Sergio Agüero
Encyclopedia
Sergio Leonel "Kun" Agüero del Castillo (ˈseɾxjo aˈɣweɾo; born 2 June 1988) is an Argentine
footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester City
in England's Premier League and the Argentine national team
.
On 5 July 2003, he became the youngest player to debut in the Argentine First Division at 15 years and 35 days, breaking the record previously established by Diego Maradona
in 1976, who is Agüero's father-in-law by virtue of Agüero's marriage to Maradona's daughter, Giannina.
At international level, Agüero represented the Argentina under-20 team
at the FIFA U-20 World Cup
in 2005
and in 2007
winning both tournaments. Agüero played at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
, he scored two goals in the 3–0 semi-final win against Brazil as Argentina went on to win the gold medal. Agüero was selected to represent Argentina in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
and the 2011 Copa América
.
In 2006, Agüero moved to Europe to play for La Liga side Atletico Madrid for a fee of €23 million from Independiente
. Here, he made a name for himself, attracting attention from Europe's top clubs by scoring 101 goals in 234 appearances while winning the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup in 2010. Agüero moved to Premier League club Manchester City in July 2011 for an undisclosed fee in the region of £35 million.
at the age of nine. He started playing for the side, becoming the youngest player to debut in the division at 15 years and 35 days (on 5 July 2003 against Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro
), breaking the record previously established by Diego Maradona
in 1976, when Independiente's coach, Oscar Ruggeri
sent Agüero onto the field as a substitute for Emanuel Rivas
in the 69th minute of the match. His performance was well received by the press, Despite his early debut, Agüero was not selected again by Ruggeri, and his replacement Osvaldo Sosa
, for the remainder of 2002–03 season, having only made just one appearance in the Torneo Clausura. Following the arrival of coach Jose Omar Pastoriza, seven months after Agüero's first match he returned to the club's first-team in 4-2 win against Peru's
Cienciano during the group stages of the 2004 Copa Libertadores. This meant that Agüero also became the youngest player to participate in the Copa Libertadores, a record that he held for three years. One month later, Kun again featured in a Copa Libertadores fixture against Ecuador's
El Nacional
. On 19 June, for the first time, Agüero played a full 90 minute match for Independiente against Atlético de Rafaela during the Torneo Clausura. He scored his first goal for Independiente in a 2-2 draw against Estudiantes
on 26 November, with a 22nd minute shot from outside the penalty area. Agüero became a regular in the club's first-team, being selected for the Argentina U-20 squad
for the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup
, which Argentina won. During the 2005–06 season, Agüero scored 18 goals in 36 league appearances, having missed two games due to suspension. In a 4-0 win against Racing
on 11 September, Agüero dribbled from inside of his own half and scored Independiente's fourth goal with a left footed shot. His first red card came in the Torneo Apertura, after slapping an opponent in a match against Tiro Federal. His outstanding performances during the Torneo Apertura attracted interest from a number of big name European
clubs, and after months of speculation, Agüero announced on TV in April that he intended to leave the club at the end of the season. Before the end of the season, there had already been speculation of a possible transfer to Atlético Madrid. With his performances being lauded by the press, there was talk of a possible call up for Agüero for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
. In a 2-0 away victory against Olimpo de Bahia Blanca
in round 17 of the Torneo Clausura, Agüero received his fifth yellow card of the season. This prevented him from playing his last game for Independiente in a fixture against Boca Juniors
in Avellaneda
one week later. The yellow card brought tears to the eyes of Agüero, as television cameras recorded. Kun, who scored Independiente's second goal of the match later said "I think that it was my last goal for Independiente". He played his last game for Independiente, two weeks later, in a 2-0 away defeat to Rosario Central
. On 30 May, Agüero officially transferred to Atlético Madrid for €
20 million, marking a record for the Bank of Spain.
club Atlético Madrid for fee reported to be around €
23 million, breaking the club's previous transfer record. He caused controversy early in his Atlético career by using his hands to score the winning goal against Recreativo Huelva on 14 October 2006, only his second goal for the club, with the first coming in a 4–1 away win against Athletic Bilbao
on September 17. In the 2007–08 season, Agüero finished third highest scorer in La Liga
, behind Dani Güiza
and Luís Fabiano
, with 19 goals, and was runner up in the Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano
award. Agüero won many plaudits for his man of the match
display against Barcelona
in March 2008, scoring twice, assisting a goal, and winning a penalty for Atlético in a 4–2 win. He also scored important goals against the likes of Real Madrid
, Valencia
, Sevilla
and Villarreal
to help Atlético finish fourth and qualify for the UEFA Champions League
for the first time in over ten years.
Agüero was once again a regular goalscorer for Atlético in the 2008–09 season, forming a partnership with Uruguay
an striker Diego Forlán
, also a former Independiente striker. On 16 September, he scored his first Champions League goals in a 3–0 away win at PSV Eindhoven. In March 2009, the duo of Forlán and Agüero scored a brace each in a 4–3 win over league leaders Barcelona
. Agüero finished in the top ten contenders for the Pichichi Trophy which was won by his teammate Forlán. Atlético finished fourth in the league, qualifying for the following season's Champions League.
