Famous Argentine football players. Argentina footballers call for head coach to be sacked

Argentina: Tango with Terrorists

ARGENTINA FMAIA-58A Pucara FMA IA-58A "Pucara" LIGHT ATTACKER Designed for air support of ground forces, reconnaissance and other special tasks. In August 1966, the development of the Argentine attack aircraft began. Prototype under the designation AH-2

MOSCOW, June 22 - RIA Novosti. Argentine national team players demanded the resignation of head coach of the national team Jorge Sampaoli before the final match of the group stage of the World Cup. This is reported by the portal mundoalbiceleste.com.

Last night Albiceleste suffered a crushing defeat from the Croatian team, conceding three unanswered goals in the second half.

A post on the site says that the players held a meeting and voted unanimously for Sampaoli's resignation. According to the portal, there high probability the fact that in the match with Nigeria he will no longer lead the actions of the players. The site also reports that Sampaoli will replace Jorge Burruchaga, world champion and goal-winner in the 1986 final.

After a draw with the Icelanders (1:1) and a defeat from the Croats (0:3), the Argentina national team is in third place in group D, it has one point in its asset. AT final round group stage, the Argentines will meet with Nigeria. The match will take place on June 26 in St. Petersburg.

According to AS, in the event of a termination of the contract, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) will have to pay Jorge Sampaoli 20 million euros, reports As. It is worth noting that at present the AFA continues to pay a penalty to two former helmsmen of the national team - Gerardo Martino, who led the team in 2014-2016, and Edgardo Bausa, who left the national team in 2017.

The Argentina national team experienced great difficulties at the qualifying stage of selection for the World Cup. The team lost to Paraguay, Ecuador and lost to Brazil, until the last rounds there was a possibility that Argentina would not get to the World Cup at all.

Sampaoli took responsibility for the defeat in the match against Croatia. According to the coach, this match was supposed to be the starting point, but in the end the meeting ended in a rout. He also admitted that his wards failed to deliver the ball to the leader of the Argentina national team, Lionel Messi. Jorge told reporters that he could not find the best use for the players on the field.

"I would like to apologize to the fans, especially to those who have come such a long way. It is completely my fault," Sampaoli told reporters. "We wanted to be first in the group, it is clear that we will not succeed now. It hurts."

Argentina's 1988 FIFA World Cup champion Mario Kempes called Argentina's defeat in the 2018 tournament against Croats "a shameful sight". "It's sad! In the second match we were waiting for a reaction (to a draw in the first game with the Icelanders), but got a big surprise: the match was even worse," Kempes wrote on his microblog on Twitter.

Former footballer of the Russian clubs "Moscow", "Terek" (now "Akhmat") and "Rostov" Hector Bracamonte expressed his disappointment with the game. "The Argentina national team played very badly. Not only Messi played badly, all the players acted badly. Nobody helped Messi, it's hard to explain the team's game. I believe that Argentina will be able to get out of the group, you need to beat Nigeria and wait for Croatia to beat Iceland," Bracamonte said.

Earlier, Diego Maradona criticized the Albiceleste head coach for failing to prepare the team for the World Cup. "With a game like this, Sampaoli may not be returning home. It's a shame not to have a prepared game," said the legendary striker. Maradona noted that the team continued to play through throws into the penalty area, despite the fact that all the opponent's players were larger than the Argentines.

The former football player stressed that he does not blame the players and sees the problem in the lack of preparation. He added that the game against Nigeria will be difficult, as they are an experienced team that can counterattack.

Argentina has given the world an innumerable number of outstanding football players, and its national team is one of the strongest on the planet.

History of the Argentina national football team

• Participation in the final stage of the world championships: 15 times.
• Participation in the final stage of the America's Cup: 37 times.

Achievements of the Argentina national team

• 2-time world champion.
• Silver medalist - 3 times.
• 14 times South American Champion.
• Silver medalist - 14 times.
• Bronze medalist - 4 times.

The Argentina national team played its first match in 1901 or 1902, no exact information has been preserved. It is authentically known that the team of Uruguay was the rival, and that the Argentines won. As for the account, here football statistics called various options– from 3:2 to 6:0.

