We present to you the list of the Top 10 Argentina forwards of All Time, the Tango dancers are not only considered one of the best national teams in terms of footballing talent, but they have also produced some of the greatest forwards of all time.
And although Argentine football is full of stars and talents who have shone with the biggest clubs, Messi and Maradona managed to steal the spotlight from everyone with their exceptional goal-scoring record.
Diego Maradona needs no introduction, and the same goes for Lionel Messi. Yet, there are many more legendary forwards who have worn the Albiceleste shirt.
Top 10 Argentina forwards of All Time
1. Lionel Messi
Considered by many as the greatest of all time, Lionel Messi redefined football. The Argentine maestro has a record-breaking eight Ballon d’Ors, more than anyone in history, and became Barcelona’s all-time top scorer with a staggering 672 goals, while also leading the club to four Champions League titles. For Argentina, Messi cemented his legacy by guiding his country to Copa América success in 2021 and a historic World Cup triumph in 2022, delivering one of the finest individual tournaments ever seen.
Read also: Top 10 Brazil Midfielders of All Time.. Ranked
2. Diego Maradona
Few players have captivated the world like Diego Maradona. Argentina’s 1986 World Cup-winning captain was a genius on the ball, producing moments of pure magic, including the “Goal of the Century” against England. Nicknamed El Pibe de Oro (The Golden Boy), Maradona inspired Napoli to their first Serie A title and a UEFA Cup, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most unique and influential figures the sport has ever known.
3. Alfredo Di Stéfano
Born in Buenos Aires, Alfredo Di Stéfano became a Real Madrid icon, famously dubbed La Saeta Rubia (The Blond Arrow). A two-time Ballon d’Or winner, he was a complete footballer, capable of scoring, creating, and controlling matches. Di Stéfano was instrumental in Madrid’s dominance, leading them to five consecutive European Cup victories. Though his international career was fragmented, his impact on club football was unparalleled.
4. Gabriel Batistuta
Gabriel Batistuta, affectionately known as Batigol, remains one of Argentina’s most lethal strikers. With 56 goals in 78 appearances, he sits among the nation’s top scorers and played a pivotal role in back-to-back Copa América triumphs in 1991 and 1993. At club level, he became a Fiorentina legend, winning the Coppa Italia in 1996, before adding a Serie A title with Roma in 2001.
5. Omar Sívori
A flamboyant forward with flair and charisma, Omar Sívori was one of the game’s early superstars. He won the 1961 Ballon d’Or and made history at Juventus, claiming three Serie A titles and finishing as top scorer in 1959/60. Known for his audacious nutmegs and dazzling skill, Sívori left an indelible mark on both Argentine and Italian football.
6. Ángel Di María
Ángel Di María proved himself as a big-game player for Argentina, scoring the decisive goals in the 2021 Copa América final and the 2022 World Cup final. Versatile and elegant, he shone for clubs like Real Madrid, PSG, and Benfica, winning domestic titles and the Champions League. Named Argentina’s Footballer of the Year in 2014, Di María’s legacy is secured as one of the nation’s modern greats.
Recommended for you: Top 10 Argentina Midfielders of All Time.. Ranked
7. Sergio Agüero
Sergio Agüero’s name is synonymous with goals. A five-time Premier League champion with Manchester City, he scored 184 goals to become the league’s top overseas scorer. Known for his iconic last-minute winner in 2012 that secured City’s first title in decades, Agüero was equally prolific for Argentina, scoring 41 times in 101 appearances. His consistency and explosive finishing made him one of the greatest strikers of his era.
8. Mario Kempes
Mario Kempes was the hero of Argentina’s first World Cup triumph in 1978. He finished as the tournament’s top scorer and best player, leading his nation to glory on home soil. A natural goalscorer, Kempes enjoyed success at Valencia, twice topping La Liga’s scoring charts and lifting both the Copa del Rey and Cup Winners’ Cup. His instinct in front of goal made him one of the deadliest strikers of the 70s and 80s.
9. Carlos Tévez
Carlos Tévez combined grit with brilliance, making him one of the most feared forwards of his generation. In England, he won the Premier League with both Manchester United and Manchester City, also lifting the Champions League at Old Trafford. Renowned for his relentless energy and ability to play across the attack, Tévez scored twice at the 2010 World Cup and formed part of United’s legendary strike force alongside Rooney and Ronaldo.
10. Oreste Corbatta
Oreste Corbatta, Racing Club’s all-time great, was one of Argentina’s first true wing wizards. Nicknamed El dueño de la raya (“The chairman of the sideline”), he dazzled fans in the 1950s and 60s with his dribbling and creativity. Corbatta starred at the 1958 World Cup, earning 43 caps and scoring 18 goals for Argentina. His style and flair set the standard for generations of wingers who followed.