Despite not being as prolific in front of goal, Agüero had another good season in 2009–10
, and was praised for his influential performances as Atlético enjoyed their most successful season in over a decade. On 3 November 2009, he scored twice against Chelsea
during a 2–2 draw in the Champions League at the Vicente Calderón
. Atlético were knocked out of the competition, but went on to reach the final of the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League, where Agüero assisted both goals in a 2–1 extra time win against English
club . He also helped Atlético reach the final of the Spanish Cup
, although this time they were not victorious, losing to Sevilla in the Camp Nou
on May 19. On 27 August 2010, Atlético Madrid captured the UEFA Super Cup
by beating favorites Internazionale
2–0. Agüero provided the assist for José Antonio Reyes
's opening goal and then secured the win by scoring the second. On 4 January 2011, Atlético Madrid confirmed via their official website that Agüero had signed a new contract with the club, keeping him at the Vicente Calderón until 2014. The following day he was named as the new vice-captain of Atlético, along with strike partner Diego Forlán.
However, on 23 May 2011, Agüero announced on his official website that he wanted to move from Atlético Madrid.
confirmed that Agüero had signed a five-year contract with the club. The fee was reported to be in the region of £35 million (€41 million). He was given the number 16 shirt for his first season at City and wears the shirt name Kun Agüero. He was an unused substitute in the Dublin Super Cup
match against Internazionale and the 2011 FA Community Shield
against Manchester United with manager Roberto Mancini believing Agüero was not yet fit. Agüero made his debut for Manchester City on 15 August 2011, in a 4–0 Premier League victory over Swansea City
. Despite suggestions within the British media that he would find it hard to adapt to English football, he started the season in incredible form and has since established himself as one of the leading goalscorers in the Premier League. Agüero came on as a substitute in the 59th minute scoring his first goal for the club within 9 minutes after a tap in from a cross from full back Micah Richards
. He then turned provider with an assist after chipping over the oncoming goalkeeper before flicking the ball back into the penalty box and into the path of David Silva
to score. Agüero rounded off his debut by scoring again in injury time with a 30 yard strike. His 30 minute debut gained rave reviews among football journalists, with some suggesting it was one of the best in English football.
City continued their strong start winning 3–2 away at Bolton Wanderers with Agüero missing two chances in the penalty box. On 28 August, Agüero scored his third league goal in Manchester City's 5–1 rout of Tottenham Hotspur. On his third start for the club, he scored his first hat-trick in English football, against Wigan Athletic
. On 18 September, he scored twice at Craven Cottage
against Fulham
but Manchester City were held to a 2–2 draw. Having been substituted off of the field after just 28 minutes due to an injury against Blackburn Rovers
on 1 October, Aguero returned to action in a 2011–12 UEFA Champions League
group stage fixture, where he came on for Nigel de Jong
on 62 minutes and scored a 93rd minute winner in his side's 2–1 victory against Villarreal
on 18 October. On 1 November, Aguero was shortlisted for the prestigious FIFA Ballon d'Or
.
in a friendly with Brazil
, played at Emirates Stadium
, England
on 3 September 2006. As a teenager, he represented Argentina at three FIFA World Youth Championships
. Together with future 2008 Olympics squad teammates Fernando Gago of Real Madrid
and Lionel Messi
of Barcelona
, they won the 2005 edition
in the Netherlands
.
in Canada
, he scored twice and helped set up three goals in a 6–0 win over Panama
in the second game of the group stage of the tournament. Agüero then scored the only goal in Argentina's third match against North Korea from a free kick. Having qualified to the round of 16, he scored two of the three goals against Poland
that would eventually give them a 3–1 win to advance to the next round. Argentina defeated Mexico
in the quarter-finals and Chile
in the semi-finals, and faced the Czech Republic
in the finals, a team they drew 0–0 in the group stage. Agüero captained and scored the equaliser in the 62nd minute, leading to a 2–1 victory. In addition, Agüero won the Golden Boot of the tournament, scoring six goals in seven, and the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.
, Agüero scored two goals in the space of five minutes in the semi-final 3–0 win over Brazil
on 19 August 2008. Argentina went on to win the gold medal, a second in a row at the Olympic tournament.
squad, and made his World Cup debut in Argentina's second group match against Korea Republic
on 12 June 2010, replacing Carlos Tévez
in the 75th minute. Agüero's impact was immediate as Argentina scored in the next minute. He assisted on Gonzalo Higuaín
's hat-trick goal late in the game. Argentina won the game 4–1. However Argentina subsequently lost to Germany in the quarter finals.
where Argentina had been drawn into Group A with Bolivia
, Colombia
and Costa Rica
. On 1 July in Argentina's opening group stage
match against Bolivia
he was substituted on to the field for Ezequiel Lavezzi
on 71 minutes and scored an equaliser on 76 minutes to secure a 1–1 draw. On 6 July he was substituted onto the field for Ezequiel Lavezzi on 64 minutes as Argentina drew 0-0 with Colombia in their second group stage fixture. On 11 July in Argentina's third group stage match against Costa Rica, Agüero scored a goal in each half as Argentina won 3–0 and finished in second position of their group.
.
Agüero is a diminutive figure with a stocky build, which has led to comparisons with fellow Manchester City striker, Carlos Tevez
and past strikers such as Romario
and Maradona
. Some pundits go as far to say Agüero is Tevez's heir apparent at City and is superior to Tevez. His manager at Manchester City, Roberto Mancini
has compared Agüero to former Brazilian striker, Romario.
