Argentina

Diego Armando Maradona is an Argentine football manager and retired professional footballer.

Maradona was the coach of Argentine Primera División club Gimnasia de La Plata. He is regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. He was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award. His presence and leadership on the field had a great effect on his team's general performance, while he would often be singled out by the opposition.

He played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, FC Barcelona, S.S.C. Napoli, Sevilla F.C. and Newell's Old Boys during his club career, and is most famous for his time at Napoli and Barcelona where he won numerous accolades.

In his international career with Argentina National Football Team, he earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals. Maradona played in four FIFA World Cups, including the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico (1986) where he captained Argentina and led them to victory over West Germany National Football Team in the final, and won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. In the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico (1986) quarterfinal, he scored both goals in a 2-1 victory over England National Football Team that entered football history for two different reasons. The first goal was an unpenalized handling foul known as the 'Hand of God', while the second goal followed a 60 m (66 yd) dribble past five England players, voted 'Goal of the Century' by FIFA.com voters in 2002.

Maradona became coach of Argentina National Football Team in November 2008. He was in charge of the team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa (2010) in South Africa before leaving at the end of the tournament.

Lionel Messi is a football player from Argentina who plays for Inter Miami. He has won the Ballon D'Or, the annual award given to the best player in the world, 8 times, 2022 FIFA World Cup winner and an Olympic gold medal winner in 2008. He was born in 1987 in Rosario, Argentina's third-biggest city. He showed an enormous aptitude for football and was in the youth teams for Newell's Old Boys, his local team. Faced with mounting medical expenses to treat a growth hormone condition, Messi's family accepted an offer to move the 13-year-old prodigy to FC Barcelona, who would pay for his treatment. Messi has gone on to become one of the most decorated players in football history and has broken countless records for his club and his country.

Alfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé (4 July 1926 - 7 July 2014) was an Argentine-born professional footballer and coach who played as a forward, regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. Nicknamed "Saeta Rubin" ("Blond Arrow"), he is best known for his achievements with Real Madrid, where he was instrumental in the club's domination of the European Cup and La Liga during the 1950s. Along with Francisco Gento and José María Zárraga, he was one of only three players to play a part in all five victories, scoring goals in each of the five finals. Di Stéfano played international football mostly for Spain after moving to Madrid, but he also played for Argentina and Colombia.

Gabriel Omar Batistuta is an Argentine former professional footballer. During his playing career, Batistuta was nicknamed Batigol as well as El Ángel Gabriel. Regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time, noted in particular for powerful strikes from volleys or from distance while on the run, in 1999, Batistuta placed third for the FIFA World Player of the Year award. In 2004, he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.

Mario Kempes is a retired Argentine footballer who played as a striker.

His father, Mario, also a footballer, inspired him to play from a young age. At the age of seven he began playing with a junior team and at fourteen, he joined the Talleres de Córdoba reserves. A prolific goalscorer, at club level he is best known for playing for Valencia C.F., finishing as La Liga's top goalscorer twice, and amassing 116 goals in 184 league games for the club.

At international level, Kempes was the focal point of Argentina's 1978 FIFA World Cup (1978) win where he scored twice in the final, and received the Golden Boot as top goalscorer. He also won the Golden Ball for the player of the tournament, making him one of only three players to have won all three awards at a single World Cup, along with Garrincha in 1962, and Paolo Rossi in 1982. During his club career he won 43 caps for Argentina and scored 20 times. He represented his country in three World Cups in 1974, 1978 and 1982.

Kempes won South American Footballer of the Year, Onze d'Or European footballer of the Year, and World Cup Golden Ball in 1978.

Daniel Passarella was born on 25 May 1953 in Chacabuco, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. He is married to Graciela. They have two children.

Juan Román Riquelme is an Argentine former professional footballer and current vice-president of Boca Juniors, the club where he spent the majority of his playing career. He is considered by various journalists, players and coaches as one of the greatest Argentine players of all time, as well as one of the most outstanding midfielders of his generation.

Omar Sivori was born on 2 October 1935 in San Nicolás, Buenos Aires province, Argentina. He died on 17 February 2005 in San Nicolás, Buenos Aires province, Argentina.

Carlos Tevez was born on 5 February 1984 in Ciudadela, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. He is an actor, known for Nike: Take It to the Next Level (2008), YPF: Festejo (2004) and Yogurísimo: Con ganas puedo (2015). He has been married to Vanesa Mansilla since 22 December 2016. They have three children.

Juan Sebastián Verón was born on 9 March 1975 in La Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. He is an actor, known for I Married a Dumbass (2016), Pepsi Worldcup Campaign 2002 (2002) and The Joy of Pepsi (Foosball) (2001). He has been married to Valentina Martín since 8 September 2023. He was previously married to María Florencia Vinaccia.

