Argentina has insane talent, especially from midfield up. Trying to fit everyone in while maintaining a minimum tactical balance wasn’t easy. This team is clearly attack-minded, and honestly, leaving out one of Maradona, Messi, or Di Stéfano was simply impossible. Alongside Pelé, they are arguably the three greatest players of all time.

GOALKEEPERS

This was a relatively easy choice, I must admit. Argentina has had great goalkeepers throughout its history, from Américo Tesoriere onward, but Ubaldo Fillol stands out as the best of them all.

He possessed:
🧤 Supernatural agility
🎯 Exceptional positioning sense
⚡ Lightning-fast reflexes
🔥 Tremendous charisma

Simply put, he’s the ideal shot-stopper for this team.

DEFENDERS

Daniel Passarella is perhaps the only irreplaceable player in this backline.

For his partner at center-back, I see three players at a very similar level:

• Oscar Ruggeri
• Walter Samuel
• Roberto Perfumo

My vote goes to Perfumo for his extraordinary longevity and consistently high performances.

On the flanks:

• Right-back: Javier Zanetti is an absolute lock, no discussion needed.
• Left-back: Silvio Marzolini, highly regarded in Argentina and one of the best in his position.

MIDFIELD

Alright, this is where things get interesting.

Argentina has produced a ridiculous amount of elite midfielders, each with vastly different skill sets.

🔹 Defensive Midfielder: Fernando Redondo was pure class—a deep-lying playmaker with a magical left foot, outstanding tactical awareness, and incredible elegance.

🔹 Alternative options:

• Antonio Rattin, a more traditional defensive midfielder
• Esteban “El Cuchu” Cambiasso, a dynamic, highly intelligent box-to-box player

🔹 Central Midfielder: Alfredo Di Stéfano, one of the greatest footballers of all time. A modern, versatile, and multi-dimensional player who could dominate in any role. In my lineup, he plays as a mezzala, supporting Maradona in his natural No.10 role.

🔹 Other worthy candidates:

• Juan Sebastián Verón
• Osvaldo Ardiles
• Miguel Ángel Brindisi
• And many more

FORWARDS

In my ideal Argentina, I envision:

⚡ Messi roaming from the right wing, cutting inside to either deliver insane through balls or finish with his left foot.

🎯 Mario Kempes on the left, the hero of the ‘78 World Cup and one of Argentina’s most legendary forwards.

🦁 Gabriel Batistuta leading the line—the Lion King, one of the most complete and lethal strikers in football history.

🔹 Alternative choices:

• More traditional wingers like René Houseman, Claudio Caniggia, and Ángel Di María
• Other world-class strikers like Hernán Crespo, Gonzalo Higuaín, and Sergio Agüero