Argentina is one of the strongest footballing nations in South America in particular and the world in general. In every era, Argentina has produced many outstanding players with natural talent and an elegant style of play. Apart from Messi, are there other Argentine footballers who have earned admiration? Let's join Wintips in the list of 12 Best soccer players in Argentina right below.
Top 12 best soccer players in Argentina’s history
1. Diego Maradona
The first name on the list of the greatest Argentine soccer players is Diego Maradona. Diego Armando Maradona, commonly known as Diego Maradona or simply Maradona, was an Argentine footballer and coach. Regarded as one of the greatest players in history, he was one of the two recipients of FIFA's Player of the 20th Century award.
His presence and leadership skills on the field had a significant impact on the team's overall performance, even though he was often closely marked by opposing players. In addition to his creativity, he also possessed a keen eye for goals and was known as an expert at taking free kicks. As a prodigious talent, Maradona was given the nickname 'El Pibe de Oro', which translates to 'The Golden Boy'
2. Alfredo di Stefano
Di Stefano is recognized as the greatest player in the illustrious history of Real Madrid. His outstanding performances helped Los Blancos clinch five consecutive Champions League titles. Despite a short-lived stint at the national level, this football legend had a brief but impactful time with Argentina, scoring six goals in six matches and helping his team win the 1947 Copa America.
Di Stefano was not only an exceptional forward with remarkable physical endurance, superb technique, and tactical awareness, but he also possessed a high level of competitiveness. Additionally, he could play in various positions on the field. While best known for his role as a center forward, he was also a skilled defensive player and could excel as a midfielder or winger.
3. Lionel Messi
Ranked third on the list of Argentina’s best soccer players is a name known to all—Lionel Messi. Messi is the greatest football talent Argentina has produced since the era of the legendary Maradona. However, his lack of international titles with the Albiceleste was long considered the biggest drawback of M10's illustrious career.
Eight Ballon d'Ors in 14 years, spanning three decades—world football, even at the club level, has rarely witnessed such sustained dominance. Not to mention that the holder of these record-breaking achievements is a player who, despite being hailed as a genius, has faced numerous hardships in life. At one point, he fell into the depths of despair, yet he managed to rise again, overcoming adversity.
4. Mario Kempes
Before the era of Maradona, Kempes was the greatest hero for Argentina's national team in the FIFA World Cup. The legendary player, born in 1954, delivered an outstanding performance by scoring six goals, including a brace in the final against the Netherlands, in the 1978 FIFA World Cup. Throughout his illustrious career, Kempes scored over 300 goals.
Before the 1978 World Cup finals in Argentina, Kempes was the only non-Argentine player on coach César Luis Menotti's Argentina roster. Throughout his career, Kempes scored 20 goals in 43 appearances for his country. In addition to playing in the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, he also competed in the 1982 World Cup.
5. Omar Sivori
Sivori became a beloved football icon in Argentina and beyond. His peak playing career was marked by six consecutive national championships, including three titles with River Plate and three Serie A titles with Juventus. Sivori was also a key player in the Albiceleste's triumph in the 1957 Copa América.
In FIFA’s list of the 125 greatest football players of all time, Sivori is one of ten Argentine players included. This serves as a reaffirmation of Sivori's talent and contributions to world football, as well as Juventus, as he was awarded the Ballon d'Or by France Football magazine.
6. Gabriel Batistuta
Gabriel Omar Batistuta (born February 1, 1969), an Argentine footballer nicknamed 'Batigol,' is a former professional player. He is regarded as one of the best strikers in the history of Argentine football in particular and world football in general. The Argentine striker was the top goalscorer for both his club teams and the national team.
Batistuta scored 56 goals in 72 appearances for the Albiceleste; it was a record that stood for a long time before being surpassed by superstar Lionel Messi. He also became the only player to score two hat-tricks in two different FIFA World Cups.