Javier Adelmar Zanetti is an Argentine former professional footballer. He is regarded as one of the best players of his generation, and is especially well known for his role in Inter Milan's treble-winning 2009-10 season. Zanetti was known for his versatility as well as his adeptness on both the left and right wing, having played as a full-back on both flanks in addition to being a midfielder.

Ubaldo Matildo Fillol is an Argentine football coach and former goalkeeper.

He took part in the 1974, 1978 (where he won the championship with his team and was voted Best Goalkeeper) and 1982 World Cups representing the Argentina National Football Team. He also played in the South American qualifiers for the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico (1986), but he was finally not chosen for the final team that played (and won) in Mexico. He is considered to be one of the greatest goalkeepers and usually regarded as the best Argentine goalkeeper ever.

Ángel Fabián Di María (born 14 February 1988) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Paris Saint-Germain and the Argentina national team. He can play as either a winger or attacking midfielder.

After beginning his career with Rosario Central, Di María moved to Europe in 2007 to play for Benfica, earning a EUR25 million move to Real Madrid three years later. He played a major role in the club's 2011-12 La Liga triumph. After winning the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid, he signed for Manchester United in 2014 for a British record £59.7 million, but joined PSG a year later for around £44 million.

A full international for Argentina since 2008, Di María has earned over 90 caps for his country. He scored the goal that won the country gold at the 2008 Olympics, and has also represented them at three FIFA World Cups and four Copa América tournaments, reaching the final of the 2014 World Cup, the 2015 Copa América, and the Copa América Centenario.

Di María was born on 14 February 1988 in Rosario, Argentina, as one of three children of Miguel and Diana, and grew up in Perdriel. As an infant, he was unusually active, and on recommendation of a doctor was signed up for football at age three. He also helped his parents with their work at a local coal yard along with his two sisters, Vanesa and Evelyn. Due to the low income his family earned, purchasing football boots and keeping up with Di María's hobby was difficult for his parents. He considers himself to be a "family man" and has used a significant amount of his salary to "give back" to his family. After being transferred to Benfica, he asked his father not to work anymore and purchased a house for his parents and sisters.

Di María was transferred to Portuguese side Benfica in July 2007, where he played as a winger. Benfica paid Rosario Central EUR6 million for 80% of his sports rights and 50% of sports right of Andrés Díaz. Later, in August 2008, the Portuguese club paid an extra EUR2 million for the remaining 20%, but re-sold 10% to GestiFute. Di María was signed as a replacement for Benfica's departing captain, Simão, who joined Atlético Madrid earlier that summer.

Di María signed a new deal with Benfica in October 2009, adding three more years to his current deal, which was to last until 30 June 2015 with his release fee set at a minimum of EUR40 million. Later that month, he was backed by Diego Maradona to become "Argentina's next superstar".

On 27 February 2010, Di María scored his first hat-trick in a classic 4-0 win against Leixões. The next day, he made the headlines as "Magic Tri María" in all sports newspapers in Portugal.

On 28 June 2010, Real Madrid posted on their website that they had come to terms with Benfica for the transfer of Di María. He signed a five-year contract for EUR25 million, plus EUR11 million in incentives, as announced one day later by the Portuguese Stock Exchange regulating entity. On 7 July 2010, Di María arrived to Madrid directly from Buenos Aires, and passed the medical test on 8 July.

He made his debut on 4 August 2010 in a friendly match against Mexican side América, which Real Madrid won 3-2. On 22 August, Di María scored his first goal in another friendly away against Hércules, which Real Madrid won 1-3. In the last match of the pre-season, on 24 August, after an individual play described as a "magic moment", he opened the score of the 2-0 win against Peñarol for the Trofeo Santiago Bernabéu.

His league debut came on 29 August in a 0-0 draw against Mallorca. On 18 September, Di María scored his first league goal for Real Madrid in their 1-2 away win over Real Sociedad. Ten days later, he scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League against Auxerre in a 0-1 victory. He scored a controversial first goal against Sevilla on 19 December. Days later, Di María assisted Karim Benzema's two goals and Cristiano Ronaldo's goal in an astonishing 8-0 drubbing of Levante on 22 December. In the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Lyon, he scored the third and final goal in a 3-0 win to send Real Madrid through to the quarter-finals for the first time in seven years.

Di María scored Real Madrid's third goal during their first-leg Champions League quarter-final victory over Tottenham Hotspur on 5 April 2011. On 20 April, he was sent off in the 31st minute of extra time in the Copa del Rey final against rivals Barcelona. Real Madrid won the match 1-0, the lone goal of the match (in the 13th minute of extra time) being a header from Cristiano Ronaldo, which came from his cross, thus obtaining his first honour with Real Madrid.

On 26 August 2014, Di María signed a five-year deal with Manchester United for a transfer fee of £59.7 million, one of the most expensive transfers of all time and the highest fee ever paid by a British club at the time. He inherited the number 7 shirt at United, which was previously worn by club legends such as George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.

