It was on this day in 2003 where Javier Mascherano made his senior international debut for the Argentina national team.
Despite not having played a single match for River Plate’s first team, Mascherano was already making the news. Then national team coach Marcelo Bielsa decided to include the defensive midfielder in the starting eleven when his team played eternal rivals Uruguay.
It was Diego Milito who scored both goals for Argentina but the bigger news wasn’t the double by Milito but that the 19 year old had started. Bielsa had fielded the following eleven for the match at the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata:
Franco Costanzo; Clemente Rodriguez, Daniel Diaz, Gabriel Milito, Federico Dominguez; Luis “Lucho” Gonzalez, Javier Mascherano, Andres D’Alessandro; Cesar Delgado, Diego Milito and Federico Insua
At the time, Bielsa was putting together a team not only for the 2004 Copa America but also for the Olympic games in Greece next year. To no one’s surprise, the defensive midfielder was included in both tournament squads and while the tournament in South America ended on penalty kick heartbreak, the one right after ended with an Olympic gold medal.
He was also part of the 2005 Confederations Cup team which also lost in the final. By 2006, he was a well and truly established starter with the national team. Jose Pekerman had since replaced Marcelo Bielsa at the helm and Pekerman made sure that Mascherano continued in his defensive midfielder role come the tournament in Germany. The team lost on penalty kicks once more but Mascherano was an integral part of that team.
Javier Mascherano has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world. In Argentina, he’s a product of River Plate’s youth system. From there, he made the jump to Brazil where he played with Corinthians. His switch across the Atlantic didn’t start off on the right foot.
Mascherano, along with fellow Argentine Carlos Tevez both joined West Ham United and while the team did not get relegated, the duo soon left Upton Park. Tevez went to Manchester United and Mascherano joined Liverpool. He formed a formidable partnership in midfield along the likes of Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard.
Argentina were taking part in yet another tournament, Javier Mascherano’s fourth senior one, five including the Olympics. It was the 2007 Copa America and Mascherano turned into MascheGol! Two goals in the tournament, the first was a match winner. It was on July 5 against Paraguay and Mascherano scored his first goal for his country.
Just two days later, Mascherano turned into MascheGol once more as he scored in the 4-0 win vs. Peru. The great man would have to wait nearly 7 years for him to score his third international goal. The tournament would end once more in tears but Mascherano’s European club career was in full swing.
A Champions League final with Liverpool awaited him that season and while he wouldn’t win that tournament with Liverpool, his next club would give him that chance.
Mascherano would make history in the summer of 2008 becoming the first Argentine athlete to win two gold medals. Argentina went into the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing as heavy favorites and he, along with Lionel Messi, Juan Roman Riquelme, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Garay and many otheres helped Argentina capture their second Olympic gold medal in football.
Fast forward to 2010, Diego Maradona was coaching the Argentina national team and Javier Mascherano was the captain. Maradona was once quoted as saying “It’s Mascherano + 10 others”, implying the importance that he had on the team despite the squad boasting such “big” names like Lionel Messi, Juan Sebastian Veron or even Carlos Tevez.
Catalonia would come knocking in the form of FC Barcelona as the Argentina captain joined Lionel Messi and Gabriel Milito at the Camp Nou. Mascherano would have to make do with the double in his first season at the club. A league title along with a Champions League winners medal, his first two trophies in Europe. A last minute tackle against Arsenal allowed Barcelona to advance in the tournament and eventually would go on to eliminate rivals Real Madrid in the semi finals.
What makes the final even more memorable was that Mascherano played as a center back in the 3-1 win vs. Manchester United at Wembley.
He lifted a total of 19 trophies during his time with the club, three of which came in one season when the team won the treble.
With Argentina, he was part of the team which lost to Uruguay on penalty kicks at the 2011 Copa America. Ironically enough, that match was played on July 16, 2011, 8 years to the day where Mascherano made his Argentina debut.
His third goal for the Argentina national team was coming up. In a pre-World Cup preparation match, it was Argentina against Trinidad and Tobago. Messi took the free kick as his effort hit the post and fell to Javier Mascherano. The great man extended his foot and a poacher like goal from the defensive midfielder gave Argentina the 2-0 lead.
The next tournament for Argentina was the 2014 World Cup. While he wasn’t wearing the captain’s armband anymore, Mascherano was still very much a leader. Playing in what were arguably the best seven matches of his entire career, Mascherano is probably best remembered for his last ditch block against Arjen Robben in the semi-finals in Brazil. It was later revealed that Mascherano had torn his anus in the tackle but that helped Argentina reach their first World Cup final in 24 years.
