Argentine Football Legends: Top 10 Greatest La Albiceleste Players

Throughout the history of football, countless of the greatest footballers the world has ever witnessed came from South America, in particular Argentina. These icons of the sport have etched a remarkable legacy on the pitch, showing their technical skills, creativity, impressive vision, and passion and hunger for success and greatness. Argentine football legends have been at the forefront of football, whether due to their legendary status or their impact on the football pitch.

They have enjoyed monumental success at global levels – whether it is domestic or major international tournaments. From Hernan Crespo, Diego Maradona, Gabriel Batistuta to modern stars like Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, and Angel Di Maria have secured their names as the greatest Argentine footballers, showing their gifted talent on the global stage. Moreover, these players have inspired generations of fans with their ability to entertain and perform at the highest stage possible for decades. We will be looking at the top 10 best Argentine players of all time in this article.

Best Argentina Players of all Time: Top 10 List

Here's the list of the best Argentina players of all time based on their career impact and success achieved with both club and country in their respective careers. To understand the list of top Argentine football legends, check out the ranking factors below:

How did we Rank the Argentine Football Legends?

We have looked at several ranking criteria to come up with the list of best Argentine players of all time, emphasising their longevity, impact and magnitude of success with team, as well as individually.

• Career Trophies & Club Success: The first factor is the career trophies and success a player has garnered during his club career, league titles, UCL or domestic cups.
• Individual Awards & Honours: Individual honors suggests these best Argentina players of all time, who have been brilliant individually and were vital in the overall team's success.
• International Impact: Another factor that we have considered to create this imminent list of Argentina football players is their impact at the international level, with La Albiceleste.
• Longevity & Legacy: Last but not least, longevity measures the length of the player's career, which a player has enjoyed while leaving their impact on the game with their legacy.

Who are the Best Argentina Players of all time?

After understanding the top 10 list of the finest Argentine players and what are the factors upon which they are being judged. On that note, let's find out greatest Argentina player of all time.

10. Javier Mascherano (2003–2020)

Currently serving as the head coach of MLS champions Inter Miami, during his playing days, Javier Mascherano was one of the reliable players. The ex-Barcelona player enjoyed a significantly successful career after making his international debut for his country in 2003, a month before his first senior club appearance for River Plate. He spent most of his club career playing for FC Barcelona and English giants Liverpool.

Known for his leadership, tactical intelligence, and tenacious defending, he began as a defensive midfielder and later turned into a defender. He was a key Barcelona player for eight years, helping the Catalans to accumulate numerous trophies, including two UEFA Champions League, three Spanish Super Cups, five Spanish titles and as many Copa Del Rey titles. He is the second most capped Argentine player with 147 appearances.

9. Sergio Aguero (2003-2021)

The Manchester City icon Sergio Aguero is the greatest Argentine player in the English Premier League for his remarkable stint with the Sky Blues in England. Aguero is widely considered as one of the finest strikers due to his excellent goal scoring, teachinaclity and sleek movement in the box. Also, he had a special tendency to score important goals whenever the match was in decisive moments.

The Argentine forward won over 100 caps for his country and lifted two Copa America titles. While scoring 43 goals in total for Argentina puts him in third place in for most goals for Argentina. At the club level, Aguero is a five-time Premier League champion with Manchester City, and their leading scorer with 265 goals, to mark himself as one of the best Manchester City players of all time.

8. Juan Román Riquelme (1996–2014)

Nicknamed El Último 10 – for his impeccable attributes as a playmaker, Juan Roman Riquelme was an Argentine midfielder with one of the clearest and most technically talented footballing brains that football has ever seen. At club level, Roman represented Boca Juniors, Spanish club Villareal and FC Barcelona – scoring 135 goals and providing 142 assists in a total of 524 club appearances.

Juan was mesmerising on the ball, with his flawless movements, ball control, vision, skills and scoring made him a fantastic attacking midfielder. In addition, he was an expert in taking set pieces, with his vision and ability to find players and launch attacks. The Boca Juniors icon played a pivotal role in the Argentina's 2006 World Cup campaign. In the following year, Roman Riquelme finished as the 2007 Copa America runners-up.