On 2 August, it was reported Di María would undergo a medical ahead of a move to Paris Saint-Germain, and four days later, Manchester United confirmed he had been sold to the French champions for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £44 million, signing a four-year contract.

Roberto Ayala was born on 14 April 1973 in Paraná, Entre Ríos Province, Argentina. He is an actor, known for LaLiga (1929), Videomatch (1990) and Aerolíneas Argentinas: Video de Seguridad 2023 (2023). He has been married to Verónica since 12 August 1995. They have four children.

Sergio Leonel "Kun" Agüero del Castillo (fan of Independiente de Avellaneda) is an Argentine footballer. Agüero earned his nickname Kun when his grandparents noted his resemblance to Japanese anime character Kum Kum. He is married and has a son with Diego Maradona's daughter Giannina Maradona. Agüero was born in Quilmes, Buenos Aires on 2 June 1988 into a large family with seven children. His mother, Adriana, was a housewife, and his father, Leonel, was a taxi driver. Kun is the second child of the seven, but unlike his siblings Yesica, Gabriela, Maira, Daiana, Mauritius and Gaston, he took the name of his mother, Agüero, and not Del Castillo, the name of his father. Agüero started playing football at a young age and he often played on a pitch in his local neighbourhood, Villa Itali. He was quoted as saying that the best place for children to learn how to play football was on the street, and that doing so helped him in his own development.

Javier Mascherano was born on 8 June 1984 in San Lorenzo, Santa Fe, Argentina. He is an actor and talent agent, known for Qatar Airways and FC Barcelona (2015), LALIGA Best 11 (2023) and LaLiga (1929). He has been married to María Fernanda Moreno since 2008. They have three children.

Hernán Crespo is an Argentine professional football coach and former player. He was the manager of C.A. Banfield, Defensa y Justicia and São Paulo F.C..

A prolific striker, Crespo has scored over 300 goals in a career spanning 19 years. At international level, he scored 35 goals and is Argentina's fourth highest goalscorer behind only Sergio Agüero, Gabriel Batistuta and Lionel Messi. He played in three FIFA World Cups: 1998, 2002, 2006. At club level, Crespo was the world's most expensive player, when he was bought by S.S. Lazio from Parma in 2000. He was top scorer in the 2000-01 Serie A with 26 goals, playing for S.S. Lazio.

Crespo's awards include three Serie A scudetti, a Copa Libertadores, a Premier League title and an Olympic Games silver medal.

Oscar Ruggeri is an Argentinian former professional footballer who played as defender.

Ruggeri achieved success at the international level with the Argentina national team, being part of the teams that won the 1986 FIFA World Cup, two editions of the Copa América and the 1992 King Fahd Cup. At the club level, Ruggeri's most successful stint was with Argentine club River Plate, where he won the 1986 Copa Libertadores (also the club's first win in this tournament) the 1986 Copa Interamericana and the 1986 Intercontinental Cup. Known for his rough style of play when marking opposing players and aerial ability, Ruggeri is considered one of the all-time best defenders to come out of Argentina. Ruggeri played in 21 Copa América games, a national record he shares with José Salomón.

Following his retirement as a player, Ruggeri turned to managing, where he held posts in Argentina, Mexico and Spain. His last job as a manager was in 2006 with Argentine club San Lorenzo. Since then, Ruggeri went on to have a career on Argentine television, as commentator on football shows. He is a member of 90 Minutos de Fútbol, which airs in Fox Sports Latin America.

Gonzalo Higuaín was born on 10 December 1987 in Brest, Finistère, France. He is an actor, known for Torrente 4: Lethal Crisis (2011), Winner Stays (2014) and LaLiga (1929). He has been married to Lara Wechsler since January 2018. They have one child.

Ariel Ortega was born on 4 March 1974 in Ledesma, Jujuy, Argentina. He is an actor, known for Claro Argentina (2012), Surfavela (1999) and Videomatch (1990). He was previously married to Danesa Molineris.

Gabriel Heinze was born on 19 April 1978 in Crespo, Entre Ríos Province, Argentina. He has been married to Florencia Bordi since 2000. They have three children.

Esteban Cambiasso was born on 18 August 1980 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has been married to Claudia Fittipaldi since 27 December 2002. They have two children.

Javier Saviola was born on 11 December 1981 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is an actor, known for Secret Tournament (2002), Impossible Field (2005) and LaLiga (1929). He has been married to Romanela Amato since 6 January 2024. They have two children.

Juan Pablo Sorin was born on 5 May 1976 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is an actor and producer, known for Erase una vez en Qatar (2022), Mars One (2022) and The Fight for Justice: Paolo Guerrero (2022). He has been married to Sol Alac since 1999. They have one child.