Argentina is full of storied clubs. Boca Juniors and River Plate are perhaps the most recognizable. With both Buenos Aires outfits winning the Copa Libertadores in recent years. The latter of that duo has won South America’s premier continental cup competition twice in the last decade, famously beating their cross-city rivals in the 2018 installment of the tournament in Madrid’s iconic Santiago Bernabeu.
Right up there with those two come Rosario outfit Newell’s Old Boys, which has been a cradle of talent, nurturing some of the finest players who have graced the global football stage. While the club has never won the Libertadores like their two compatriots, they are a six-time Argentinian champion, with their most recent triumph coming back in 2013. It’s safe to say then that La Lepra has produced a plethora of superstars over the years. Here are the best of them.
Gabriel Batistuta
Gabriel Batistuta is often revered as one of the greatest strikers of his generation and rightfully so. He began his professional journey with Newell’s Old Boys, scoring seven goals in 24 appearances in his breakthrough 1988–89 campaign. He then moved on to River Plate and Boca Juniors before heading across the Atlantic to join Fiorentina in 1991, and he would find himself right at home in Florence.
Known for his powerful strikes and formidable presence in the box, Batistuta’s career skyrocketed during his tenure with the Viola. He scored a mighty 203 goals in 331 appearances during his nine years in Tuscany, winning the Coppa Italia in 1996 as well as scoring a stunning goal to help his team eliminate reigning champions Manchester United from the UEFA Champions League in 2000.
Batistuta joined Roma in the summer of 2000 and struck up an unstoppable partnership with Francesco Totti. The duo led the Giallorossi to the Serie A title in Batistuta’s maiden campaign for just the third time in history. The capital city club has been without a title since.
His scoring prowess was not just confined to club football; the Reconquista-born star was also a key figure for the Albiceleste, scoring 54 goals in 77 appearances. He was the all-time top scorer in the history of the Argentinian national team before the arrival of a certain Lionel Messi, and he helped his country to two Copa America titles in 1991 and 1993
Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino transitioned from a sturdy defender to one of football’s most respected managers. His professional career also started with Newell’s, and he would last much longer than just the one solitary campaign that teammate Batistuta managed. Poch made 153 appearances for the club across a five-year stint in the early 1990s before making the move to Spanish outfit Espanyol, where he would spend another six years.
After further European stints with Paris Saint-Germain, Bordeaux, and a return to Espanyol, Pochettino would begin his managerial journey. He first took over at the Spanish club he twice played for, before joining Southampton and then Tottenham Hotspur, whom he led to a Champions League final in 2019. After an ill-fated reign as Chelsea manager, he now finds himself in the USA national team hot seat, and he will lead the Stars and Stripes to the 2026 World Cup – a tournament, for which Bovada sports betting odds make them a +3500 outsider.
Walter Samuel
Walter Samuel was a defensive stalwart whose career was marked by his formidable presence and unrivaled tenacity. After making his professional debut with Newell’s, Samuel’s career flourished in Europe, playing for a who’s who of big-name clubs such as Roma, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan. And it was with the latter of that trio in which he had his crowning moment.
Playing under Jose Mourinho in 2010, Samuel was a cornerstone of an aging Nerazzurri side that won the UEFA Champions League against all odds. HE formed a brick wall at the heart of the Italian outfit’s defense alongside Brazilian defender Lucio, with the duo conceding just nine goals in 13 games en route to the title. The famous big-eared trophy formed one-third of the treble, with Inter claiming both the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia as well, the first treble in the history of Italian football.
Maxi Rodriguez
Maxi Rodriguez is perhaps the most beloved figure on this list, making 271 appearances across three different stints with the club. His breakthrough was yet another testament to the club’s ability to develop players with flair and determination. Known for his versatility and knack for scoring crucial goals, the talented winger’s career highlights include his stunning extra-time winner against Mexico in the 2006 World Cup taking the ball down on his chest well outside the box before unleashing a dipping left-footed volley past a helpless Oswaldo Sánchez.
Rodriguez had plenty of success in Europe as well, primarily with Atletico Madrid. He spent four and a half years with Los Rojiblancos, scoring 32 goals in 121 appearances before moving to Liverpool on a free transfer in January 2010.
Lionel Messi
No Newell’s Old Boys exports list is complete without a mention of Lionel Messi, the greatest footballer that’s ever lived. The current Inter Miami man never featured for his hometown club, but he did play in its youth ranks between the ages of eight and 13 when he made the move to European giants Barcelona. And the rest, as they say, is history.
The iconic player has won everything there is to win in the beautiful game. He led Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the country’s first triumph since the days of Diego Maradona, cementing his status as the finest player that’s ever lived. There is hope that he will return to Newell’s at some point before he retires once and for all.
