Lionel Messi's 2005 Youth World Cup winning Argentina Squad: Where are they now?

Champions of the World! Who said Messi doesn’t have an international trophy, eh!

The Defenders

LEGANES, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 29:  Ezequiel Garay of Valencia CF celebrates after Valencia beat Leganes 3-1 in the Copa del Rey Round of 32 match between CD Leganes and Valencia CF at  Estadio Municipal de Butarque on November 29, 2016 in Leganes, Spain.  (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Ezequiel Garay celebrates what has sadly becoome a rare Valencia win

2. Gustavo Cabral

A centre-back by trade, he was Argentina’s right back at the Cup. He never feautured for the senior team, but has had a pretty decent club career.

Current Club: Celta de Vigo (Spain)

Past Club(s): Racing Club, River Plate, Tecos, Arsenal Sarandi, Levante

Biggest Club: River Plate


3. Lautaro Formica

A mainstay of the U-20 central defense, Formica never did follow the route that many of his teammates took, and stayed in the Americas

Current Club: Guarani Antonio Franco (Argentina)

Past Club(s): Newell’s Old Boys, San Lorenzo, Godoy Cruz, Huracan, Cerro Porteno, Asteras Tripolis, Talleras de Cordoba

Biggest Club: Newell’s Old Boys, San Lorenzo


4. Julio Barroso

Formica’s centre-back partner followed a similar trajectory, staying in the Americas for his club career

Current Club: Colo Colo (Chile)

Past Club(s): Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Racing Club, Lorca, Estudiantes, Nubiense, O’Higgins, Colo Colo

Biggest Club: Boca Juniors


6. Gabriel Paletta

One of the many Argentines who decided that it was better to shift allegiances than wait an eternity and never play for his national team, Paletta currently warms the benches of the senior Italian national team

Current Club: Atalanta (Italy)

Past Club(s): Banfield, Liverpool, Boca Juniors, Parma, AC Milan

Biggest Club: Yes, Yes, Herr Klopp... but AC Milan it is


13. Ezequiel Garay

If you have ever followed a summer’s worth of transfer rumours, you know who Garay is. The once highly rated centre-back is currently playing with the once-great Spanish greats Valencia

Current Club: Valencia (Spain)

Past Club(s): Newell’s Old Boys, Racing Santander, Real Madrid, Benfica, Zenit St. Petersburg, Valencia

Biggest Club: Real Madrid


14. David Abraham

Abraham is another one of Argentina’s highly rated centre-backs who have faded away into a relatively mediocre career

Current Club: Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)

Past Club(s): Independiente, Gimnastic, FC Basel, 1899 Hoffenheim, Eintracht Frankfurt

Biggest Club: 1899 Hoffenheim, although Independiente does run them close

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