JAVIER MASCHERANO
| Passing (P) | Shooting (V) | Heading (H) | Tackling (T) | Control (C) | Speed (S) | Finishing (F) | Total | Bargain | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 24 | 0.8 | £3M |
Javier Mascherano
- Full name: Javier Alejandro Mascherano
- Date of birth: June 8, 1984
- Place of birth: San Lorenzo, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Nationality: Argentine
- Height: 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
- Primary positions: Defensive midfielder, centre-back
Club career highlights
- River Plate (2003–2005): Broke into senior football with River Plate in Argentina, earning recognition as a combative defensive midfielder.
- Corinthians (2005–2006): Short spell in Brazil before moving to Europe.
- Liverpool (2007–2010): Became a key midfield enforcer in the Premier League; noted for tackling, positional sense and leadership.
- Barcelona (2010–2018): Signed by Barcelona in 2010. Initially deployed as a defensive midfielder, later also used as a centre-back. Won multiple major titles with the club:
- La Liga: 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16
- UEFA Champions League: 2010–11
- Copa del Rey and other domestic trophies across his tenure
- Hebei China Fortune (2018): Brief move to the Chinese Super League.
- Estudiantes (2019–2020): Returned to Argentina and finished his playing career with Estudiantes de La Plata.
International career
- Mascherano earned over 140 caps for the Argentina national team (one of the country's most-capped players).
- Participated in four FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018), captaining Argentina at times and playing a key role in the run to the 2014 World Cup final.
- Also played in multiple Copa América tournaments and won an Olympic gold medal with Argentina at Beijing 2008.
Style of play and reputation
- Renowned for fierce competitiveness, tactical intelligence, work rate and leadership.
- Exceptional at ball recovery, breaking up opposition play, and providing cover for defenders. At Barcelona he adapted to play as a centre-back despite his smaller stature, using anticipation, positioning and passing to great effect.
Post-playing career
- After retiring, Mascherano moved into coaching and football-related roles; he has been involved with youth coaching and has expressed interest in staying in the game.
Notable facts
- Often cited as one of the best defensive midfielders of his generation.
- Known for professionalism, leadership and longevity at top levels of club and international football.