Argentina national team at the world championships

At the first World Cup, held in Uruguay, the Argentines immediately reached the final, where they lost to the host team 2:4.

That match was remembered by the fact that the teams played with two balls - the first half was Argentinean, the second - Uruguayan. FIFA made this decision because both teams presented their ball and could not agree - everyone wanted to play their own ball.

Interestingly, the teams argued not in vain. The first half was won by Argentina 2:1, the second was outright won by Uruguay 3:0.

At the next World Cup, which was held according to the Olympic system, the Argentina national team lost 2:3 to the Swedish team in the first round. This match was, as it were, the beginning of the long-term failures of Albicelesta at the World Championships.

In the tournaments of 1938, 1950 and 1984, Argentina refused to participate, in the championships of 1958 and 1962 they could not even leave the group.

Only in 1966, the Argentina national team, having beaten Spain and Switzerland and tied with the West Germany team, was finally able to overcome the group stage. In the quarter-finals they were waiting for the host team - the England team. That match was remembered for the scandalous refereeing of the West German referee Rudolf Kreitlein, who sent off the Argentine captain Antonio Rattin in the first half.

offended in better feelings Ruttin wiped his hands on the corner post, which bore the British flag. The Argentines lost the match, but they still call it the “robbery of the century” and it was this meeting that served as the beginning of the Anglo-Argentine.

Argentina missed the 1970 World Cup, losing sensationally in the qualifying group to the national teams of Bolivia and Peru. Looking ahead, I’ll say that this was the last World Cup that took place without an “albicelesta”.

The next tournament also did not bring glory to the Argentine team. With difficulty, only due to the better difference between goals scored and conceded, they were ahead of the Italian team in the group, and in the second group round they managed to score only one point.

Argentina national team - world champion in 1978

As you can see, the Argentine national team approached its first home world championship with a far from enviable history of performances at world championships.

And yet, the country was waiting only for victory. And how could it be otherwise, because football in Argentina has long been a religion.

At the first stage, the Argentines hardly defeated the national teams of Hungary and France with the same score 2:1, after which they lost 0:1 to the Italian team. And at the second stage, Mario Kempes said his weighty word.

He was the only legionnaire in the Argentina national team (he played in Spain for Valencia) and was initially assigned great expectations. But Kempes failed to score a single goal in three matches.

Despite this Main coach national team Cesar Luis Menotti continued to put the striker in the squad and did not lose. Kempes scored two goals each against Poland (2:0) and Peru (6:0). Between these matches there was a goalless draw with the team of Brazil, but Argentina reached the final on the difference of goals scored and conceded goals.

That victory over Peru raised a lot of questions. The match began after Brazil had played its meeting, at the gates of the Peruvian national team was an Argentinean by origin Ramon Quiroga. And the game of the Peruvians, who had previously conceded six goals in five matches, raised questions.

All this is true. But the fact is that Argentina is not the first and not the last team that has enjoyed and will enjoy certain privileges as the hostess of the World Cup. So it was and so, unfortunately, will be. Why go far, just remember the match of the last World Cup Brazil - Croatia and a penalty kick in favor of the hosts of the tournament.

And in the final, Argentina, without any questions, outplayed the Dutch team 3:1 with extra time. Again, Kempes made a double, scoring the first and second goals of his team. It was he who became the top scorer and player of the championship.

The era of Diego Maradona

The Argentines went to the 1982 World Cup with their new star -. Four years ago, Menotti did not include him in the application, but now the 21-year-old footballer was the leader of the national team.

Starting with an unexpected defeat from Belgium 0:1, the Argentines defeated Hungary 4:1 and confidently outplayed El Salvador 2:0. But in the second group round they lost both matches - Italy and Brazil.

But the next championship became the championship of Maradona. The Argentines, led by Carlos Bilardo, confidently won their group, in the 1/8 finals they defeated the eternal rivals of the Uruguayans 1:0, and then outplayed the teams of England (2:1) and Belgium (2:0). In the last two matches against Argentina, only Maradona scored.

