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Argentina have a rich footballing history, having won a record-equalling 15 Copa Americas and two FIFA World Cup titles. One of those titles came this year as the Albiceleste ended a near three-decade-long drought for a major title.
Like their arch-rivals Brazil and a few other countries, Argentina have many talented players plying their trade across the globe, especially in Europe's major leagues.
Some of them have been solid performers this year, winning titles with club and country. On that note, here's a look at the top five Argentine players thus far in 2021:
#5 Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur/Argentina)
Cristian Romero has been one of the standout Argentine players for club and country this year.
After a breakout campaign with Atalanta, the right-back reportedly 'ignored' Barcelona to arrive at Tottenham Hotspur. It may be early days into his stint with the Premier League club, but Romero has already made 13 appearances across competitions.
Having only made his Argentina debut this year, the 23-year-old started three games in the Albiceleste's victorious Copa America 2021 campaign. That included the final, which Argentina won 1-0. In fact, they also won the two other games Romero featured in by the same margin.
Romero then played a key role as Argentina sealed their berth in the quadrennial tournament next summer with a few games to spare.
#4 Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid/Argentina)
Rodrigo De Paul was undoubtedly one of the stars in Argentina's triumphant Copa America 2021 campaign. He literally put his body on the line, and produced the assist for Angel Di Maria as La Albiceleste ended their 28-year international title drought.
However, the combative central midfielder had enjoyed a fabulous five-season stint with Udinese. That forced Atletico Madrid to land De Paul in their ranks this summer. His performance at Copa America, especially in the final, was the icing on the cake. De Paul featured in all but one game in the continental competition.
Either side of his Copa exploits, the 27-year-old played 13 games in Argentina's successful FIFA World Cup 2022 qualification campaign.
De Paul has also hit the ground running at his new club, making 23 appearances across competitions already. The Argentine couldn't have scored his first goal for the Rojiblancos at a more opportune moment. De Paul was one of the scorers as Diego Simeone's men won at Porto on Matchday 6 to qualify for the Champions League Round of 16.
Earlier, De Paul closed his final campaign with Udinese with nine goals and 11 assists across competitions.
#3 Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan/Argentina)
Lautaro Martinez is one of the top Argentine goalscorers in the game at the moment.
The Inter Milan attacker bagged 30 goal contributions (19 goals, 11 assists) across competitions last season. That helped the Nerazzurri win their first league title in 11 years.
Continuing in the same vein this campaign, Martinez is already up to 11 league goals for the season, including four consecutive league strikes.
The 24-year-old has also had a stellar year with the national team. He scored thrice in Argentina's victorious Copa America 2021 sojourn, and five more times in their successful FIFA World Cup 2022 campaign.
#2 Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa/Argentina)
Emiliano Martinez has been a revelation for Argentina this year. Considered surplus to requirements at Arsenal, the lanky custodian moved to Aston Villa last season.
Playing all 38 league games, the Argentine kept an impressive 15 clean sheets as Villa finished eleventh in the league standings. However, better things were in store for Martinez.
Making his Albiceleste debut only this year, Martinez would go on to play a stellar role in Argentina's triumphant Copa America 2021 campaign. He kept four clean sheets in his last five games, including one in the final against Brazil.
Martinez then kept five consecutive clean sheets, including one against Brazil, as Argentina sealed their berth in the FIFA World Cup 2022 campaign.
He'll now hope to replicate the same exploits in club football as Villa strive to finish in the top half of the league table.
#1 Lionel Messi (PSG/Argentina)
Lionel Messi may be 34, but is still going strong for club and country. He led from the front, bagging four goals and five assists as Argentina won their first Copa America title in nearly three decades.
Before that, he had a strong finish to what turned out to be his final campaign at Barcelona. He scored 30 goals, winning a record-extending eighth Pichichi award, even as the Blaugrana finished third in the league table. Messi also scored thrice in Barcelona's triumphant Copa Del Rey campaign.
Messi may have underwhelmed after moving to PSG this summer - bagging six goals and five assists across competitions. However, he had already done more than enough to win a record-extending seventh Ballon d'Or award.
The Argentina captain has also scored five times this year in his team's successful FIFA World Cup 2022 qualification campaign.