A World Cup final came and went, as did two other Copa America finals and Mascherano was now in his final tournament of his career. The 2018 World Cup with Argentina. Not the same type of preparation which saw them reach the final four years prior, Mascherano still gave it his all and announced his retirement from the team on June 30, finishing up a historic 15 year career.
Playing a total of 147 matches for Argentina, it’s been two years since his retirement and his spot is still very much up for grabs. A wonderful career, a great man and while also making the switch to Hebei China Fortune, Mascherano can still be seen tackling players in the Argentine league with Estudiantes.
Thank you to Javier Mascherano on a great career!
Javier Mascherano: Argentina International Caps – Senior Level
# | Opponent | Competition | Date | Result |
1 | Uruguay | Friendly | July 16, 2003 | Final 2-2 Draw |
2 | Brazil | Friendly | June 2, 2004 | Final 3-1 Brazil |
3 | Paraguay | Friendly | June 4, 2004 | Final 0-0 Draw |
4 | Ecuador | 2004 Copa America | July 7, 2004 | Final 6-1 Argentina |
5 | Mexico | 2004 Copa America | July 10, 2004 | Final 1-0 Mexico |
6 | Uruguay | 2004 Copa America | July 13, 2004 | Final 4-2 Argentina |
7 | Colombia | 2004 Copa America | July 20, 2004 | Final 3-0 Argentina |
8 | Brazil | 2004 Copa America | July 25, 2004 | Final 2-2 (4-2 P) Brazil |
9 | Peru | 2006 World Cup Qualifiers | September 4, 2004 | Final 3-1 Argentina |
10 | Chile | 2006 World Cup Qualifiers | October 13, 2004 | Final 0-0 Draw |
11 | Venezuela | 2006 World Cup Qualifiers | November 17, 2004 | Final 3-2 Argentina |
12 | Mexico | Friendly | March 9, 2005 | Final 1-1 Draw |
13 | Colombia | 2006 World Cup Qualifiers | March 30, 2005 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
14 | Brazil | 2006 World Cup Qualifiers | June 8, 2005 | Final 3-1 Argentina |
15 | Angola | Friendly | May 30, 2006 | Final 2-0 Argentina |
16 | Ivory Coast | 2006 FIFA World Cup | June 10, 2006 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
17 | Serbia & Montenegro | 2006 FIFA World Cup | June 16, 2006 | Final 6-0 Argentina |
18 | Netherlands | 2006 FIFA World Cup | June 21, 2006 | Final 0-0 Draw |
19 | Mexico | 2006 FIFA World Cup | June 24, 2006 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
20 | Germany | 2006 FIFA World Cup | June 30, 2006 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
21 | Brazil | Friendly | September 3, 2006 | Final 3-0 Brazil |
22 | Spain | Friendly | October 11, 2006 | Final 2-1 Spain |
23 | Switzerland | Friendly | June 2, 2007 | Final 1-1 Draw |
24 | Algeria | Friendly | June 6, 2007 | Final 4-3 Argentina |
25 | United States | 2007 Copa America | June 28, 2007 | Final 4-1 Argentina |
26 | Colombia | 2007 Copa America | July 2, 2007 | Final 4-2 Argentina |
27 | Paraguay | 2007 Copa America | July 5, 2007 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
28 | Peru | 2007 Copa America | July 8, 2007 | Final 4-0 Argentina |
29 | Mexico | 2007 Copa America | July 11, 2007 | Final 3-0 Argentina |
30 | Brazil | 2007 Copa America | July 15, 2007 | Final 3-0 Brazil |
31 | Norway | Friendly | August 22, 2007 | Final 2-1 Norway |
32 | Australia | Friendly | September 11, 2007 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
33 | Chile | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | September 11, 2007 | Final 2-0 Argentina |
34 | Venezuela | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | October 16, 2007 | Final 2-0 Argentina |
35 | Bolivia | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | November 17, 2007 | Final 3-0 Argentina |
36 | Colombia | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | November 20, 2007 | Final 2-1 Colombia |
37 | Egypt | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | March 26, 2008 | Final 2-0 Argentina |
38 | Mexico | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | June 4, 2008 | Final 4-1 Argentina |
39 | United States | Friendly | June 8, 2008 | Final 0-0 Draw |
40 | Ecuador | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | June 15, 2008 | Final 1-1 Draw |
41 | Brazil | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | June 18, 2008 | Final 0-0 Draw |
42 | Paraguay | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | September 6, 2008 | Final 1-1 Draw |
43 | Uruguay | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | October 11, 2008 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