The match with the British turned out to be scandalous. Until recently, countries were at war over Falkland Islands, and this topic was exaggerated before the match. And in the game itself, the refereeing team missed the hand of Maradona, with which he scored the first goal.

True, four minutes later Diego created his own famous masterpiece, having made a raid from his half of the field and beating six Englishmen.

In the final, Maradona did not score, but his partners scored - Brown, Valdano, Burruchaga. 3:2 victory over the German national team.

In the final of the Italian World Cup, these teams met again. But what an indistinct Argentina looked then! Getting out of the group from third place, the Argentines immediately got on the Brazilian team. Fighting back the whole match, the team counted on the genius of its leader. And he did not disappoint - in the 81st minute, Maradona made his signature pass and brought Kanidzha one on one with the goalkeeper. The forward did not blunder.

The next rivals - Yugoslavia and Italy were only passed on penalties. How can one not remember the saying "There would be no happiness, but misfortune helped." Goalkeeper Sergio Goycochea saved four penalties in those series.

But he came to the championship as the second number, taking a place at the gate only after Neri Pumpido was injured in the second round match against the USSR national team.

In the final against the Germans, Argentina had one chance - to reach the penalty shootout. But five minutes before the end of the match, Andreas Brehme, having converted a penalty, brought victory to the German national team.

About that penalty there was a lot of controversy about the validity of the appointment. Yes, the penalty was rather dubious. But the fact is that a little earlier, Goykochea knocked down Augentaller in the penalty area, but the referee said nothing. Apparently, the Mexican Edgardo Mendez realized his mistake and decided to correct it in such a peculiar way.

Albicelesta was a completely different team. It featured forwards such as Gabriel Batistuta and Abel Balbo. In the ranks were the hero of the last tournament, Claudio Canigia, and, of course, Diego Maradona.

After the first two rounds (4:0 with Greece and 2:1 with Nigeria), Argentina became the most productive and bright team, instantly becoming the main contender for the title.

Everyone knows what happened next - Maradona's positive doping test and the subsequent disqualification. Left without their leader, the Argentines lost to Bulgaria and Romania and went home.

Subsequently, Argentina was constantly among the favorites of the world championship and constantly lacked something.

In 1998 they were eliminated in the quarter-finals when Denis Bergkamp last minute scored a crazy goal. By the way, in the 1/8 finals, Argentina again clashed with England, and that match was remembered for the provocation of Diego Simeone, which ended with the removal of David Beckham.

Yes, even at that championship, Argentina defeated Jamaica 5:0, inspiring the Chaif ​​group to create their musical masterpiece.

Argentina brought perhaps the best team in its history to Argentina. At least the best one I've seen. Ayala, Pochettino, Samuel, Sunneti, Sorin, Almeida, Veron, Simeone, Aymar, Claudio Lopez, Batistuta, Ortega, Crespo, Caniggia.

This is not a team, this is a dream. Not a single weak point, the presence in each line of at least two world-class stars, an obscenely long bench. Along with France, Argentina was the main favorite for the championship.

But, ironically, this team did not even make it out of the group. After defeating Nigeria 1:0, the British took revenge on the Argentines and personally David Beckham, who scored the only goal in the match from the penalty spot. BUT last meeting"albicelesta" could not get the necessary victory in the match with Sweden - 1:1.

Not much weaker than the Argentines appeared four years later from Germany, in addition, a little-known then 18-year-old child prodigy named Lionel Messi appeared in their composition. This time, the Argentines were unlucky in the penalty shootout against the hosts of the championship in the ¼ final match - Roberto Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso could not use their attempts.

True, everything could have ended much earlier, when in extra time, but the referee's whistle was silent. This I return to the question of some advantage, which is always used by the hosts of the World Cup.

Even at that championship, the Argentines were remembered for a goal against Serbia and Montenegro (6:0), which was preceded by a combination of 23 (!) Accurate passes, the crown of which was Crespo's heel assist on Cambiasso.

