'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Mario Kempes
Mario Alberto Kempes Chiodi was born in Bell Ville, Argentina in 1954. He played for various clubs in Argentina, and had his most prominent spells with Rosario Central and Valencia (Spain).
He scored 85 goals for Rosario between 1973 and 1976. He later continued his prolific run, scoring 116 goals in 184 games for Valencia over two spells at the club.
Kempes enjoyed a great purple patch in the 1970s. He finished as La Liga's top goalscorer two years in a row (1977, 1978) with Valencia.
Mario Kempes played in 43 games for the Argentine national team, scoring 20 goals. He represented the Albiceleste at three FIFA World Cups, and was key in their triumph in 1978.
Kempes finished as the leading scorer in that tournament, winning the Golden Boot. He was also named 'Player of the Tournament', and was awarded the Golden Ball. He was only the third player alongside Garrincha (Brazil, 1962) and Paolo Rossi (Italy, 1982) to achieve the treble of Golden Boot, Golden Ball and the FIFA World Cup trophy.
Kempes scored a brace in the final against the Netherlands, helping Argentina win 3-1.
Kempes retired from football in 1996, and had short managerial stints at several clubs until 2002. He now works as a commentator for La Liga in Spain. Mario Kempes will always be a special player in Argentine football history, as their key player in their first-ever World Cup win.
#2 Lionel Messi
Lionel Andres Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina, in 1987. He is arguably the greatest player to grace a football pitch, and has an incredible scoring record and trophy cabinet to go with it.
Messi holds the record for the most wins in the prestigious Ballon d'Or award. The Argentine recently received the Ballon d'Or 2021, his seventh win.
The Argentine forward has scored 678 goals and provided 306 assists in 793 appearances in club football. Out of those numbers, 672 goals and 301 assists came for Barcelona, making Messi the highest scorer in the club's history. He also won a record 35 trophies with the Blaugrana.
Taking advantage of his diminutive stature, Messi is known to manipulate the trajectory of the ball to confuse goalkeepers. He has scored several 'chipped' goals, and has embarrassed a lot of defenders in the process. One such goal was Messi's incredible chip against Bayern Munich in the Champions League in 2015.
Lionel Messi is also Argentina's top scorer, as well as the most-capped player, with 80 goals in 158 appearances. He recently won his first international trophy - the 2021 Copa America.
Lionel Messi moved to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in the summer of 2021, and will hope to propel the Parisians to European glory in the near future.
#1 Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona was born in Lanus, Argentina, in 1960. The Argentine attacker enjoyed a largely successful career with several clubs as well as the Albiceleste. He was nicknamed 'El Pibe de Oro' or 'The Golden Boy' for his trickery and goalscoring ability.
Maradona played for several clubs in Argentina and across Europe, most notably with Argentinos Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli. He won two Serie A titles and one UEFA Cup with Napoli. Their current stadium is named after him.
A true artist on the football pitch, Maradona captivated with his unique ways. At one point, he prepared for kick-off before a game for Napoli with an interesting dance, juggling and skipping routine along with classical music.
He displayed his incredibly quick feet and swift movement during his goalscoring exploits too. Maradona scored an incredible goal at the 1986 FIFA World Cup against England. He danced and weaved through several defenders alone before finishing off the move with a goal.
However, just minutes before that incredible solo effort, Maradona scored arguably the most iconic, absurd and controversial goal in football history - the infamous 'Hand of God' goal.
Maradona won the 1986 FIFA World Cup as captain, and cemented his legacy in Argentine footballing history with aplomb. He played for his country 91 times, scoring 34 goals.
Maradona sadly passed away in November 2020, but will always be remembered as the most entertaining player to have played the game.