Agüero is characterised by agility, acceleration and strength, being described as "sharp and clever" by former Argentine player Ossie Ardiles. A view which is shared by Lionel Messi who believes Agüero possesses "immense power, strength and an incredible work ethic." Combined with his close control and strength to keep the ball, he is described as a menace in the box.
football legend Diego Maradona
, since the end of 2007. On 19 February 2009, Giannina gave birth to a son, Benjamín, in Madrid
. Maradona was there for the birth of his first grandson, while Agüero, 20, missed Atlético's training session earlier in the day. Atlético offered their congratulations in a statement on their official website.
Agüero has a tattoo
on the inside of his right arm, inscribed in Tengwar
—a form of writing invented by J. R. R. Tolkien
that was used by the Elves
in his works
. It translates roughly to Kun Agüero in the Latin alphabet
. He also has a tattoo on his left arm with his son's name and date of birth.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
in England's Premier League and the Argentine national team
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
.
On 5 July 2003, he became the youngest player to debut in the Argentine First Division at 15 years and 35 days, breaking the record previously established by Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
in 1976, who is Agüero's father-in-law by virtue of Agüero's marriage to Maradona's daughter, Giannina.
At international level, Agüero represented the Argentina under-20 team
Argentina national under-20 football team
The Argentina national under-20 football team is the representative of Argentina in FIFA sponsored tournaments that pertain to that age level....
at the FIFA U-20 World Cup
FIFA U-20 World Cup
The FIFA U-20 World Cup, until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, is the world championship of football for male players under the age of 20 and is organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association...
in 2005
2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in The Netherlands between 10 June and 2 July 2005. The 2005 championship was the 15th contested.- Venues :- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship...
and in 2007
2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup was the sixteenth edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup , hosted by Canada from June 30 to July 22, 2007. Argentina defeated Czech Republic in the title game by the score of 2–1, thus managing a back-to-back world title, its fifth in the past seven editions, and sixth...
winning both tournaments. Agüero played at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament
The men's association football tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held in Beijing and four other cities in the People's Republic of China from 7 August to 23 August. Associations affiliated with FIFA were invited to enter their men's U-23 teams in regional qualifying competitions, from...
, he scored two goals in the 3–0 semi-final win against Brazil as Argentina went on to win the gold medal. Agüero was selected to represent Argentina in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
and the 2011 Copa América
2011 Copa América
The 2011 Campeonato Sudamericano Copa América, better known as the 2011 Copa América or the Copa América Argentina 2011, was the 43rd edition of the Copa América, the main international football tournament for national teams in South America...
.
In 2006, Agüero moved to Europe to play for La Liga side Atletico Madrid for a fee of €23 million from Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División....
. Here, he made a name for himself, attracting attention from Europe's top clubs by scoring 101 goals in 234 appearances while winning the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup in 2010. Agüero moved to Premier League club Manchester City in July 2011 for an undisclosed fee in the region of £35 million.
Independiente
Sergio Agüero joined the youth system of IndependienteClub Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División....
at the age of nine. He started playing for the side, becoming the youngest player to debut in the division at 15 years and 35 days (on 5 July 2003 against Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro is an Argentine sports club based in Boedo neighbourhood, Buenos Aires, mostly known because of its football team....
), breaking the record previously established by Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
in 1976, when Independiente's coach, Oscar Ruggeri
Oscar Ruggeri
Oscar Alfredo Ruggeri is a former footballer. Nicknamed "El Cabezón" , Ruggeri is one of the most successful defenders ever to come out of Argentina....
sent Agüero onto the field as a substitute for Emanuel Rivas
Emanuel Benito Rivas
Emanuel Benito Rivarse is an Argentine football midfielder. Rivarse started his career in 1999 with Independiente in the Primera Division Argentina...
in the 69th minute of the match. His performance was well received by the press, Despite his early debut, Agüero was not selected again by Ruggeri, and his replacement Osvaldo Sosa
Osvaldo Sosa
Osvaldo "Chiche" Sosa is an Argentine football manager and former player who most recently worked as the manager of Atlético Tucumán in the Primera División Argentina.-Playing career:...
, for the remainder of 2002–03 season, having only made just one appearance in the Torneo Clausura. Following the arrival of coach Jose Omar Pastoriza, seven months after Agüero's first match he returned to the club's first-team in 4-2 win against Peru's
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
Cienciano during the group stages of the 2004 Copa Libertadores. This meant that Agüero also became the youngest player to participate in the Copa Libertadores, a record that he held for three years. One month later, Kun again featured in a Copa Libertadores fixture against Ecuador's
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
El Nacional
Club Deportivo El Nacional
Club Deportivo "El Nacional" is a Ecuadorian sports club from Quito, known best for their professional football team. The team currently plays in the Serie A, the top-flight football league in the country....
. On 19 June, for the first time, Agüero played a full 90 minute match for Independiente against Atlético de Rafaela during the Torneo Clausura. He scored his first goal for Independiente in a 2-2 draw against Estudiantes
Estudiantes de La Plata
Club Estudiantes de La Plata , simply referred to as Estudiantes, is an Argentine professional sports club based in La Plata. The club's football team currently competes in the Primera División, where it has spent most of its history....
on 26 November, with a 22nd minute shot from outside the penalty area. Agüero became a regular in the club's first-team, being selected for the Argentina U-20 squad
Argentina national under-20 football team
The Argentina national under-20 football team is the representative of Argentina in FIFA sponsored tournaments that pertain to that age level....
for the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup
2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in The Netherlands between 10 June and 2 July 2005. The 2005 championship was the 15th contested.- Venues :- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship...
