Argentina's top five goal-scorers of all-time

From the streets of Rosario to the grand stage of Maracana, Argentina's football legacy is built on the shoulders of extraordinary marksmen. The top five goal-scorers of all time in Argentina have not only accumulated impressive goal tallys but also have embodied the passionate approach of Albiceleste. Argentina, from the days of physical football to the creative and tactically astute game, has become one of the torchbearers of the beautiful game. 

From Copa Americas to the World Cup, these marksmen have given countless memorable nights for the fans. The stories are written into the folklore of Argentinian football with tales of triumph, heartbreaks, and revenge. Here are the all-time top five goals-scorers for Argentina:

1) Lionel Messi - 112 goals* in 191 appearances

The boy from the streets of Rosario became the greatest ever in the history of the game. Anything apart from this can be the greatest success story of the game. The prodigy who conquered it all with Barcelona was unable to translate it to Argentina, making his relationship complex. However, it was 2022 when his dream of winning the World Cup came true. 

The highest goalscorer for Argentina with 112 goals, Lionel Messi, is now eyeing his second-ever World Cup with the national team. Messi was instrumental in taking his team to the 2014 World Cup finals, 2021 Copa America but it was not always enough. In the 2022 World Cup, he went on to score seven goals, including a crucial goal against Mexico when they were on the brink of elimination. A legacy that cannot be matched but followed the steps of Diego Maradona, who had achieved it all. Messi's international journey represents persistence rewarded and destiny fulfilled. 

2) Gabriel Batistuta - 56 goals in 78 appearances

If there was any player who played the game like waging the war, it has to be Gabriel Batistuta. Known as “Batigol”, Gabriel was Argentina’s undisputed attacking leader in the 1990s. His debut came in 1991 but it was the 1994 World Cup where he announced himself on the biggest stage. He scored a hat-trick against Greece in Argentina’s opening match.  

The image of Batistuta in tears after scoring against Greece in the final game of the World Cup is what it always felt for him to play for Argentina. He had raw power and technical precision with an ability to score thunderbolts. Him being the second-highest goal scorer in the history of football comes with the chronic ankle pain and constant injuries he faced in his career.

3) Sergio Aguero - 41 goals in 101 matches 

He is considered among the "streets would not forget" type of player. Apart from the Premier League title with Manchester City, Aguero is known for being Argentina's golden boy. His rise started with Messi at the U-20 World Cup in 2005 and went on to be part of the immense journey.

Aguero’s finest hour came in the 2021 Copa America, where despite the limited playing time, he excelled with experience and leadership. Despite playing second-fiddle to several forwards, he never changed his loyalty. Aguero carrying Messi on their shoulders etched the journey of both players in football who served their nation at the highest level. 

4) Hernán Crespo - 35 goals in 64 matches

In an era where Argentinian footballers were known for fearsome personalities, Crespo was the statue of elegance. His international breakthrough came in the 1996 Olympics where Argentina won the silver medal but it was the 1998 qualifiers where he became an important part of the side.

Crespo had a technical completeness which was equally dangerous with foot and head. In the 2006 World Cup, his contributions reached the pinnacle with the player scoring goals against Serbia and Mexico putting his side on the right track. In the national team defined by its number 10s, it was Crespo’s shirt with No 9 on it which made a distinctive grace and deadly precision. 

5) Diego Maradona - 34 goals in 91 matches

Statistics rarely tell the full story, and nowhere is this truer than with Maradona. His 34 goals pale beside his immeasurable impact on Argentine football. From his first international goal against Hungary in 1977 to his final strike against Nigeria in USA '94, each Maradona goal seemed to defy conventional physics.

The 1986 World Cup in Mexico was his masterpiece with five goals and five assists delivering Argentina's second title. His quarter-final against England encapsulated his contradictions: the infamous "Hand of God" followed by that slaloming run through the English defense, widely regarded as the greatest World Cup goal ever scored. His international career ended in controversy with a failed drug test in 1994, but his legacy was secured long before.