Argentina is among the most successful countries in international football. The country has some of the best football talents in the world. This article shares the best footballers of all time from the South American country.
1. Diego Maradona
60-year old Diego Maradona is regarded as the best footballer in Argentina. The FIFA Player of the 20th Century winner had a successful career at both club and national team levels. While Messi is equally a good player, Maradona’s World Cup success puts him ahead of the Barcelona star. Among the memorable moments in Maradona’s career is his legendary solo goal against England in the 1986 World Cup.
2. Lionel Messi
Barcelona star Lionel Messi is the second-best Argentinian footballer of all time. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner has won all the major trophies at club level, including the La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. At the club level, Messi is definitely better than Maradona, but the fact that he has not won any major trophy with the national team puts him in second place. But if he wins the 2022 World Cup, he will definitely topple Maradona to become the best Argentinian footballer of all time.
3. Alfredo di Stefano
Nicknamed ”Saeta Rubia,” Alfredo di Stefano is the third-best Argentinian footballer and arguably, Real Madrid’s greatest player of all time. The forward was instrumental in Los Blancos’ domination in La Liga and European Cup in the 1950s. Interestingly, Stefano played for three different national teams; Argentina, Spain, and Colombia. At the Argentina national team, Stefano was part of the team that clinched the South American Championship in 1947.
4. Mario Kempes
At number 4 is Mario Kempes, the ex-Valencia star who inspired the La Liga club to UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and Copa del Rey victory. The striker was La Liga’s top scorer twice and managed an impressive 116 goals in 184 league games for Valencia. When it comes to national team football, his remarkable performance in the 1978 World Cup makes him an idol in Argentinian football.
5. Omar Sivori
Closing the list of the top 5 best Argentinian footballers is Omar Sívori, an Italian Argentine footballer who won the 1957 South American Championship in his international debut for La Selección. Besides his exploits for Albicelestes, Sivori is also remembered for his impressive performances at River Plate, Juventus, and Napoli.
Wrapping Up
There you have it, folks, a list of the top 5 best Argentinian footballers of all time. Other worthy mentions include Gabriel Batistuta, Ubaldo Fillol, Daniel Passarella, Angel Labruna, and Fernando Redondo.