, which Argentina won. During the 2005–06 season, Agüero scored 18 goals in 36 league appearances, having missed two games due to suspension. In a 4-0 win against Racing
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...
on 11 September, Agüero dribbled from inside of his own half and scored Independiente's fourth goal with a left footed shot. His first red card came in the Torneo Apertura, after slapping an opponent in a match against Tiro Federal. His outstanding performances during the Torneo Apertura attracted interest from a number of big name European
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
clubs, and after months of speculation, Agüero announced on TV in April that he intended to leave the club at the end of the season. Before the end of the season, there had already been speculation of a possible transfer to Atlético Madrid. With his performances being lauded by the press, there was talk of a possible call up for Agüero for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
. In a 2-0 away victory against Olimpo de Bahia Blanca
Olimpo de Bahía Blanca
Club Olimpo, usually referred to as Olimpo de Bahía Blanca, is a sports club based in the city of Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The club was founded on October 15, 1910, and their main activities are basketball and association football. The football team currently plays in the...
in round 17 of the Torneo Clausura, Agüero received his fifth yellow card of the season. This prevented him from playing his last game for Independiente in a fixture against Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
in Avellaneda
Avellaneda
Avellaneda is a port city in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the seat of the Avellaneda Partido, whose population was 328,980 as per the ....
one week later. The yellow card brought tears to the eyes of Agüero, as television cameras recorded. Kun, who scored Independiente's second goal of the match later said "I think that it was my last goal for Independiente". He played his last game for Independiente, two weeks later, in a 2-0 away defeat to Rosario Central
Rosario Central
Club Atlético Rosario Central is a sports club based in Rosario, Argentina. Its football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second tier of the Argentine football league system, after being relegated in the 2009-10 season....
. On 30 May, Agüero officially transferred to Atlético Madrid for €
Euro sign
The euro sign is the currency sign used for the euro, the official currency of the Eurozone in the European Union . The design was presented to the public by the European Commission on 12 December 1996. The international three-letter code for the euro is EUR...
20 million, marking a record for the Bank of Spain.
Atlético Madrid
In May 2006, Agüero joined SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
club Atlético Madrid for fee reported to be around €
Euro sign
The euro sign is the currency sign used for the euro, the official currency of the Eurozone in the European Union . The design was presented to the public by the European Commission on 12 December 1996. The international three-letter code for the euro is EUR...
23 million, breaking the club's previous transfer record. He caused controversy early in his Atlético career by using his hands to score the winning goal against Recreativo Huelva on 14 October 2006, only his second goal for the club, with the first coming in a 4–1 away win against Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
on September 17. In the 2007–08 season, Agüero finished third highest scorer in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, behind Dani Güiza
Daniel Güiza
Daniel González Güiza is a Spanish footballer who plays for Getafe CF in La Liga, as a striker.A late bloomer, he made a name for himself at the age of 27, being crowned La Liga topscorer with Mallorca...
and Luís Fabiano
Luís Fabiano
Luís Fabiano Clemente , commonly known as Luís Fabiano, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays for São Paulo and the Brazilian national football team as a striker.-Early career:...
, with 19 goals, and was runner up in the Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano
Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano
The Alfredo Di Stéfano Trophy is a trophy awarded by Spanish sports newspaper Marca to the best footballer of La Liga. The award is named after legendary player Alfredo Di Stéfano...
award. Agüero won many plaudits for his man of the match
Man of the match
In sport, a Man of the Match or Player of the Game or Man of the Series award is given to the outstanding player, almost always the one who makes the most impact, in a particular match or series. The term was originally used more often in cricket before being adopted by other sports. This can be a...
display against Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
in March 2008, scoring twice, assisting a goal, and winning a penalty for Atlético in a 4–2 win. He also scored important goals against the likes of Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, Valencia
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
, Sevilla
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
and Villarreal
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
to help Atlético finish fourth and qualify for the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
for the first time in over ten years.
Agüero was once again a regular goalscorer for Atlético in the 2008–09 season, forming a partnership with Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an striker Diego Forlán
Diego Forlán
Diego Forlán Corazo is an Uruguayan footballer who plays as a striker for Internazionale and the Uruguayan national team. He is a two-time winner of both the Pichichi Trophy and the European Golden Shoe, and also received the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2010 World Cup.Forlán was born...
, also a former Independiente striker. On 16 September, he scored his first Champions League goals in a 3–0 away win at PSV Eindhoven. In March 2009, the duo of Forlán and Agüero scored a brace each in a 4–3 win over league leaders Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
. Agüero finished in the top ten contenders for the Pichichi Trophy which was won by his teammate Forlán. Atlético finished fourth in the league, qualifying for the following season's Champions League.
Despite not being as prolific in front of goal, Agüero had another good season in 2009–10
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
, and was praised for his influential performances as Atlético enjoyed their most successful season in over a decade. On 3 November 2009, he scored twice against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
during a 2–2 draw in the Champions League at the Vicente Calderón
Vicente Calderón Stadium
The Vicente Calderón Stadium is the home stadium of La Liga football club Atlético Madrid and is located in the Arganzuela district of Spanish capital Madrid. The stadium was originally called the Manzanares Stadium, but this was later changed to the Vicente Calderón Stadium, after the famous...
