Search
Argentina is arguably the country on earth that lives football with the greatest passion. Many extraordinary stars have worn the albiceleste and in this top ten of "the 10 greatest Argentine players of all time", we revisit some of the names who have had the greatest impact on the game — judged on quality, career, legacy and titles.
10. Ubaldo Fillol
Also known as "El Pato", Fillol is considered one of the finest goalkeepers in football history — the hero between the posts for the Argentina side that won the 1978 World Cup. He spent the bulk of his career at River Plate, winning seven league titles there. Outside his homeland he played only for Flamengo and Atlético de Madrid, with whom he won Atlético's first-ever Spanish Super Cup in 1985. "El Pato" had a great rivalry with "El Loco" Gatti, Boca Juniors' goalkeeper — two men of very different styles, with Fillol meticulous and professional and Hugo Gatti free-spirited, playing football purely for the love of it.
9. Omar Sívori
Next is Omar Sívori, the Argentine attacking midfielder who took Italian nationality and won the Ballon d'Or in 1961. He is one of the greatest Argentines in history and features on the FIFA 100 list compiled by none other than Pelé. Sívori began his career at River Plate, where he won three league titles, before moving to Italy to play for Juventus and later Napoli. He flourished in the transalpine country, winning three Italian league titles and two Coppa Italia trophies with the bianconeri, where he is considered an all-time legend. At international level he played for both Argentina and Italy, winning the Copa América in 1957 with the albiceleste.
8. Juan Román Riquelme
Riquelme is one of the most beloved figures for Argentines — a classic number ten, a touchstone for his position. He began his career at Argentinos Juniors, the club he returned to at the very end. He spent most of his life at Boca Juniors, where he played 13 seasons in total and won five league titles, a Copa Argentina, a Recopa Sudamericana and three Copa Libertadores. Outside his homeland he played one season at Barcelona and four at Villarreal, where he also became an icon. At international level he won Olympic gold at Beijing 2008, the Under-20 South American Championship and the Under-20 World Cup, both in 1997.
7. Daniel Passarella
Passarella is one of the greatest defenders in history and also the second-highest scoring defender of all time, with 175 goals — second only to Ronald Koeman. He operated primarily as a central defender or sweeper. "El Káiser" of Argentina took his first steps at Club Atlético Sarmiento at 15, moving to River Plate the following season where he won seven first-division championships. He went on to play several seasons in Serie A at both Inter and Fiorentina. At international level his record is magnificent — the only Argentine player to have two World Cup winners' medals, lifting the trophy in 1978 and 1986.
6. Ángel Di María
"El Fideo" Di María is the first active player on this list. His vast honours list, combined with his enormous impact in decisive moments, puts Di María in sixth. He made his professional debut at Rosario Central — the club where he still plays today. He passed through some of the world's great clubs, leaving his mark and lifting a huge number of trophies — 36 at club level, including a Champions League with Real Madrid. With Argentina he has won six titles: the 2007 Under-20 World Cup, the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 Qatar World Cup and the 2024 Copa América. As noted, Di María has been the man for the moment in critical fixtures — scoring in the World Cup final, the Finalissima, the Copa América 2021 final, the Olympic final and much else besides.
5. Gabriel Omar Batistuta
"Batigol" is considered one of the greatest strikers in football history. In 1995, the historic Italian publication Guerin Sportivo named Batistuta the best player in the world. He was formed and made his debut at Newell's Old Boys, also played for River Plate and Boca Juniors before making the leap to Italian football. At Fiorentina he forged his legacy — even staying with the club in Serie B to help them back to the top flight. In Florence he is an absolute legend and has a statue at the Artemio Franchi. He later signed for Roma, where he played three seasons and scored crucial goals in the 2000/01 campaign that helped the club win the Scudetto. He had one season at Inter before retiring at Al-Arabi in Qatar. As well as a league title with River Plate and his trophies at Fiorentina and Roma, Batistuta won two Copa Américas, a Confederations Cup and a Copa de Campeones Conmebol with the albiceleste.
4. Mario Kempes
Also known as "El Matador", Kempes was one of the most important strikers in history and one of the heroes of the 1978 World Cup lifted by Argentina on home soil. He began his professional career at Instituto Atlético Central de Córdoba before signing for Rosario Central. At Valencia he scored goals for fun and is considered the greatest player in the club's history — winning a Copa del Rey, a Cup Winners' Cup and a UEFA Super Cup. He was the protagonist of a golden era for the Valencian club and claimed the Pichichi as the Spanish league's top scorer on two occasions. On the biggest day of his career — the World Cup final against the Netherlands in 1978 — Kempes scored twice in a 3–1 victory. Across seven World Cup matches "El Matador" netted six times. A true legend.
