Speaking of Argentina national football team, we will immediately think of the names of some world-class strikers such as Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Sergio Aguero, Mario Kempes, and many more. Most football fans often forget that Argentina also has dozens of quality defenders who helped the country gain victories in the world of soccer.
In this article, I'd like to ask you to forget the great strikers and midfielders of Argentina national team for a moment. This time, we will focus on the defenders from this country who have won a lot of achievements, both with Argentina national team and with their respective clubs. Be sure to vote for your favorite in the poll module.
15. Fabricio Coloccini
Fabricio Coloccini started his career in Europe with AC Milan, where he was signed from Boca Juniors in 1999. During five years of joining AC Milan, Coloccini failed to get a place in the first team so that he was continuously loaned out to various clubs. He finally found his best form when he departed to Deportivo La Coruna before finally joining Newcastle United. At the moment, Coloccini is trusted to be Newcastle captain. His consistent performances at the club made him be included in the list of PFA Team of the Year 2012.
14. Juan Pablo Sorin
Juan Pablo Sorin is a retired wingback who possessed high stamina. He played for Argentina in the period 1995-2006. As a defender, Sorin exhibited very aggressive playing style, in which he often went forward to help the team's attack. Throughout his career, Sorin capped 76 times for his country, scoring 12 goals. He also captained Argentina national team in the 2006 World Cup tournament.
13. José Chamot
Jose Chamot is a former left back who became a mainstay of the Argentina national team in the 1990s. After a three-year career at Rosario Central, Chamot decided to move to Europe in 1991. His career started with the club in the Italian League, Pisa. He then moved to various clubs such as Foggia, Lazio, AC Milan, and Atletico Madrid, before finally returning to Rosario Central and retired in 2006. In total, Chamot played for his country in 46 matches and scored two goals.
12. José Luis Brown
Jose Luis Brown was part of the Argentina national team that won the 1986 World Cup. He had an important role in helping the country become a champion, especially when he netted one goal in the final match against West Germany. Brown spent most of his career playing in the Argentine League and only briefly joined a Spanish League club, Real Murcia, at the end of his career. After retiring, Brown worked as an assistant coach for various clubs in Argentina.
11. Gabriel Milito
Gabriel Milito underwent a period of glorious career when he joined Barcelona in the period of 2007-2011. At that time, he collaborated with Carles Puyol, Eric Abidal and Rafael Marquez, forming a line of defense that was regarded as one of the strongest in Europe. At Barcelona, Milito won two La Liga titles, two Champions League trophies, and a FIFA Club World Cup. He retired in 2012 at his first professional football club, Independiente.
10. Gabriel Heinze
Heinze is a central defender who can also play as a left back. He is known for his toughness in defense and outstanding set-pieces ability. Heinze can be called as one of the most successful Argentine defenders in the European League, where he joined several big clubs such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille and AS Roma. Throughout his career, Heinze won one Premier League title, one Serie A title, and one La Liga title. He was also part of the Argentina national team that won the gold medal in the 2004 Olympics.
9. Roberto Sensini
Roberto Sensini spent most of his career as a professional footballer playing in the Italian League. He started his career in Serie A with Udinese, then joined Lazio and Parma before returning to Udinese where he ended his career as a professional footballer. His career in Italy went well, where Sensini won a Serie A title, three Coppa Italia, and two UEFA Cups. Sensini also holds the record as the oldest foreign players who scored in Serie A, at the age of 39 years. Together with the Argentina national team, he played in 60 international matches and won two Copa America in 1991 and 1993.
8. Nicolás Burdisso
The best period in the career of Nicolas Burdisso happened when he played for Inter Milan in the 2004-2009 period. At the club, Burdisso was positioned as a right back and he had a vital role in helping Inter win four Serie A titles and two Coppa Italia trophies. Throughout his career, Burdisso was known as a versatile, tireless, and hardworking defender.
7. Alberto Tarantini
Alberto Tarantini is a former left back who could also play as a defensive midfielder. He was part of the Argentina national team that won the 1978 World Cup. Due to his large front teeth, Tarantini was given the nickname "Conejo" (rabbit) by the fans. He spent most of his career at club level with Boca Juniors, where Tarantini won two Argentine League titles and one Copa Libertadores trophy.
6. Walter Samuel
Walter Samuel's reputation as a great defender began to be widely recognized by football fans when he joined AS Roma in 2000. In his debut season with the club, Samuel showed solid performances and helped his club claim the Serie A championship. His career shone brighter when he moved to Real Madrid and Inter Milan. In total, Samuel won six Serie A titles, one Champions League trophy, and three Coppa Italia trophies. He was also selected as a the best defender of Serie A in 2010.
5. Javier Mascherano
Although his natural position is a central defender, Javier Mascherano also often plays as a defensive midfielder due to his accurate passing and good vision. He is the mainstay of the Argentina national football team, helping his country win the Olympic gold medal in 2004 and 2008. Mascherano's career in Europe began to shine when he joined Liverpool in the period 2007-2010. His popularity rose further when he moved to Barcelona, where so far he has won two La Liga titles, a Champions League trophy, a FIFA Club World Cup, and a UEFA Super Cup.
4. Roberto Ayala
Roberto Ayala is recognized as one of Valencia's best players of all time. He joined the club for seven years, winning two La Liga titles, one UEFA Cup, and one UEFA Super Cup. Not only that, Ayala also had a brilliant career with the Argentina national team. He helped his country claim the gold medal in the 2004 Olympics. Ayala also represented Argentina in three World Cups. In total he played in 115 matches for his country.
3. Oscar Ruggeri
Oscar Ruggeri is one of the best central defenders of the Argentina national team. He possessed astounding tackling, marking, heading, and the interception. Throughout his career in the 1980-1997 period, Ruggeri presented a 1986 World Cup trophy and two Copa America trophies for his country. His career at the club level was also quite successful, especially when he joined Real Madrid in the 1989-90 season, when he won the La Liga title. In 1991, he won two prestigious individual titles, Footballer of the Year of Argentina and the South American Footballer of the Year.
2. Javier Zanetti
Javier Zanetti is a versatile player. His natural position is a right-back, but he can also play on the left side, and even sometimes be positioned as a defensive midfielder. At the moment, Zanetti has gained a recognition as one of the legends of Inter Milan. Since joining the club in 1995, Zanetti presented numerous titles, including five Serie A titles, four Coppa Italia, a Champions League trophy, and one FIFA Club World Cup. His position in the national team of Argentina in the period 1994-2011 was also almost irreplaceable. In total, Zanetti played in 145 matches and netted five goals for his country.
1. Daniel Passarella
Not only in Argentina, Passarella even being regarded as one of the best defenders in the history of football. Playing as a sweeper, he possessed astounding defensive abilities and excellent leadership skills. Not only that, he also scored a lot of goals, most of them were made through free kicks and penalty kicks. Passarella was the captain of the Argentine national team in the 1978 World Cup, where he led his teammates win the tournament. He was also part of the Argentina squad that won the 1986 World Cup, although he didn't play in any single match of the tournament due to injury. Throughout his career as a professional footballer, Passarella scored 134 goals in 451 matches.