. Atlético were knocked out of the competition, but went on to reach the final of the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League, where Agüero assisted both goals in a 2–1 extra time win against English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
club . He also helped Atlético reach the final of the Spanish Cup
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
, although this time they were not victorious, losing to Sevilla in the Camp Nou
Camp Nou
Camp Nou , sometimes called "the Nou Camp" in English, is a football stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The stadium, located in the west of the city, has been the home of FC Barcelona since its construction in 1957....
on May 19. On 27 August 2010, Atlético Madrid captured the UEFA Super Cup
2010 UEFA Super Cup
The 2010 UEFA Super Cup was the 35th UEFA Super Cup organised by the European football governing body UEFA. It took place at the Stade Louis II in Monaco on 27 August 2010. It was contested by Internazionale, who won the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League, and Atlético Madrid, who won the 2009–10 UEFA...
by beating favorites Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
2–0. Agüero provided the assist for José Antonio Reyes
José Antonio Reyes
José Antonio Reyes Calderón is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid.Mainly a left winger but also a forward, he made his professional debuts for hometown's Sevilla at only 16, signing with England's Arsenal aged 20.After a relatively successful career abroad, Reyes...
's opening goal and then secured the win by scoring the second. On 4 January 2011, Atlético Madrid confirmed via their official website that Agüero had signed a new contract with the club, keeping him at the Vicente Calderón until 2014. The following day he was named as the new vice-captain of Atlético, along with strike partner Diego Forlán.
However, on 23 May 2011, Agüero announced on his official website that he wanted to move from Atlético Madrid.
Manchester City
On 28 July 2011, Manchester CityManchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
confirmed that Agüero had signed a five-year contract with the club. The fee was reported to be in the region of £35 million (€41 million). He was given the number 16 shirt for his first season at City and wears the shirt name Kun Agüero. He was an unused substitute in the Dublin Super Cup
Dublin Super Cup
The Dublin Super Cup is an annual two-day pre-season football tournament to be held at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. It is similar in style to the Amsterdam Tournament hosted by AFC Ajax or the Emirates Cup hosted by Arsenal. The first tournament was scheduled for 30–31 July 2011 with Celtic, F.C...
match against Internazionale and the 2011 FA Community Shield
2011 FA Community Shield
The 2011 FA Community Shield was the 89th FA Community Shield, an annual football match contested by the winners of the previous season's Premier League and FA Cup competitions. The match was the 160th Manchester derby between Manchester United and Manchester City and played at Wembley Stadium,...
against Manchester United with manager Roberto Mancini believing Agüero was not yet fit. Agüero made his debut for Manchester City on 15 August 2011, in a 4–0 Premier League victory over Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
. Despite suggestions within the British media that he would find it hard to adapt to English football, he started the season in incredible form and has since established himself as one of the leading goalscorers in the Premier League. Agüero came on as a substitute in the 59th minute scoring his first goal for the club within 9 minutes after a tap in from a cross from full back Micah Richards
Micah Richards
Micah Lincoln Richards is an English footballer who plays for Manchester City and the England national team. A versatile defender, Richards is equally adept at centre back and right back or in centre midfield...
. He then turned provider with an assist after chipping over the oncoming goalkeeper before flicking the ball back into the penalty box and into the path of David Silva
David Silva
David Josué Jiménez Silva is a Spanish footballer who plays for Manchester City and the Spanish national team. Silva is capable of playing on the wing, as a traditional number 10 and sometimes as a supporting striker...
to score. Agüero rounded off his debut by scoring again in injury time with a 30 yard strike. His 30 minute debut gained rave reviews among football journalists, with some suggesting it was one of the best in English football.
City continued their strong start winning 3–2 away at Bolton Wanderers with Agüero missing two chances in the penalty box. On 28 August, Agüero scored his third league goal in Manchester City's 5–1 rout of Tottenham Hotspur. On his third start for the club, he scored his first hat-trick in English football, against Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
. On 18 September, he scored twice at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
against Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
but Manchester City were held to a 2–2 draw. Having been substituted off of the field after just 28 minutes due to an injury against Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
on 1 October, Aguero returned to action in a 2011–12 UEFA Champions League
2011–12 UEFA Champions League
The 2011–12 UEFA Champions League is the 57th season of the European Cup, Europe's premier football tournament, and the 20th season in its current Champions League format. The final venue will be the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany...
group stage fixture, where he came on for Nigel de Jong
Nigel de Jong
Nigel de Jong is a Dutch footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City and the Netherlands national team....
on 62 minutes and scored a 93rd minute winner in his side's 2–1 victory against Villarreal
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
on 18 October. On 1 November, Aguero was shortlisted for the prestigious FIFA Ballon d'Or
FIFA Ballon d'Or
The FIFA Ballon d'Or is an association football award given annually to the player who is considered to have performed the best in the previous season...
.
Senior team
Agüero made his senior debut for ArgentinaArgentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
in a friendly with Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
, played at Emirates Stadium
Emirates Stadium
Ashburton Grove, currently known as the Emirates Stadium, is a UEFA elite football stadium which is home to Arsenal FC, where they moved from Highbury in 2006. It has an current capacity of 60,361, and there have been rumours of an expansion...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on 3 September 2006. As a teenager, he represented Argentina at three FIFA World Youth Championships
FIFA U-20 World Cup
The FIFA U-20 World Cup, until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, is the world championship of football for male players under the age of 20 and is organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association...
