after extra time. Like Batistuta, he was a typical centre forward – strong, pacey, and clinical. He would have been remembered by many as Argentina’s greatest footballer ever, if not for a certain Diego Armando Maradona, or a Lionel Andres Messi.
Formation
The amazing Argentina side lines up in a 4-3-3 formation with a double pivot of Mascherano and Simeone providing protection to the solid defensive back 4 of Passarella-Ruggeri-Tarantini-Zanetti. The attacking quatret is capable of blowing any opposition away with the likes of Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Mario Kempes and Gabriel Batistuta capable of scoring against any opposition defence.
Do you think this is the greatest Argentina XI of all time? Who do you think should be in this team? Let us know your opinions in the comments section.