7. Angel Di Maria (2005–Present)

This Argentine icon made his professional debut two decades ago and evolved into one of the best Argentina players of all time. Angel Di Maria is one of the most gifted wingers to grace the sport. Angel's explosiveness on the flanks, technicality, speed, creativity, dribbling and ability to glide past defenders with ease made him a key asset for both his club and Argentina national football team.

He played a significant role in winning the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 FIFA World Cup triumphs by scoring in both finals. Throughout his incredibly successful club career, Di Maria has played for some of the richest clubs in the world, namely Real Madrid, PSG, Manchester United, Juventus and SL Benfica. His appearances, goal contributions and trophies speak for themselves, depicting how important a player the ex-Benfica star has been for club and country.

6. Javier Zanetti (1992–2014)

The Argentine defender Javier Zanetti is extremely popular for his remarkable partnership with Italian giants Inter Milan, showing exceptional longevity. With Nerazzurri, the commanding full-back amassed 858 appearances and won numerous silverware from 1995 to 2014. Zanetti holds the record for most appearances, becoming one of the best Inter players of all time. He has been a similar figure for his country as well

Consistency, hard work, intelligence, versatility, and leadership were the traits that made Javier Zanetti a special player. He made his international debut for Argentina in a 3-0 win over the Chile national football team in 1994. Since then, Inter Milan icon has been a devoted servant of Albiceleste, clinching 144 international caps. Although, he did not win any major trophies with his country, he was a decorated figure at the club level.

5. Daniel Passarella (1974–1989)

One of the most respected names in Argentine football, Daniel Passarella, has carved out his status as one of the biggest Argentine football legends. Played the famous now extinct sweeper role, he was the captain of La Albiceleste side who claimed the first World Cup glory in 1978 after defeating Netherlnds national football team in the final with a 3-1 score margin.

During his playing days, he was one of the toughest defenders to beat, known for tackling, intelligence, a leadership role and was exceptional in aerial ability. Passarella was nicknamed “El Caudillo” for his captainship on the pitch. Argentina won its second World Cup in 1986 for the second time, and Daniel became the second Argentine player, alongside Héctor Zelada, to lift two World Cup trophies.

4. Gabriel Batistuta (1988–2005)

Gabriel Batistuta, affectionately known as ‘Batigol’, is considered one of Argentina’s most prolific strikers in history. He is technically sharp, excellent at heading, aerially exceptional and could easily find space in the final third. The former Serie A striker was an expert in finding the back of the net from all around the post, tap-ins, headers, long-range strikers or close-range finishing.

Batistuta is widely considered to be one of the best 9s in football history. He was a force to be reckoned with on the international stage. He has scored 54 goals in 77 appearances for Argentina in his career. The Fiorentina icon was Argentina’s record goal scorer with 55 goals until Lionel Messi broke his goal tally. He has played for AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina in the Italian top-flight Serie A, marking his legendary status.

3. Mario Kempes (1970–1996)

Mario Kempes was a member of Argentina’s first-ever FIFA 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 campaign. Kempes was hailed for his dynamic and quick feet, dribbling, and powerful shots. The legendary forward was a threat as he could score from anywhere on the pitch.

The Argentine icon's performances in the 1978 World Cup cemented his place and legacy in Argentine football history. His fearless attacking style and relentless work rate set him apart from his contemporaries. Beyond the statistical figures, Kempes symbolised Argentina’s emergence on the global stage. He inspired a generation of Argentine footballers. The legacy Valencia legend built during that tournament firmly cemented his name among the nation’s all-time greats.

2. Diego Maradona

1. Lionel Messi (2004–Present)

Lionel Messi is the only player to have truly rivalled Diego Maradona in the debate over the greatest Argentine football legends. He is the greatest Barcelona player ever and widely hailed as the Greatest of all time. Messi is simply out of this world; his technical brilliance, visionary playmaking, and prolific goal-scoring ability have set benchmarks that remain unmatched in modern football.

The Inter Miami star Leo Messi ticks all the boxes to top this list; he has consistency for both club and country, coupled with his longevity at the highest level, which distinguishes him from his peers. He won countless trophies and accolades with FC Barcelona, and he has claimed a record eight Ballon d’Or awards and shattered numerous records throughout his illustrious career. The 2022 World Cup title was the only missing piece of his trophy cabinet.