From Diego Maradona to Lionel Messi: Argentina's All-Time Top Scorers

Argentina is one of the national teams that has successfully produced some of the best strikers ever. La Albiceleste boasts a number of world-renowned stars such as Diego Maradona, Angel Di Maria, and Lionel Messi.

However, who is Argentina's all-time top scorer? Who is the Albiceleste's deadliest striker in the world of football?

According to data from the football website Goal.com, Lionel Messi is the all-time top scorer for Argentina on the international stage. La Pulga, or "The Flea," has scored a total of 103 goals in 175 matches throughout his career with the Argentinian national team.

His latest goal was scored in a FIFA Matchday friendly at the Workers' Stadium in Beijing, China on Thursday, June 15, 2023 (WIB). The Argentinian national team won 2-0 against Australia, thanks in part to Messi, who scored within 80 seconds of the first half.

Messi made his international debut against Hungary in 2005. However, his debut is remembered for a rather silly reason: he received a red card just one minute after entering the field as a substitute.

Messi has now become Argentina's all-time top scorer, across the World Cup, Copa America, World Cup Qualifiers, and friendly matches.

Next, Gabriel Batistuta is in second place as Argentina's top scorer. He was one of the world's best footballers in the 1990s, scoring 55 goals in 78 matches for Argentina.

Then there are Sergio Aguero, Hernan Crespo, and Gonzalo Higuain, who have scored 41, 35, and 31 goals respectively.

Also, Diego Maradona, recipient of FIFA's Player of the 20th Century, scored a total of 29 goals for the Argentinian national team, the same number as Angel Di Maria. However, Maradona has the edge, having scored those goals in 80 matches, while El Fideo scored his in 132 matches.

Maradona was famously nicknamed "Hand of God" for using his hand to score a goal in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England.

Here is a list of Argentina's all-time top scorers and their careers:

1. Lionel Messi (2005-present): 103 goals from 175 appearances
2. Gabriel Batistuta (1991-2005): 55 goals from 78 appearances
3. Sergio Aguero (2006-2021): 41 goals from 101 appearances
4. Hernan Crespo (1995-2012): 35 goals from 64 appearances
5. Gonzalo Higuain (2009-2019): 31 goals from 75 appearances
6. Diego Maradona (1977-1997): 29 goals from 80 appearances
7. Angel Di Maria (2008-present): 29 goals from 132 appearances
8. Lautaro Martinez (2018-present): 21 goals from 48 appearances
9. Daniel Passarella (1976-1986): 20 goals from 60 appearances
10. Jose Sanfilippo (1957-1962): 18 goals from 21 appearances