Argentina and Spain share a long football relationship, with some of the most iconic players of the Latin American giants plying their trade in La Liga. Starting from Alfredo de Stefano in the 1950s to Mario Kempes, Diego Maradona, Jorge Valdano and Leo Messi, Argentina’s elite has been part of Spanish football architecture. While some bring the Latin American finesse, the others import the tough neversay-die attitude, something that has gone into the DNA of La Roja too.TOI takes a look at the top Argentinian players in Spanish clubs who are now looking to scupper Spain’s charge for their second World Cup title.LIONEL MESSIThe boy from Rosario is synonymous with FC Barcelona. Joining the La Masia academy at the age of 13 in 2000, he spent the next 21 years at the club, establishing himself as the player that he is today, winning 35 titles with the Catalans. However due to Barca’s financial problems, he had to leave in 2021. The Spanish FA even tried to convince Messi to declare for Spain when he was a youngster, but Messi chose to play for Argentina.RODRIGO DE PAULOne of the established members of the squad, the defensive midfielder spent four years at Atletico Madrid between 2021-25. Moving from Italian club Udinese, De Paul quickly established himself as one of the most reliable midfielders in Argentine great Diego Simeone’s team and gave a torrid time to the elite of Spain and Europe. He is at Inter Miami now.GIOVANNI LO CELSODespite spending a chunk of his career playing in England, Lo Celso’s spell in Spain can’t be ignored. First moving to Real Betis on loan from PSG, the midfielder has also played for Villarreal and is now back with Manuel Pellegrini’s team that finished fifth and qualified for Champions League this season.NAHUEL MOLINAMolina is one of Argentina’s most reliable fullbacks. Molina made the move to Atletico from Udinese. Under Simeone, Molina has become a key part of Atleti’s defensive might. He scored his first goal for Argentina in the 2022 World Cup QFs against the Netherlands.JULIAN ALVAREZAfter his move to Atletico Madrid in 2024 from Manchester City, the shining light of new-age Argentina has won many matches for Simeone’s side. His ability to break open tough defences is something that has helped him become a mainstay for Atletico, who are fighting tooth-and-nail to keep the player in their team as Barcelona are going all out for him.GIULIANO SIMEONEGiuliano, the son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego, is another crucial member of the club who played an important role for Argentina against England. The rightsided attacking midfielder combines the feistiness and the flair that’s common to both Atletico and Argentina.GONZALO MONTIELThe defender, who took Argentina’s World Cup winning penalty in 2022, spent four years at Sevilla, and with whom he won the 2023 Europa League, beating Roma in the final. In the semifinal against England, he came on in the 71st minute and played an important role in Argentina making the final.Other players with La Liga links: Reserve goalkeepers Geronimo Rulli (Sociedad and Villarreal), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid), Nico Paz (Castilla and Real Madrid), midfielders Thiago Almeda and Nico Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid) have been integral parts of Spanish club football.