In 2010, in South Africa, the Argentina national team again lost in the quarterfinals to the German national team, this time with a humiliating score of 0:4. Diego Maradona, who led the team, decided to play open football with the Germans, put up five attacking players and was indicative of a beat. However, Maradona could do it differently, he could not step on the throat of his own song.

Argentina national team at the 2014 World Cup

Almost a quarter of a century later, Argentina again reached the final of the world championship. This time the team was not among the main favorites of the championship. The reason for this was the lack of a sufficient number of high-class defense players.

But head coach Alejandro Sabella managed to mold the defense from what it was. In the playoff matches, Argentina conceded only one goal, and that was in extra time of the final match from the Germans (they again!).

The trouble crept up on the other side - a magnificent attack in the person of di Maria, Higuain, Messi, Palacio, Lavessi, Aguero in the same four matches was honored with two goals - against Switzerland and Belgium. The Dutch were only in the penalty shootout, and the German team lost again.

Once again, Lionel Messi failed to cope with the role of the leader of the national team, scoring all his goals in the group stage against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria.

Argentina national team in the championships (Cups) of South America

In terms of the number of continental titles (14), the Argentina national team is second only to Uruguay, which has one "gold" more. Everything would be fine if not for one big and fat BUT. Argentina's last win at the Copa America was in 1993, when they defeated Mexico in the final.

But it all started so well. From 1916 to 1967, 26 tournaments were held and only one (!!!) time Argentina did not get into the prize-winners (1922), having won 12 continental championships during this time.

Now compare that to another set of numbers - 15 tournaments (from 1975 to present), 2 wins and 5 prizes.

If someone drew attention to the 8-year gap (1967-1975), I explain that this is not a mistake, it's just that the South American championship was not played during this period.

And in last years"albicelesta" is being pursued by some bad rock- four times in five draws she reached the final and lost everything, and three in the penalty shoot-out.

The last two defeats against the Chilean national team are still fresh in my memory, including in connection with Messi's sensational statement and the termination of the national team.

By the way, at the last Copa America, Lionel Messi, scoring a goal against the USA, bypassed Gabriel Batistuta, and is now the top scorer of the Argentina national team.

The Argentine specialist was best known for his work with the Chilean national team, with which he won the Copa America - 2015, defeating his fellow countrymen in the final.

The emblem of the Argentina national team

present tense

As I said, the current Argentina national team has a shortage of qualified defensive players. The main goalkeeper of the Argentina national team Sergio Romero comes to the team from the bench of Manchester United.

Of the defenders, only Pablo Zabaleta can be classified without any exaggeration as a world-class player. But he is an extreme defender and by the Russian World Cup he will already be 33 years old. And the only really cool Argentine defensive midfielder, Javier Mascherano, will be 34.

In attack, a lot depends on how serious Messi's announcement of his retirement from the national team is. I think he will still return to the team, because the World Cup in Russia will be his last chance to go down in history as a truly great player. However, in the attack, the Argentines will always find worthy shots.

In general, the Argentine national team in Russia will not have an easy walk, especially considering the complexity of the opponent in the group. As for the overall prospects of the team, due to the above reasons, I do not believe in the victory of the Argentines in the World Cup. The limit for this team will be the semi-finals.

The Argentina national team is one of the favorites for the upcoming Mundial in Russia. It’s hard to disagree with this, looking at the composition of Albiceleste, where, in addition to the unsurpassed Lionel Messi, there is also a whole cohort of stars of the first magnitude. The portal brings to your attention the TOP 10 most expensive Argentine footballers of our time.

10. Angel Correa, Atlético M - 20.00 Mill. €

Atlético Madrid winger Angel Correa breaks the rating. The transfer fee for the 23-year-old Argentine is 20.00 Mill. €, in this ranking he is the youngest. Correa is a graduate of the San Lorenzo club, since 2014 he has defended the colors of Atlético. On the this moment the statistics in the composition of the "mattress" is as follows: 129 matches, 24 goals, 22 assists. In 2015, Correa made his debut in the Argentina national team, since then he has played 8 matches.

