Ranking the 15 Best Argentina Footballers in 2014
Football fans are used to seeing Argentine players take starring roles at the upper level of the sport. It was no surprise, then, to see natives of the South American nation consistently appear among the most important protagonists of 2014.
From success in the Champions League and the world's most important leagues, to a gripping trip to the decisive stages of the World Cup, stars such as Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero and many more had years to remember over the past 12 months. But which player stood out the most?
This list of the 15 best Argentine footballers in 2014 takes into account club form, international form, trophies won and personal achievements, including landmark records and transfers. Success in the World Cup is weighted slightly heavier given the importance of that tournament, but it was by no means the only factor for Argentina's most talented players.
15. Leandro Romagnoli
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Playing at his beloved San Lorenzo, 2014 was an unforgettable year for Leandro Romagnoli. The 33-year-old playmaker finally led the Bajo Flores club to their first-ever Copa Libertadores title, playing a key part in their campaign which eventually ended in victory over Paraguay's Nacional in the final.
The year ended with a landmark fixture against Real Madrid in the Club World Cup decider. San Lorenzo fell short against the all-powerful Merengue but played the game of their lives, and Romagnoli was left in tears as he saluted the fans who had made the long trip over to Morocco to support their heroes.
14. Luciano Vietto
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Mobile forward Luciano Vietto made his debut with Racing Club under Diego Simeone at just 17 and quickly moved on to become a regular starter for La Academia. The prodigy does not waste time making his mark, even after a challenge like stepping up to La Liga with a Villarreal move.
After starting life as a substitute in Castellon Vietto's scoring ability quickly came to the fore. The young Cordoba native has struck an impressive 12 times in 23 games for the Yellow Submarine, spearheading the club's challenge both in La Liga and in the Europa League so far.
13. Federico Fazio
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Disappointment at missing out on a place at the World Cup was tempered for Federico Fazio with success with his club. The central defender was a key part of the Sevilla team that prevailed in the Europa League, the Andalucians' first trophy since Copa del Rey glory in 2009/10.
Those performances earned Fazio a move to Tottenham for the new season, where he is slowly finding his feet in an inconsistent Spurs outfit. Nevertheless, his 2014 form was rewarded by new Argentina coach Gerardo Martino with a return to the Albiceleste.
12. Mauro Icardi
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One may question his off-field approach, but it is impossible to doubt Mauro Icardi's talent in front of goal. The young Inter forward enjoyed a breakout year in 2014, finishing December as the club's top Serie A scorer with eight so far.
Icardi is a born goalscorer, in the vein of former team-mate Diego Milito or Gonzalo Higuain. Having suffered from injury and instability in his personal life during 2013, the 21-year-old looked a different prospect over the last 12 months and will surely break into the Seleccion sooner rather than later.
11. Diego Milito
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Even at 35, Diego Milito had a wealth of options open to him as his fruitful association with Inter came to an end in 2014. Several Italian clubs were interested, and there were also offers on the table from Asian football which would have set up the centre-forward for life.
Milito, however, had another challenge in mind. The former Albiceleste international returned to his boyhood club, Racing Club, determined to change the fortunes of a side that had slipped to the depths of the Primera Division. The results were spectacular.
El Principe netted six goals across the 19-game Transicion season and was an inspiration, as Racing took the title from under River Plate's nose. It was the first trophy for La Academia in 13 years, and Milito had also tasted glory with the same club back in 2001.
10. Sergio Romero
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The current year started with Sergio Romero heavily questioned as Argentina's starting goalkeeper. The current Sampdoria star, however, confounded his critics at the World Cup and is finally enjoying regular football in Serie A with the Genoa club.
Two massive penalty saves in the semi-final against the Netherlands cemented Chiquito's status as an Albiceleste hero. Romero conceded just four goals in Brazil, and in a tournament notable for excellent goalkeeping displays, he was among the very best in his position.
9. Gonzalo Higuain
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After a difficult 2014, Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain at least signed off the year on a high. The forward pulled his side back on two occasions against Juventus in the Supercoppa, keeping them alive in a game in which the southern Italians would eventually prevail on penalties.
Pipita suffered in the World Cup from a clear lack of fitness after a punishing first season with Napoli, where his 17 goals led the side to third in Serie A. But there are signs that he is returning to his best after a mediocre start to 2014/15, encouraging news for the Albiceleste seven months ahead of the Copa America.