. Together with future 2008 Olympics squad teammates Fernando Gago of Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
and Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi is an Argentine footballer who plays for FC Barcelona and captains the Argentina national team, mainly as a striker. Messi received several Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21, and won in 2009 and 2010...
of Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, they won the 2005 edition
2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in The Netherlands between 10 June and 2 July 2005. The 2005 championship was the 15th contested.- Venues :- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
At the 2007 U-20 World Cup2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup was the sixteenth edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup , hosted by Canada from June 30 to July 22, 2007. Argentina defeated Czech Republic in the title game by the score of 2–1, thus managing a back-to-back world title, its fifth in the past seven editions, and sixth...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, he scored twice and helped set up three goals in a 6–0 win over Panama
Panama national football team
The Panama national football team is the national team of Panama and is controlled by the Panamanian Football Federation. Panama reached the 2006 World Cup CONCACAF Final Round in the qualifiers and finished as runners-up at the final game of the 2005 Gold Cup...
in the second game of the group stage of the tournament. Agüero then scored the only goal in Argentina's third match against North Korea from a free kick. Having qualified to the round of 16, he scored two of the three goals against Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
that would eventually give them a 3–1 win to advance to the next round. Argentina defeated Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
in the quarter-finals and Chile
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
in the semi-finals, and faced the Czech Republic
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
in the finals, a team they drew 0–0 in the group stage. Agüero captained and scored the equaliser in the 62nd minute, leading to a 2–1 victory. In addition, Agüero won the Golden Boot of the tournament, scoring six goals in seven, and the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.
2008 Summer Olympics
As a member of the Argentine squad for the 2008 Beijing OlympicsFootball at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament
The men's association football tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held in Beijing and four other cities in the People's Republic of China from 7 August to 23 August. Associations affiliated with FIFA were invited to enter their men's U-23 teams in regional qualifying competitions, from...
, Agüero scored two goals in the space of five minutes in the semi-final 3–0 win over Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
on 19 August 2008. Argentina went on to win the gold medal, a second in a row at the Olympic tournament.
2010 FIFA World Cup
He was chosen for the 2010 World Cup2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
squad, and made his World Cup debut in Argentina's second group match against Korea Republic
Korea Republic national football team
The Korea Republic national football team represents Korea Republic in international football and is controlled by the Korea Football Association. Korea Republic is the most successful Asian football team in the history of the FIFA World Cup having participated in eight World Cup tournaments,...
on 12 June 2010, replacing Carlos Tévez
Carlos Tévez
Carlos Alberto Tévez is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester City...
in the 75th minute. Agüero's impact was immediate as Argentina scored in the next minute. He assisted on Gonzalo Higuaín
Gonzalo Higuaín
Gonzalo Gerardo "El Pipita" Higuaín is an Argentine professional footballer. He was born in France, attaining Argentine citizenship in 2007, and now holding dual nationality...
's hat-trick goal late in the game. Argentina won the game 4–1. However Argentina subsequently lost to Germany in the quarter finals.
2011 Copa América
Agüero was named in the 23-man squad for the 2011 Copa América2011 Copa América
The 2011 Campeonato Sudamericano Copa América, better known as the 2011 Copa América or the Copa América Argentina 2011, was the 43rd edition of the Copa América, the main international football tournament for national teams in South America...
where Argentina had been drawn into Group A with Bolivia
Bolivia national football team
The Bolivia national football team is the national team of Bolivia and is controlled by the Federación Boliviana de Fútbol. After playing in the 1930 and 1950 World Cups, they qualified just once—in 1994...
, Colombia
Colombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
and Costa Rica
Costa Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
. On 1 July in Argentina's opening group stage
2011 Copa América Group A
The Group A of the 2011 Copa América was one of the three groups of competing nations in the 2011 Copa América. It comprised Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, and Costa Rica. Group play began on July 1 and ended on July 11....
match against Bolivia
Bolivia national football team
The Bolivia national football team is the national team of Bolivia and is controlled by the Federación Boliviana de Fútbol. After playing in the 1930 and 1950 World Cups, they qualified just once—in 1994...
he was substituted on to the field for Ezequiel Lavezzi
Ezequiel Lavezzi
Ezequiel Iván Lavezzi , nicknamed "El Pocho", is an Argentine football striker of Italian descent, who currently plays for Italian Serie A club Napoli and the Argentine national team.-Atlético Estudiantes:...
on 71 minutes and scored an equaliser on 76 minutes to secure a 1–1 draw. On 6 July he was substituted onto the field for Ezequiel Lavezzi on 64 minutes as Argentina drew 0-0 with Colombia in their second group stage fixture. On 11 July in Argentina's third group stage match against Costa Rica, Agüero scored a goal in each half as Argentina won 3–0 and finished in second position of their group.
Style of play
Aguero is a striker and is regarded as an all out centre forward, but can also play as a second striker off another striker, which he often did at Atlético Madrid with Diego ForlánDiego Forlán
Diego Forlán Corazo is an Uruguayan footballer who plays as a striker for Internazionale and the Uruguayan national team. He is a two-time winner of both the Pichichi Trophy and the European Golden Shoe, and also received the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2010 World Cup.Forlán was born...
.
Agüero is a diminutive figure with a stocky build, which has led to comparisons with fellow Manchester City striker, Carlos Tevez
Carlos Tévez
Carlos Alberto Tévez is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester City...
and past strikers such as Romario
Romário
Romário de Souza Faria , better known simply as Romário , is a former footballer who played striker,manager and current politician where is currently running for a mayor like position in his hometown...
and Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
. Some pundits go as far to say Agüero is Tevez's heir apparent at City and is superior to Tevez. His manager at Manchester City, Roberto Mancini
Roberto Mancini
Roberto Mancini is an Italian football manager, formerly an international player and current manager of Premier League club Manchester City.As a player Mancini was best known for his time at Sampdoria, where he played more than 550 matches, and helped them win the Serie A league title, four Coppa...
has compared Agüero to former Brazilian striker, Romario.