9. Diego Perotti, Roma - 20.00 Mill. €

Following in the hierarchy of the most expensive Argentine footballers is Diego Perotti. Perotti's native club is the Argentinean Deportivo Moron, since 2016 Diego has been a player in the Roman Roma. In 2009, Diego Perotti made his debut in the Argentina national team, but since then he has only played 5 matches. Now 29 years old, the winger is at the peak of his form, the transfer fee has also reached its peak - 20.00 Mill. €. Perotti is one of the train candidates for the 2018 World Cup with Albiceleste.

8. Eric Lamela, Tottenham - 25.00 Mill. €

Forever promising Eric Lamela in eighth place among the most expensive Argentine footballers. For five years, Lamela has defended the colors of the London Tottenham, but injuries prevent the winger from revealing himself in all its glory. Back in the autumn of 2013, Lamela reached the peak of the transfer value - 30.00 Mill. €, since then it has not been possible to return to the previous conditions. On account of Lameli 23 matches for the Argentina national team, but last time the football player was drafted into the ranks of the national squad back in 2016.

7. Nicholas Otamendi,Manchester City - 35.00 Mill. €

Manchester City center back Nicolas Otamendi is the only defender among the most expensive Argentine players. Already a middle-aged 30-year-old football player continues to progress, Otamendi is a constant player in the City base and one of the leaders of the Argentine national team. On May 20, 2009, Nicolas Otamendi made his debut match for Argentina (against Panama 3-1), since then he has played 53 matches and scored 4 goals.

6. Angel Di Maria, Paris Saint-Germain - 40.00 Mill. €

Behind best years talented attacking midfielder Angel Di Maria, who turned 30 a few months ago. Now the cost of the Argentine on the transfer market is 40.00 Mill. €, which is 15.00 Mill. € less than the peak transfer fee. Since 2009, Di Maria has been a permanent member of the Argentine national team. Since then Angel has played 93 matches, scoring 19 goals and providing 26 assists.

5. Gonzalo Higuain, Juventus - 70.00 Mill. €

Moving on to the heavy artillery, the five most expensive Argentine footballers are strikers. Gonzalo Higuain is well known to Italian fans for his performances with Napoli and Juventus. Don Gonzalo is at his peak right now with a transfer fee of 70.00 Mill. €. Higuain was among those who are guaranteed to go to the 2018 World Cup from Argentina.

4. Mauro Icardi, Inter - 75.00 Mill. €

Another Argentine representative of Serie A defends the colors of Milan's Inter. Mauro Icardi hosts one of best seasons in his career, in 27 matches of the Italian championship, the striker scored 24 goals against opponents. At the same time, at the end of December last year, the transfer value of a football player jumped to a record 75 million in euros. However, the coaches of the Argentine national team are in no hurry to involve Icardi. Mauro's debut took place back in 2013, but since then he has played only 4 matches, the last time he received a call last year.

3. Sergio Aguero, Manchester City - 75.00 Mill. €

Kum Messi, Maradona's son-in-law - it's all about Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero. In importance, Aguero is the second figure in the Albiceleste. The striker has had an impressive season in England - 39 appearances, 30 goals, 7 assists and will of course go to the world championship in Russia, unless something extraordinary happens. For the first time, Sergio Aguero tried on a T-shirt for the Argentina national team on September 2, 2006, since then he has taken part in 83 fights, scored 35 goals and gave 12 assists.

2. Paulo Dybala, Juventus - 100.00 Mill. €

The second place among the most expensive Argentines in the world has recently been occupied by Juventus striker Paulo Dybala. The nominal transfer value of Dybala is 100 million euros, and he is included in the TOP-10 most expensive football players in the world. Less than three years ago, Paulo Dybala made his debut for Argentina. During this time, he managed to take part in 12 matches, but he has not scored his debut goal yet.