7. Ubaldo Fillol
Ubaldo Matildo Fillol (born 21 July 1950) was nicknamed El Pato. He was an Argentine football coach and former goalkeeper. The legend participated in the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, winning the championship with his team and being voted Best Goalkeeper in the latter tournament. He also played in the 1982 World Cup, representing the Argentina national team.
The legendary Fillol spent almost his entire 30-year-long career playing for top clubs in his native Argentina. He won seven league titles with River Plate and one Supercopa Sudamericana at the age of 38 with Racing. At the senior level, Fillol became the first-choice goalkeeper for the Albiceleste in the 1974, 1978, and 1982 FIFA World Cups.
8. Daniel Passarella
Daniel Alberto Passarella (born May 25, 1953) is a former Argentine footballer and coach, considered one of the greatest defenders of all time. During his time with the Argentine national team, he was part of two FIFA World Cup-winning squads. Additionally, he led Argentina to victory in the 1978 FIFA World Cup, which the country hosted, and was also part of the 1986 World Cup-winning squad.
Captain Passarella's outstanding performance contributed greatly to Argentina's victory in the 1978 World Cup. Despite playing as a defender, this legend possessed remarkable goalscoring ability, scoring 144 goals in 477 club games and 22 goals in 70 appearances for the national team.
9. Angel Labruna
No. 9 on the list of the best soccer players in Argentina is Angel Labruna. Labruna is famous for playing as a striker for his hometown team, River Plate. Throughout his 20-year career with the Monumental side, the Argentine won nine national championship titles alongside other illustrious players such as Jose Manuel Moreno, Adolfo Pedernera, Felix Loustau, and Alfredo Di Stéfano.
In addition, Labruna was also honored to have twice lifted the Copa América, winning in 1946 and 1955 with the Argentine national team. With 323 goals scored in official matches, including 294 in the league, Labruna is the second-highest goalscorer in Primera División history, trailing only Paraguayan legend Arsenio Erico.
10. Fernando Redondo
Fernando Redondo, whose real name is Fernando Carlos Redondo Neri, was born on 6 July 1969 in Adrogué, Buenos Aires, and is a former Argentine footballer. Redondo played as a defensive midfielder, but his playing style was notably artistic. He is considered one of the greatest defensive midfielders in Argentine history, known for his romantic and elegant playing style.
The legendary Diego Maradona thought Redondo and Batistuta were the two best players of his generation. Redondo featured prominently for both the national team and Real Madrid, one of the biggest clubs in the world. He won the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award in the 1999/2000 season
11. Hernán Jorge Crespo
Hernán Jorge Crespo, born on July 5, 1975, is a former Argentine footballer. He was born in Vicente López Partido, located in the Greater Buenos Aires region. He is renowned for his exceptional finishing ability and is also one of the most efficient goal-scorers in the game, thanks to his intelligent off-the-ball movement.
His achievements include one Copa Libertadores title, one Premier League championship, three Scudetto titles, and an Olympic silver medal. Crespo was also the top scorer in Serie A during the 2000–01 season, netting 26 goals. In 2004, Pelé included him in the list of the 125 greatest living footballers.
12. Ángel Di María
Ángel Di María is a hero of Argentina and a trusted ally of Lionel Messi, consistently delivering crucial goals in major finals. He scored in both the 2021 Copa América final against Brazil and the 2022 FIFA World Cup final against France, helping Argentina end its decades-long title drought.
The winger, born in 1988, has had a successful career, winning almost all prestigious titles at both club and international levels. He won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League while playing for Real Madrid. Di Maria has won every major international trophy with Argentina, including the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 Finalissima, and the 2022 World Cup.
Conclusion
We have taken a look at the 12 best players in Argentine football history. It is undeniable that Messi has had an incredibly successful career, but he still faces competition from other footballing legends. Thank you for reading our article. Don't forget to visit our legal bookmaker ranking website to keep up to date with more new news.
See also: Top 10 shortest football player in the world right now