Agüero is characterised by agility, acceleration and strength, being described as "sharp and clever" by former Argentine player Ossie Ardiles. A view which is shared by Lionel Messi who believes Agüero possesses "immense power, strength and an incredible work ethic." Combined with his close control and strength to keep the ball, he is described as a menace in the box.
Nickname
Agüero's nickname "Kun" which features on his shirt derives from his childhood and was first given to him by his grandparents. It came about due to a resemblance to the character Kum Kum from Agüero's favourite television programme as a child. The player himself has said about it "I have grown to appreciate it because it's unique. It's not everyday an athlete is nicknamed after a cartoon character!"Personal life
Agüero is in a common-law relationship with Giannina Maradona, the youngest daughter of ArgentineArgentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
football legend Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
, since the end of 2007. On 19 February 2009, Giannina gave birth to a son, Benjamín, in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. Maradona was there for the birth of his first grandson, while Agüero, 20, missed Atlético's training session earlier in the day. Atlético offered their congratulations in a statement on their official website.
Agüero has a tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
on the inside of his right arm, inscribed in Tengwar
Tengwar
The Tengwar are an artificial script created by J. R. R. Tolkien. In his fictional universe of Middle-earth, the tengwar were invented by the Elf Fëanor, and used first to write the Elven tongues: Quenya, Telerin, and also Valarin. Later a great number of languages of Middle-earth were written...
—a form of writing invented by J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
that was used by the Elves
Elf (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Elves are one of the races that inhabit a fictional Earth, often called Middle-earth, and set in the remote past. They appear in The Hobbit and in The Lord of the Rings, but their complex history is described more fully in The Silmarillion...
in his works
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
. It translates roughly to Kun Agüero in the Latin alphabet
Latin alphabet
The Latin alphabet, also called the Roman alphabet, is the most recognized alphabet used in the world today. It evolved from a western variety of the Greek alphabet called the Cumaean alphabet, which was adopted and modified by the Etruscans who ruled early Rome...
. He also has a tattoo on his left arm with his son's name and date of birth.
Career statistics
Correct as of 12 November 2011| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Others | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | |||||||||||
| Independiente Club Atlético Independiente Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División.... |
2002–03 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2003–04 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2004–05 | 12 | 5 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2005–06 | 36 | 18 | 4 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 36 | 18 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Argentina | 54 | 23 | 4 | |– | 2 | 0 | 0 | Atlético Madrid | 2006–07 | 38 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 42 | 7 | 3 | |||||
| 2007–08 | 37 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | – | 9 | 6 | 3 | – | 50 | 27 | 8 | ||||||||||||||
| 2008–09 | 37 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 | 4 | 2 | – | 47 | 21 | 10 | ||||||||||||||
| 2009–10 2009–10 La Liga - Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|... |
31 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 3 | – | 16 | 6 | 4 | – | 54 | 20 | 10 | ||||||||||||||
| 2010–11 2010–11 La Liga The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División... |
32 | 20 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | – | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 27 | 6 | ||||||||||||
| Spain | 175 | 74 | 21 | 20 | 7 | 4 | Manchester City Manchester City F.C. Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894... | 2011–12 2011–12 Premier League The 2011–12 Premier League is the twentieth season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The 2011–12 fixtures were announced on 17 June 2011 at 9:00 BST. The season began on 13 August 2011 and is due to end on 13 May 2012... |
12 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 12 | 4 | ||
| England | 12 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 12 | 4 | ||||||||||
| Career totals | 241 | 107 | 29 | 20 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 20 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 307 | 137 | 45 | ||||||||||
International goals
Argentina's goal tally first| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 17 November 2007 | El Monumental, Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent... , Argentina Argentina Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires... |
1 – 0 | 3–0 | World Cup 2010 Qualifying 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL) The South American zone of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification saw 10 teams competing for places in the finals which were held in South Africa. The format is identical to that used for the previous three World Cup qualification tournaments held by CONMEBOL... |
|
| 2. | 26 March 2008 | Cairo International Stadium Cairo International Stadium Cairo International Stadium or "Stad El-Qahira El-Dawly", is an Olympic-standard, multi-use stadium with an all-seated capacity of 75,000. It is the Arab World's second largest . It is the foremost Olympic-standard facility befitting the role of Cairo, Egypt as the center of events in the region... , Cairo Cairo Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life... , Egypt Egypt Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world... |
1 – 0 | 2–0 | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
|
| 3. | 4 June 2008 | Qualcomm Stadium Qualcomm Stadium Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area.... , San Diego, United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
4 – 1 | 4–1 | Friendly | |
| 4. | 6 September 2008 | El Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina | 1 – 1 | 1–1 | World Cup 2010 Qualifying | |
| 5. | 11 October 2008 | El Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina | 2 – 0 | 2–1 | World Cup 2010 Qualifying | |
| 6. | 28 March 2009 | El Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina | 4 – 0 | 4–0 | World Cup 2010 Qualifying | |