1. Lionel Messi, Barcelona - 180.00 Mill. €

You have probably already guessed that the most expensive Argentine of our time is Barcelona forward Lionel Messi. At the same time, Messi holds the bar for the most expensive football player in the world - 180.00 Mill. €. Leo Messi made his debut for Albiceleste on August 17, 2005 against Hungary (1-2) at the age of 18. Now Messi is the captain of the national team and the main hope of the country at the 2018 World Cup. The striker's statistics for the national team are really impressive - 121 matches, 61 goals, 43 assists.

Balls: 34

Games: 91

Years: 1977-1994

Tournaments: KA-1979, World Cup-1982, World Cup-1986, KA-1987, KA-1989, World Cup-1990, World Cup-1994

According to FIFA, the best football player of the 20th century (together with Pele) began playing for the national team in 1977, but he did not make it to the 1978 World Cup for Argentina. Diego's first major tournament was the 1979 Copa America, in which the Albiceleste only finished fifth. Maradona himself played two matches in that tournament and scored one goal.

At the 1982 World Cup, Diego was already in the status of a full-fledged leader of the national team and played five matches in the tournament, scoring two of them against Hungary, but that World Cup was unsuccessful for his team and as a result, Argentina could not overcome the second group stage.

The most successful for Maradona was the 1986 World Cup. At the Mexican World Cup, Diego played all seven matches and scored five goals, one of which was recognized as the Goal of the Century, and the second went down in history as the Hand of God. The Argentinean scored both goals in the quarterfinal game with England, which, due to the Falklands War, was especially important for the Maradona team. At the end of the tournament, Diego received the Golden Ball as the best player in the World Cup, and also took second place in the scorers race after one of Gary Lineker. Largely thanks to the Mexican World Cup, most of the world's leading sports publications named the Argentine goal player, but the Golden Ball, which was awarded at that time only to Europeans, went to the Soviet striker.

After the 1986 World Cup, the Argentina national team failed to win the Copa America twice in a row, finishing fourth and seventh respectively in the 1987 and 1989 tournaments, but despite such results, Albiceleste approached the 1990 World Cup as a favorite. At the World Cup in Italy, Maradona enjoyed the support of not only Argentinean, but also local fans, because at that time he was the current winner of Serie A as part of Napoli. At the tournament, Diego did not score a single goal, but scored several assists and helped Argentina reach the final, in which the Albiceleste lost to Germany.

The last tournament in Maradona's international career was the 1994 World Cup. By that time, he had served a long suspension for illegal drugs and Diego from drugs and stimulant drugs was no longer a secret. At the World Cup in the United States, the Argentine managed to play only two games, after which he failed a doping test, having been caught using five illegal substances for athletes at once. Diego was disqualified for 15 months, and in his absence, Argentina became only the third in the group, and having reached the 1/8 final stage, they flew out of the tournament. After that, Maradona no longer played for the national team, participating in Argentina matches only as a coach.

Balls: 36

Games: 64

Years: 1995-2007

Tournaments: 1998 World Cup, 2002 World Cup, 2006 World Cup, KA-2007

Crespo scored one more international than Maradona, but Hernan played 27 fewer games. For the first time, the striker got into Argentina's application at the 1995 Confederations Cup, when the tournament was still called the King Fahd Cup. At that KK Crespo did not play a single match and Hernan's first goal for the national team was scored only in July 1997 as part of the selection for the 1998 World Cup. In the final part of the World Cup in France, Crespo played one game, spending 52 minutes in the 1/8 final match with England, but he failed to score.

At the 2002 World Cup, the Crespo team played three matches and scored one goal, but Argentina could not overcome the group stage and left the World Cup. In qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, Hernan scored four goals in seven matches, adding to this a double against Germany in a friendly game, and at the tournament itself, the striker scored three goals and one assist.

The last tournament of Crespo's career was the 2007 Copa America, in which Hernan scored three goals and contributed to Argentina reaching the final, where the Albiceleste lost to Brazil. These goals were the last for Crespo in the national team.