44 | Chile | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | October 16, 2008 | Final 1-0 Chile |
45 | Scotland | Friendly | November 19, 2008 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
46 | France | Friendly | February 11, 2009 | Final 2-0 Argentina |
47 | Venezuela | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | March 28, 2009 | Final 4-0 Argentina |
48 | Bolivia | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | April 1, 2009 | Final 6-1 Bolivia |
49 | Colombia | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | June 6, 2009 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
50 | Russia | Friendly | August 12, 2009 | Final 3-2 Argentina |
51 | Brazil | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | September 5, 2009 | Final 3-1 Brazil |
52 | Paraguay | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | September 9, 2009 | Final 1-0 Paraguay |
53 | Peru | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | October 10, 2009 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
54 | Uruguay | 2010 World Cup Qualifiers | October 14, 2009 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
55 | Spain | Friendly | November 14, 2009 | Final 2-1 Spain |
56 | Germany | Friendly | March 3, 2010 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
57 | Canada | Friendly | May 25, 2010 | Final 5-0 Argentina |
58 | Nigeria | 2010 FIFA World Cup | June 12, 2010 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
59 | South Korea | 2010 FIFA World Cup | June 17, 2010 | Final 4-1 Argentina |
60 | Mexico | 2010 FIFA World Cup | June 23, 2010 | Final 3-1 Argentina |
61 | Germany | 2010 FIFA World Cup | July 3, 2010 | Final 4-0 Germany |
62 | Republic of Ireland | Friendly | August 11, 2010 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
63 | Spain | Friendly | September 7, 2010 | Final 4-1 Argentina |
64 | Japan | Friendly | October 8, 2010 | Final 1-0 Japan |
65 | Brazil | Friendly | November 17, 2010 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
66 | Portugal | Friendly | February 9, 2011 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
67 | United States | Friendly | March 26, 2011 | Final 1-1 Draw |
68 | Costa Rica | Friendly | March 29, 2011 | Final 0-0 Draw |
69 | Albania | Friendly | June 20, 2011 | Final 4-0 Argentina |
70 | Bolivia | 2011 Copa America | July 1, 2011 | Final 1-1 Draw |
71 | Colombia | 2011 Copa America | July 6, 2011 | Final 0-0 Draw |
72 | Costa Rica | 2011 Copa America | July 11, 2011 | Final 3-0 Argentina |
73 | Uruguay | 2011 Copa America | July 16, 2011 | Final 2-2 (5-4 P) Uruguay |
74 | Venezuela | Friendly | August 29, 2011 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
75 | Nigeria | Friendly | September 6, 2011 | Final 3-1 Argentina |
76 | Venezuela | 2014 World Cup Qualifiers | October 11, 2011 | Final 1-0 Venezuela |
77 | Bolivia | 2014 World Cup Qualifiers | November 11, 2011 | Final 1-1 Draw |
78 | Colombia | 2014 World Cup Qualifiers | November 15, 2011 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
79 | Switzerland | Friendly | February 28, 2012 | Final 3-1 Argentina |
80 | Ecuador | 2014 World Cup Qualifiers | June 2, 2012 | Final 4-0 Argentina |
81 | Brazil | Friendly | June 9, 2012 | Final 4-3 Argentina |
82 | Germany | Friendly | August 15, 2012 | Final 3-1 Argentina |
83 | Peru | 2014 World Cup Qualifiers | September 11, 2012 | Final 1-1 Draw |
84 | Uruguay | 2014 World Cup Qualifiers | October 12, 2012 | Final 3-0 Argentina |
85 | Chile | 2014 World Cup Qualifiers | October 16, 2012 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
86 | Saudi Arabia | Friendly | November 14, 2012 | Final 0-0 Draw |
87 | Sweden | Friendly | February 6, 2013 | Final 3-2 Argentina |
88 | Venezuela | 2014 World Cup Qualifiers | March 22, 2013 | Final 3-0 Argentina |
89 | Bolivia | 2014 World Cup Qualifiers | March 26, 2013 | Final 1-1 Draw |
90 | Colombia | 2014 World Cup Qualifiers | June 7, 2013 | Final 0-0 Draw |
91 | Ecuador | 2014 World Cup Qualifiers | June 11, 2013 | Final 1-1 Draw |
92 | Guatemala | Friendly | June 14, 2013 | Final 4-0 Argentina |
93 | Italy | Friendly | August 18, 2013 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
94 | Ecuador | Friendly | November 15, 2013 | Final 0-0 Draw |
95 | Bosnia-Herzegovina | Friendly | November 18, 2013 | Final 2-0 Argentina |
96 | Romania | Friendly | March 5, 2014 | Final 0-0 Draw |
97 | Trinidad and Tobago | Friendly | June 4, 2014 | Final 3-0 Argentina |