| 7. | 12 August 2009 | Lokomotiv Stadium Lokomotiv Stadium (Moscow) Lokomotiv Stadium is a football stadium in Moscow, Russia. It is the home stadium of Lokomotiv Moscow and was the home ground of the Russian National Team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification matches. The stadium was reconstructed in 2002 and holds 28,800 people, all seated... , Moscow Moscow Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent... , Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
1 – 1 | 4–2 | Friendly | |
| 8. | 24 May 2010 | El Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina | 5 – 0 | 5–0 | Friendly | |
| 9. | 7 September 2010 | El Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina | 4 – 1 | 4–1 | Friendly | |
| 10. | 20 June 2011 | El Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina | 3 – 0 | 4–0 | Friendly | |
| 11. | 1 July 2011 | Estadio Ciudad de La Plata Estadio Ciudad de La Plata The Estadio Ciudad de La Plata is a multi-purpose stadium located in the city of La Plata, Argentina. It is also known popularly as the Estadio Único and is owned by the Province of Buenos Aires, administered jointly by the provincial government, the Municipality of La Plata, and the football clubs... , La Plata La Plata La Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants.... , Argentina |
1 – 1 | 1–1 | Copa América 2011 | |
| 12. | 11 July 2011 | Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba Córdoba, Argentina Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with... , Argentina |
1 – 0 | 3–0 | Copa América 2011 | |
| 13. | 11 July 2011 | Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba, Argentina | 2 – 0 | 3–0 | Copa América 2011 | |
| 14. | 15 November 2011 | Estadio Metropolitano Estadio Metropolitano Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez is a multi-use All-seater stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia. It is the home stadium of local football team Atlético Junior. The stadium holds 49,612, making it one of the largest in Colombia. It was built for the failed Colombian World Cup bid in 1986... , Barranquilla Barranquilla Barranquilla is an industrial port city and municipality located in northern Colombia, near the Caribbean Sea. The capital of the Atlántico Department, it is the largest industrial city and port in the Colombian Caribbean region with a population of 1,148,506 as of 2005, which makes it Colombia's... , Colombia Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the... |
2 – 1 | 2–1 | World Cup 2014 Qualifying 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL) The South American Zone of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification sees nine teams competing for places in the finals which are to be held in Brazil.-Format:The format for CONMEBOL's 2014 World Cup qualifying tournament is identical to the previous four editions... |
Olympic goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 19 August 2008 | Beijing Worker's Stadium, Beijing Beijing Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's... , China People's Republic of China China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres... |
1 – 0 | 3–0 | Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics | |
| 2. | 19 August 2008 | Beijing Worker's Stadium, Beijing, China |  Brazil |
2 – 0 | 3–0 | Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics |
Club
Atlético Madrid- UEFA Intertoto CupUEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
(1): 2007 - UEFA Europa League (1): 2009–10
- UEFA Super Cup (1): 20102010 UEFA Super CupThe 2010 UEFA Super Cup was the 35th UEFA Super Cup organised by the European football governing body UEFA. It took place at the Stade Louis II in Monaco on 27 August 2010. It was contested by Internazionale, who won the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League, and Atlético Madrid, who won the 2009–10 UEFA...
- Copa del ReyCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
- Runner-up (1): 2009–102009–10 Copa del ReyThe 2009–10 Copa del Rey was the 106th staging of the Copa del Rey. The competition began on August 22, 2009 and concluded on May 19, 2010 with the final held at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, in which Sevilla FC lifted the trophy for the fifth time in their history with a 2–0 victory over...
International
Argentina- FIFA U-20 World CupFIFA U-20 World CupThe FIFA U-20 World Cup, until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, is the world championship of football for male players under the age of 20 and is organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association...
(2): 20052005 FIFA World Youth ChampionshipThe 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in The Netherlands between 10 June and 2 July 2005. The 2005 championship was the 15th contested.- Venues :- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship...
, 20072007 FIFA U-20 World CupThe 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup was the sixteenth edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup , hosted by Canada from June 30 to July 22, 2007. Argentina defeated Czech Republic in the title game by the score of 2–1, thus managing a back-to-back world title, its fifth in the past seven editions, and sixth... - Summer Olympic (1): 2008Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournamentThe men's association football tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held in Beijing and four other cities in the People's Republic of China from 7 August to 23 August. Associations affiliated with FIFA were invited to enter their men's U-23 teams in regional qualifying competitions, from...
Individual
- FIFA Young Player of the Year (1): 2007
- FIFA U-20 World Cup Top ScorerFIFA U-20 World CupThe FIFA U-20 World Cup, until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, is the world championship of football for male players under the age of 20 and is organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association...
(1): 2007 - FIFA U-20 World Cup Player of the Tournament (1): 2007
- La Liga Ibero-American Player of the YearTrofeo EFETrofeo EFE is an annual football award given by the EFE news agency since the 1991–92 season to Ibero-American players playing in the Spanish La Liga who have obtained the greater amount of points, in agreement with the opinion of the editors of the agency....
(1): 2008Trofeo EFETrofeo EFE is an annual football award given by the EFE news agency since the 1991–92 season to Ibero-American players playing in the Spanish La Liga who have obtained the greater amount of points, in agreement with the opinion of the editors of the agency.... - Don Balón AwardDon Balón AwardFrom 1976 until 2010, the Spanish magazine Don Balón confered the Don Balón Award to the best Spanish player, the best foreign player, the best referee, and the breakthrough player in La Liga...
(1): 2007–08 - Tuttosport Golden BoyTuttosportTuttosport is an Italian sport newspaper published since 30 July 1945.Renato Casalbore founded the newspaper as a bi-weekly. In 1946, it moved to three editions a week, and since 12 March 1951 it has been published daily...
(1): 2007