8. Ezequiel Garay
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Zenit St. Petersburg centre-back Ezequiel Garay certainly got a taste for silverware in 2014. The burly defender picked up no less than three winner's medals for Benfica before moving to Russia, triumphing in the Primeira Liga, Taca de Portugal and Taca da Liga.
Incredibly, it could have been even better for Garay. The 28-year-old suffered the agony of a penalty shoot-out defeat in the Europa League final and also reached the deciding game of the World Cup with Argentina. Those results are no coincidence; the player was immense for club and country, providing a rock-solid presence at the back and also scoring his fair share of goals.
7. Pablo Zabaleta
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Argentina and Manchester City's Mr Dependable was a model of consistency and efficiency across the past 12 months. The Premier League title added another trophy to Pablo Zabaleta's growing collection, and he played every match of the World Cup campaign in an exhausting year.
Zabaleta is not the most scintillating of players on the pitch, but in terms of fulfilling his duties and never letting his team-mates down, he is the kind of player who is worth gold over the course of a year.
6. Marcos Rojo
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As can often happen in a World Cup year, 2014 was a turning point in Marcos Rojo's career. The 24-year-old defender enjoyed an exceptional tournament in Brazil, changing his reputation immeasurably in the upper echelons of world football.
An excellent marking job to keep Arjen Robben quiet against the Netherlands was just one of the highlights from that competition, and it must have impressed Louis Van Gaal. The ex-Oranje coach signed up the Argentine shortly after landing in Manchester United, and Rojo has enjoyed a decent, albeit injury-interrupted start to life in Old Trafford.
5. Carlos Tevez
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Unlike most of the members of this list, Carlos Tevez did not make the short trip to Brazil for June and July. Argentina battled their way to the World Cup final and a narrow defeat against Germany, but the Juventus striker had to watch from home as coach Alejandro Sabella refused to include him in his plans.
That should take nothing away, however, from what was a fantastic year from the well-travelled forward. Tevez lifted his first Serie A title in 2014, making him a champion with five clubs in four countries and finishing the year as the Italian league's top scorer and well on the way for another Scudetto.
That form has not gone unnoticed. New Argentina boss Gerardo Martino recalled Carlitos to the ranks after three years out of international football, heightening the possibility that he could play a part in the Copa America in 2015.
4. Javier Mascherano
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Javier Mascherano cannot boast the same goalscoring potency or sheer trickery as some of his compatriots. But 2014 was a monumental year for the Barcelona destroyer, marking him out as a folk hero in the Albiceleste ranks following a brilliant World Cup.
Lionel Messi may have taken the Golden Ball, but El Jefecito was arguably Argentina's finest player throughout the tournament. His tough tackling, inspirational leadership from the middle and courage meant that as the World Cup wore on, he just kept getting better and better.
3. Sergio Aguero
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Few strikers in world football were more effective in front of the net this year than El Kun. Despite missing a significant portion of the year through injury, his goals were key in bringing the title to the Etihad Stadium in May, and he currently sits atop the 2014/15 charts with an impressive 14 strikes in as many games.
The Champions League has also seen Aguero smash them in at a rate of a goal every game, as his quintet proved crucial in steering City past a difficult group and into the last-16. The one black mark for El Kun was a poor World Cup in which he looked badly out of shape, but there will be time for at least one more attempt at football's biggest prize.
2. Lionel Messi
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The past 12 months were a case of so near, yet so far for the best player on the planet. Lionel Messi may not have hit the same heights as in previous years, but a total of 58 goals in 66 appearances for club and country and four strikes in the World Cup was still exceptional.
Messi finished runner-up on no less than three occasions in 2014, losing out on the Copa del Rey, Liga and World Cup on the very last day. There were personal achievements, however, to make up for disappointment on a team level.
Passing Raul's Champions League scoring record, as well as Telmo Zarra's longstanding Liga milestone, left another piece of history for the Rosario-born wizard.
1. Angel Di Maria
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It takes a monumental effort to unseat Lionel Messi as the best Argentina have to offer. But for Manchester United star Angel Di Maria, 2014 truly was an unforgettable year in every sense.
The winger's lung-busting extra-time run sealed the Decima for Real Madrid, via Gareth Bale's head, rounding off a brilliant season for the Rosario native with his first Champions League medal. A British transfer record shortly followed, along with an encouraging start at Old Trafford.
Albiceleste fans, however, must wonder what could have been. Di Maria seemed to brush off his regular-season fatigue just in time for the World Cup knockout rounds, making decisive contributions against Switzerland and Belgium. In that second match, though, the midfielder picked up a knock which would ultimately rule him out for the rest of the tournament.
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