Famous 20th Century Argentine Sportspersons

Nicknamed The Golden Boy, Diego Maradona is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time. Thanks to his popularity and controversial personal life, which includes drug abuse issues and addiction to cocaine, Diego Maradona became a world-renowned counterculture icon. He was also an iconic figure in popular culture.

Alfredo Di Stéfano was an Argentine-born Spanish football player and coach. Counted among the greatest football players of all time, Di Stéfano is remembered for his association with Real Madrid, where he played a major role in the club's domination of La Liga and the European Cup during the 1950s. In 2004, he was included in Pele’s FIFA 100 list.

Javier Zanetti is an Argentine retired professional football player. He is best known for his contribution to Inter Milan's successful 2009–10 season, during which the club achieved a treble. Counted among the greatest players of his generation, Javier Zanetti also helped his national football team win a silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, legendary Argentine tennis player Guillermo Vilas is a former world number 1 in singles. His wins include 2 Australian Open titles, 1 French Open, and 1 US Open. The 2020 Netflix documentary Guillermo Vilas: Settling the Score was based on his life.

Juan Manuel Fangio was an Argentine race car driver who dominated the first 10 years of Formula One racing. He won the World Drivers' Championship on five occasions, a record which was broken by Michael Schumacher after 46 years. Juan Manuel Fangio is also the only Argentine racer to have won the prestigious Argentine Grand Prix.

Gabriela Sabatini is an Argentine former professional tennis player. One of the leading female tennis players in the 1980s and 1990s, she amassed 41 titles, including the WTA Finals in 1988 and the 1990 US Open. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2006. Also a businesswoman, she runs a line of fragrances.

Diego Simeone is an Argentine former football player who was part of the silver medal-winning team at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. An important player for his country, Simeone also represented Argentina at the 1994, 1998, and 2002 World Cups. Simeone also won two Copa América titles for Argentina. He is currently serving as the coach of Atlético Madrid.

Renowned football manager and the current head coach of Leeds United, Marcelo Bielsa is best known for remarkably improving the performance of the players he coaches. As a manager, his high point arrived when he helped the Argentinean national team bag the 2004 Olympics gold medal and later guided the Chile’s national team to qualify for the 2010 world cup.

Juan Román Riquelme is an Argentine former football player best known for his association with Boca Juniors, winning 10 titles for the club. Counted among the greatest Argentine players ever, Riquelme led his team at the 2008 Olympics where they won the gold medal. Juan Román Riquelme is also widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation.

Former Argentine basketball player Luis Scola now serves as the CEO of the Italian team Pallacanestro Varese, after a successful 22-year career with the national team. The Olympic gold medalist also has one Pan American Games gold medal and 2 World Cup silver medals in his kitty.

Mauricio Pochettino is an Argentine former football player best known for helping Espanyol win their first trophy in six decades when he won the 2000 Copa del Rey. After retiring as a player, Mauricio Pochettino started his managerial career and is currently serving as the head coach of the popular Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto is an Argentine soccer manager and former player. Barros Schelotto won 17 official titles while playing in the Argentine Primera División during his career. He also won several individual awards, such as MLS Player of the Month, Major League Soccer MVP, and MLS Cup MVP.