The Argentines in Spain : La Roja’s biggest headache | Football News
Argentina and Spain share a long football relationship, with some of the Latin American giants’ most iconic players plying their trade in La Liga. Starting from Alfredo de Stefano in the 1950s to Mario Kempes, Diego Maradona, Jorge Valdano and Leo Messi, Argentina’s elite have been part of the architecture of Spanish football. While some bring Latin American finesse, others import the tough never-say-die attitude, something that is in La Roja’s DNA as well.TOI takes a look at the top Argentinian players in Spanish clubs who are now looking to unseat Spain for their second World Cup title.LIONEL MESSIThe boy from Rosario is synonymous with FC Barcelona. Joining the La Masia academy at the age of 13 in 2000, he spent the next 21 years at the club, establishing himself as the player he is today, winning 35 titles with the Catalans. But due to Barca’s financial problems, he will have to leave in 2021. The Spanish FA even tried to convince Messi to declare for Spain when he was young, but Messi chose to play for Argentina.RODRIGO DE PAULOne of the established members of the squad, the defensive midfielder spent four years at Atletico Madrid between 2021-25. Transferring from the Italian club Udinese, De Paul quickly established himself as one of the most reliable midfielders in the famous Argentinian team of Diego Simeone and gave a hot time to the elites of Spain and Europe. He is at Inter Miami now.GIOVANNI LO CELSODespite spending a part of his career playing in England, Lo Celso’s spell in Spain cannot be ignored. Having first moved to Real Betis on loan from PSG, the midfielder also played for Villarreal and now returns to Manuel Pellegrini’s side who finished fifth and qualified for the Champions League this season.NAHUEL MOLINAMolina is one of Argentina’s most reliable fullbacks. Molina moved to Atletico from Udinese. Under Simeone, Molina has become an integral part of Atleti’s defensive strength. He scored his first goal for Argentina in the 2022 World Cup QFs against the Netherlands.JULIAN ALVAREZAfter his move to Atletico Madrid in 2024 from Manchester City, the shining light of the new age Argentina has won many games for Simeone’s team. His ability to break down strong defenses is something that has helped him become a mainstay at Atletico, who will fight tooth and nail to keep the player in their team as Barcelona go all out for him.GIULIANO SIMEONEGiuliano, son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego, is another key member of the club who played a key role for Argentina against England. The right-sided attacking midfielder combines the feistiness and flair common to Atletico and Argentina.GONZALO MONTIELThe defender, who took Argentina’s World Cup-winning penalty in 2022, spent four years at Sevilla, and with whom he won the 2023 Europa League, defeating Roma in the final. In the semifinal against England, he came on in the 71st minute and played an important role in Argentina making the final.Other players with La Liga links: Reserve goalkeepers Geronimo Rulli (Sociedad and Villarreal), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid), Nico Paz (Castilla and Real Madrid), midfielder Thiago Almeda and Nico Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid) have become parts of Spanish club football.
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