3. Alfredo Di Stéfano
"La Saeta Rubia", born in Buenos Aires — the Argentine icon who later became a Spanish national — opens this top three of the greatest Argentine players in history. A legendary footballer whom few people were fortunate enough to watch in person, but whom absolutely everyone has heard their parents, grandparents and friends describe. A player unlike any other, considered one of the greatest of all time. He was capped internationally by two countries — six times for Argentina and 31 for Spain. FIFA considers him one of the four greatest players of the 20th century, alongside Pelé, Johan Cruyff and another Argentine who features further up this very list. He won two Ballons d'Or, in 1957 and 1959, and is the only player in history to hold the Super Ballon d'Or — an honorary prize awarded by France Football magazine. He started at River Plate, later moved to Club Atlético Huracán, and before heading to Europe spent four seasons at Millonarios in Colombia, winning three league titles and a Colombian Cup. His signing by Real Madrid, as football historians tell it, completely changed the direction of Spanish football. Real Madrid had not won the league in 20 years; with Di Stéfano's arrival they won eight of the next eleven, establishing themselves as the team to beat. Surpassed only by Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema and Raúl, Alfredo is Real Madrid's fourth all-time leading scorer. His final two seasons were spent at RCD Espanyol, where he played 47 matches and scored 11 goals.
2. Leo Messi
The other active player completing this top ten could only be Leo Messi. With an immaculate record both individually and collectively, Messi is second on this difficult list to define. An entire life devoted to football — a talent who grew up in Argentina, flourished in Barcelona and went on to win eight Ballons d'Or. Staggering. Virtually unmatched. He spent 17 seasons in Barcelona's first team, where he is now considered the undisputed greatest in the club's history. He accumulated so many titles, goals, assists, dribbles and memorable moments that the memory can barely hold them all. He has won 44 official titles across his career — 35 with Barcelona, three with Paris Saint-Germain, one with Inter Miami, four with Argentina and two with Argentina youth sides. He can still add to his legend at both Inter Miami and with his national side. Pep Guardiola, one of his managers and arguably among the people on earth who most admires the man from Rosario, once said: "Don't write about him, don't try to describe what he does — just watch him."
1. Diego Armando Maradona
El Pelusa. Barrilete Cósmico. El Pibe de Oro. No nickname we can think of begins to capture what Diego Armando Maradona was and what he represents — not just in football or sport, but far beyond. Diego managed to transform a country that at times felt grey, dark and defeated into a joyful nation that radiated hope. Many in the media describe him as the greatest footballer in history, but his figure has no parallel — he was not "just" a football player. He was the driving force for many Argentines who, through his football, found a way to see life differently. He influenced culture, art, music — countless artists drew inspiration from Diego. Andrés Calamaro, Joaquín Sabina, Los Piojos, Rodrigo Bueno and Manu Chao, among others, dedicated songs to him that became genuine anthems — "La mano de Dios" or "Maradó". As well as being a cultural and social icon, he became a symbol of rebellion and a voice for the disadvantaged — he never stayed silent, always fought for his beliefs.
On the sporting side, "El Pibe de Fiorito" began his career at Argentinos Juniors, where he played five seasons and set the record of being the Argentine championship's top scorer five consecutive times. In 1981 he moved to Boca Juniors and the following season signed for Barcelona for around seven million euros. In Catalonia he won three national titles — a Copa del Rey, a Copa de la Liga and the Spanish Super Cup. In 1984 Maradona moved to Italy, to Naples — a city that to this day worships him for what he achieved there. He became a demigod in Campania, his football enchanting the Neapolitans and making him one of the most important public figures in the city. With Diego, Napoli won the Scudetto on two occasions — something they had never previously achieved — along with a UEFA Cup, the only international title in the club's history, plus a Coppa Italia and a Super Cup. Maradona brought a similar kind of joy to Naples as he had to Argentina — lighting up a city that had never shone quite so brightly. The affair with the Italian club ended seven years later, and his professional activity was suspended between 1991 and 1992 following a positive drugs test. In the 1992/93 season he joined Sevilla, scoring 7 goals. For the final stretch of his career he returned to Argentina to play at Newell's and Boca Juniors, where he eventually hung up his boots.
At the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, beyond the iconic Hand of God and his Goal of the Century, Diego was decisive in every match — scoring twice in the semi-final against Belgium and providing the assist for Burruchaga's winning goal in the final against West Germany. His football, combined with his powerful presence as a figure, is why Maradona tops our list of "The 10 Greatest Argentine Players in History". Diego Armando Maradona — a pagan god to football lovers everywhere.
Beyond these ten figures, players of the stature of Ricardo Bochini, Fernando Redondo, Kun Agüero and Javier Zanetti have also been hugely significant in Argentina's history and deserve a special mention for their distinguished and extensive careers.
Want to know more about our shirts? Click here.