Balls: 36

Games: 84

Years: 2006-present

Tournaments: World Cup 2010, KA-2011, World Cup 2014, KA-2015, KA-2016

Aguero played for the national team for the first time since the end of the 2006 World Cup. To some extent, he was seen by the coaching staff as a replacement for the aging Crespo, who by that time had gradually begun to lose his place in the Albiceleste squad. Kun scored his first goal in the 2010 World Cup qualifying match with Bolivia, and in the next two friendly games, the striker alternately hit the gates of Egypt and Mexico. In the qualifier for the 2010 World Cup, Aguero scored four goals, but he could not score at the tournament itself, and Argentina reached the quarterfinals, losing there to Germany with a crushing score of 4: 0.

At Copa America - 2011 Argentina also reached the quarterfinal stage, and Sergio scored three goals in the tournament. In qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, Kun scored five goals in eight matches, but in the final stage of the World Cup, the striker again failed to score. Copa America - 2015 Argentina finished with silver medals, and Agüero scored three goals. At the next Continental Championship, the Kuna team lost again in the final, with Kuna scoring one goal. Sergio scored the last goals for the national team at the moment against Russia and Nigeria, scoring at the Luzhniki and Krasnodar stadiums.

Balls: 54

Games: 78

Years: 1991-2002

Tournaments: KA-1991, KA-1993, KA-1995, 1994 World Cup, 1998 World Cup, 2002 World Cup

Among all the participants in this rating, Batistuta has the highest rate of fire. On average for the national team, Gabriel scored 0.69 goals per game, while he is best sniper"albiceleste" not world championships with a score of 10 goals.

The first tournament with the national team for Batistuta was Copa America - 1991, in which Gabriel scored six goals. In the next continental tournament, held with the participation of the non-CONMEBOL USA and Mexico, Batigol scored three goals, scoring a double in the final game and winning gold medals. At the 1994 World Cup, Gabriel started with a hat-trick against Greece, after which he scored in the 1/8 finals with Romania, but this did not help Argentina, weakened by the loss of Maradona, to reach the quarterfinals.

At the 1995 Copa America, Batigol won the sniper race with four goals (along with L. Garcia), but his team only reached the quarterfinals, losing at this stage to Brazil in the penalty shootout. Batistuta's next tournament as part of the national team, the 1998 World Cup, was successful for the striker in terms of performance (5 goals) and, following the results of the world championship, he received the “silver boot”, but Argentina lost to Holland in the quarterfinals and left the tournament.

The 2002 World Cup for Batigol was the last tournament for the national teams. In qualifying for the Asian World Cup, Gabriel scored five goals in five matches, but at the World Cup he scored only once, after which he left the tournament at the end of the group stage.

Balls: 61

Games: 123

Years: 2005-present

Tournaments: World Cup 2006, KA-2007, World Cup 2010, KA-2011, World Cup 2014, KA-2015, KA-2016

The best sniper in many years managed to break the scorer's record in the national team. He started scoring for Albiceleste in the qualification for the 2006 World Cup, signing at the gates of Peru, and at the World Cup itself, Leo scored a goal and an assist in the game with Serbia. At the 2007 Copa America, the Barcelona forward scored two goals and provided three assists as Argentina lost in the final to Brazil.

Leo started the 2010 World Cup already as the owner of the Golden Ball, but at the tournament itself, the Argentine failed to score goals, although he became the youngest captain in the history of Argentina. Despite the unsuccessful performance in the national team, the Barca forward received the second consecutive Ballon d'Or, after which he will win the honorary prize twice more in a row.

In the selection of the 2014 World Cup, Leo scored ten goals, losing only to L. Suarez in the regional sniper race of World Cup qualification. In the final stage of the Brazilian World Cup, he scored four goals and brought Argentina to the final of the competition, and according to the results of the tournament, Messi received the prize as the best player.

The next two South American continental tournaments were held for Messi with the same degree success. At KA-2015, Leo scored one goal and won silver, and at KA-2016, the striker scored five goals, but again fell short of the title, missing his penalty in the post-match series with Chile in the final game. At the moment, Messi continues to play in the national team and with a high degree of probability he will be able to increase his performance in matches for Argentina.

Note: Argentinean national team goals statistics are for 11.04. 2018. Goals scored by the official website of the Argentina national team Afa.com.ar.