98 | Slovenia | Friendly | June 7, 2014 | Final 3-0 Argentina |
99 | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 2014 FIFA World Cup | June 15, 2014 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
100 | Iran | 2014 FIFA World Cup | June 21, 2014 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
101 | Nigeria | 2014 FIFA World Cup | June 25, 2014 | Final 3-2 Argentina |
102 | Switzerland | 2014 FIFA World Cup | July 1, 2014 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
103 | Belgium | 2014 FIFA World Cup | July 5, 2014 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
104 | Netherlands | 2014 FIFA World Cup | July 9, 2014 | Final 0-0 (4-2 P) Argentina |
105 | Germany | 2014 FIFA World Cup | July 13, 2014 | Final 1-0 Germany |
106 | Germany | Friendly | September 3, 2014 | Final 4-2 Argentina |
107 | Brazil | Friendly | October 11, 2014 | Final 2-0 Brazil |
108 | Hong Kong | Friendly | October 14, 2014 | Final 7-0 Argentina |
109 | Croatia | Friendly | November 12, 2014 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
110 | Portugal | Friendly | November 18, 2014 | Final 1-0 Portugal |
111 | Ecuador | Friendly | March 31, 2015 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
112 | Paraguay | 2015 Copa America | June 13, 2015 | Final 2-2 Draw |
113 | Uruguay | 2015 Copa America | June 16, 2015 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
114 | Jamaica | 2015 Copa America | June 20, 2015 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
115 | Colombia | 2015 Copa America | June 27, 2015 | Final 0-0 (5-4 P) Argentina |
116 | Paraguay | 2015 Copa America | June 30, 2015 | Final 6-1 Argentina |
117 | Chile | 2015 Copa America | July 4, 2015 | Final 0-0 (4-1 P) Chile |
118 | Mexico | Friendly | September 8, 2015 | Final 2-2 Draw |
119 | Ecuador | 2018 World Cup Qualifiers | October 8, 2015 | Final 2-0 Ecuador |
120 | Paraguay | 2018 World Cup Qualifiers | October 13, 2015 | Final 0-0 Draw |
121 | Brazil | 2018 World Cup Qualifiers | November 13, 2015 | Final 1-1 Draw |
122 | Colombia | 2018 World Cup Qualifiers | November 17, 2015 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
123 | Bolivia | 2018 World Cup Qualifiers | March 29, 2016 | Final 2-0 Argentina |
124 | Honduras | Friendly | May 27, 2016 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
125 | Chile | 2016 Copa America | June 6, 2016 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
126 | Panama | 2016 Copa America | June 10, 2016 | Final 5-0 Argentina |
127 | Venezuela | 2016 Copa America | June 18, 2016 | Final 4-1 Argentina |
128 | United States | 2016 Copa America | June 21, 2016 | Final 4-0 Argentina |
129 | Chile | 2016 Copa America | June 26, 2016 | Final 0-0 (4-2 P) Chile |
130 | Uruguay | 2018 World Cup Qualifiers | September 1, 2016 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
131 | Venezuela | 2018 World Cup Qualifiers | September 6, 2016 | Final 2-2 Draw |
132 | Peru | 2018 World Cup Qualifiers | October 6, 2016 | Final 2-2 Draw |
133 | Paraguay | 2018 World Cup Qualifiers | October 11, 2016 | Final 1-0 Paraguay |
134 | Brazil | 2018 World Cup Qualifiers | November 10, 2016 | Final 3-0 Brazil |
135 | Colombia | 2018 World Cup Qualifiers | November 15, 2016 | Final 3-0 Argentina |
136 | Chile | 2018 World Cup Qualifiers | March 23, 2017 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
137 | Venezuela | 2018 World Cup Qualifiers | September 5, 2017 | Final 1-1 Draw |
138 | Peru | 2018 World Cup Qualifiers | Octber 5, 2017 | Final 0-0 Draw |
139 | Ecuador | 2018 World Cup Qualifiers | October 10, 2017 | Final 3-1 Argentina |
140 | Russia | Friendly | November 11, 2017 | Final 1-0 Argentina |
141 | Nigeria | Friendly | November 14, 2017 | Final 4-2 Nigeria |
142 | Spain | Friendly | March 27, 2018 | Final 6-1 Spain |
143 | Haiti | Friendly | May 29, 2018 | Final 4-0 Argentina |
144 | Iceland | 2018 FIFA World Cup | June 16, 2018 | Final 1-1 Draw |
145 | Croatia | 2018 FIFA World Cup | June 21, 2018 | Final 3-0 Croatia |
146 | Nigeria | 2018 FIFA World Cup | June 26, 2018 | Final 2-1 Argentina |
147 | France | 2018 FIFA World Cup | June 30, 2018 | Final 4-3 France |
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Mascherano was the pillar of our defence. He always dropped in between the defence to guard them. One of my favorite moments of him was when he blocked Robbens shoat in 2014 Semis. Always given his 100 percent while playing for the NT. A True No 5.
