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Argentina are one of the oldest members of FIFA and the oldest football association in South America. Great players like Diego Maradona, Mario Kempes and Gabriel Batistuta have represented the nation in the past.
Argentina are two-time FIFA World Cup winners (1978, 1986). They have also won 15 Copa America titles, one FIFA Confederations Cup and two gold medals at the Summer Olympics. Recently, Lionel Messi and co. won the Copa America, ending his team's near three-decade-long major title drought.
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La Albiceleste will be eager to prove their mettle at next year's FIFA World Cup, after their Copa triumph this summer. Players such as Rodrigo de Paul, Emiliano Martinez, Paulo Dybala and Lautaro Martinez could be key to their chances.
On that note, let's take a trip down memory lane and look at Argentina's five greatest players of the 21st century.
#5 Javier Mascherano
Javier Mascherano was born in San Lorenzo, Argentina, in 1984. He played mainly as a defensive midfielder, but often covered at centre-back later in his career. Mascherano began his youth career at River Plate, and debuted for the senior side in 2003. The former Argentina international played for various clubs, including Barcelona, Liverpool and West Ham United.
Mascherano made 577 club appearances, scoring five goals and providing 26 assists. He has won five La Liga titles, five Copa del Reys and two UEFA Champions League titles. The midfielder was known for his combative approach to the game, and wasn't afraid to lunge into tackles.
In a Champions League game against Arsenal in 2011, Mascherano produced a moment of sheer class. He stole the ball from Nicklas Bendtner in a last-ditch attempt.
You can watch that video here:
Mascherano made 147 appearances for Argentina, and is second on their all-time appearances list. He won two Olympic gold medals with Argentina, and finished as runner-up with them in five different finals.
He announced his retirement from international football in 2018, and bid adieu to club football two years later.
#4 Gonzalo Higuain
Gonzalo Higuain was born in Brest, France, in 1987. He left the country as an infant, but has French nationality, having applied successfully for that in 2007. He began his youth career with River Plate, and went on to represent the likes of Real Madrid, Napoli and Juventus.
The former Argentina international has played 676 club games, scoring 319 goals and providing 122 assists. Higuain ranks tenth in Napoli's list of all-time scorers. He has won six league titles, four domestic cups and one UEFA Europa League title.
He scored an incredible free-kick to open his account with Inter Miami in the MLS.
Watch that goal here:
Gonzalo Higuain made 75 appearances for Argentina, scoring 31 goals and setting up a further 14. He sits in sixth place in their all-time scorers' list. With his country, Higuain lost three finals, finishing as runner-up in the Copa America twice (2015, 2016) and once in the FIFA World Cup (2014).
The striker retired from Argentina duty in 2018, but still plays at club level for Inter Miami in the MLS.
#3 Angel Di Maria
Angel Di Maria was born in Rosario, Argentina, in 1988. He began his youth career with his local team Rosario Central before debuting for their senior team in 2005. Di Maria later went on to play for Benfica, Real Madrid and Manchester United. He now plays for Paris Saint-Germain in France.
The Argentina international has made 661 club appearances, scoring 152 goals and assisting 246. He has won six domestic league titles, nine domestic cups and one UEFA Champions League title. He is known for his trickery, pace and agility.
Di Maria has played 118 games for Argentina, scoring 22 goals and providing 23 assists. He recently won the Copa America with Argentina, scoring the only goal of the final against Brazil.
Angel Di Maria's PSG currently sit comfortably atop the Ligue 1 standings. The Argentina midfielder will hope to contribute as much as he can towards the Parisians' success this season.
#2 Sergio Aguero
Sergio Aguero was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1988. He came through the ranks at Independiente before debuting for them in 2003. Aguero was spotted and signed by Atletico Madrid in 2006. He spent five years in Spain before moving to England to play for Manchester City. The former Argentina international became a legend while playing in Manchester.
Aguero played 667 games in his club career, scoring 380 goals and providing 146 assists. He is Manchester City's all-time top scorer with 260 goals in 390 appearances. The striker has won five Premier League titles, one FA Cup, six EFL Cups and one UEFA Europa League title.
In 2012, Sergio Aguero scored one of the most memorable Premier League goals against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the season. With the score at 2-2 heading into stoppage time, Manchester United were poised to be crowned champions. However, Aguero scored in the 94th minute to win the title for City.
You can watch that iconic goal here:
The former Argentina man also holds the Premier League record for most hat-tricks (12). Aguero has made 101 appearances for Argentina, scoring 41 goals and assisting 19. He ranks seventh on the list in their all-time appearances, and third on their all-time scorers' list.
Sergio Aguero announced his retirement from football earlier this month owing to a heart condition. Also get to know Aguero's wife, Giannina Maradona, and the footballer's dating life.
#1 Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina, in 1987. He began his youth career at Newell's Old Boys in 1995. However, an opportunity to go to Barcelona's La Masia arose at the turn of the millennium, and Messi made the move.
The Argentina captain played 778 games for Barcelona, scoring 672 goals and providing 301 assists. He contributed 1.25 goals per game throughout his 17 years with the club. Messi won a record 35 trophies at Barcelona, including four UEFA Champions League titles and ten La Liga titles. It goes without saying that the Argentine is Barcelona's all-time top scorer.
Recently, he broke Pele's record for most goals (643) scored for a single club.
Messi has played 158 games for Argentina, scoring 80 goals and assisting 51. He leads the charts in Argentina's all-time appearances made as well as their scorers list.
Messi recently broke his trophy drought with Argentina's senior team, winning the Copa America 2021, scoring four goals and assisting five. He won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards at the tournament. He also won his seventh Ballon d'Or award this year, another all-time record.
Messi currently plays for PSG in France, but is yet to find his feet for the French giants, especially in league games. He has netted just once in 11 games in Ligue 1 thus far.
Also read about Messi's net worth in 2021, his salary at PSG, investments as well as his expenses.