But I would have liked to see him play as the CB in our 2018 WC. He may have done better in defence at that time of his career.
Mascherano deserved a trophy with Argentina. By far one of the unluckiest players losing all those finals with Argentina along side Messi
Congrats El Loco Bielsa, at last he did it right ! Just bring a good player to compete at EPL, don’t spoil it again with the old textbook or for the sake of beautiful game. Winning is most important now !
For Masche – El Jefecito, no words is enough to express our gratitude; a player with total dedication, leadership, passion and grit when playing is just an awesome and example needed to be followed by the youths. Truly a legend ! Hope one day you will be the N/T coach
And congrats Zidane, he deserved well to be the champion. Try to be fair and objective as a Barca fans
Roy, fantastic write-up!
I love this man. Easily one of my all time favorite players. Incredible leadership and performances for so long. We miss him dearly in the NT today.
He is the one football player with a amazing skill and leadership
Javier Mascherano will be one of my all time favorites. Amazing grit and leadership. He was a coach inside the field. Played like two in one body. Will always be my favorite – el jefecito!!!
My top 5 all time (purely emotional favorites)
1. Messi
2. Maradona
3. Mascherano
4. Riquelme
5. Tevez
Sometimes I have hated some of them, for their play, or their decisions or their actions, but loved them all through.
Leeds United 5 points clear and sits on the top of the table. 6 Points away from third placed team. Only the lose in remaining 2 matches and 2 out of 2 win for second and third placed teams will prevent Leeds from promoting to Premier League. Bielsa has done it this time.
I’m over the moon that bielse is leading
Leeds utd back to promise land
If west brom and Brentford fail
To win their next games Leeds will
Promoted if not leeds need one point
Remaining thier two games but I confidently say Leeds will play premier league next season… that is real achievement For bielse for him to guide Leeds bk To premier league after 16 years absence. In case anyone doesn’t know leeds is big club.
Expect few argies players in Leeds Squad One of them is the promising defender Lucas martinez Quarta..
If you haven’t already, you guys should watch a really great documentary series called ‘Take Us Home’. Its about Leeds 2018-2019 season and covers “spygate”, “el loco”, finances and players.
Bielsa is a genius, very well spoken and his passion for the sport is apparent. He’s even inspired the current titans Simeone, Poch, Guardiola, etc. Will be very interesting if he does end up with Quarta, Buendia, etc. in the Prem next season! Cant wait to see Bielsa vs Mou vs Guardiola vs Klopp
If Quarta have quality then Inter Milan should brought him
Agree with romance king this guy needs a club like inter Milan to develop he has potential to become of the best center back in the world
“He’s even inspired the current titans
Simeone, Poch, Guardiola, etc”
Will add up tata martino, marcelo Gallardo Gaby heinze and many more.
This men is genius his days as arg nt manager.
Personally was the best time I enjoy watching the nt was absolutely joy aggressive attack attack
High pressing… Argentina was best team to watch on his time
Another thing when pep was teammates with batigol in as roma and want to be football manager.
Batistusta told pep to go meet bielse
They had 11 hours chat rest it’s history
Every English pundits looking forward
To see bielse in the Premier league
With Leeds.
Yes that’s why I want bielsa in premier league I’m sure he will buy argentines and I hope he buys quarta and buendia and maybe a striker like gaich,bustos or colidio because Leeds biggest issues this season were not able to convert chances they create so many opportunities but fluff it easily costing them matches .
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