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Lionel Messi Barcelona 2018-19
Tom Storer

Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and the best ex-Newell's Old Boys stars

A surprising number of big-name players began their career with the Rosario club. We highlight some of the more noteworthy figures.

The city of Rosario has produced an abundance of talented footballers over the years which Newell's Old Boys have benefited from immensely. 

Newell's are dwarfed in Argentinian football by River Plate and Boca Juniors, but many of their players have gone onto have highly successful careers in Europe. 

Goal takes a look at some of the biggest names to have put on the red and black shirt.

  • Ignacio Scocco Lanus River Copa Libertadores 31102017JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images

    1Ignacio Scocco

    A sharp footed, 5'8" centre-forward, Scocco was born in Rosario and has had two spells with Newell's. This side of the Atlantic, he has played for Sunderland, AEK Athens, Al Ain and Inter Milan.
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  • Ansaldi Inter Serie A

    2Cristian Ansaldi

    A 2005 graduate of the Newell's academy, Ansaldi played as a full back for his home town club before moving to Rubin Kazan in 2008. He later played for Russian rivals Zenit as well as Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan.
  • Lionel Scaloni Argentina Guatemala Amistoso 08092018Harry How/Getty Images

    3Lionel Scaloni

    Scaloni is yet another Rosario born player to have made a name for himself in Spain and Italy. Newell's gave him his first season in professional football in 1995-96, and he would go onto play for Deportivo La Coruna, Lazio and Atalanta in addition to a brief loan spell at West Ham in 2006. He now holds interim command of the Argentina national team following the sacking of Jorge Sampaoli.
  • Mauro Rosales Vancouver Whitecaps MLS 09062014Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

    4Mauro Rosales

    Most recently, Rosales has made a success of himself in the MLS with five different clubs, but showed considerable promise at the start of his career with Newell's. He left for Ajax in 2004 and now players for Vancouver Whitecaps.
  • HD Fernando Belluschi San LorenzoGetty Images

    5Fernando Belluschi

    While the midfielder now plays for San Lorenzo, he was on the Rosario side's books from 2002-05. In Europe, he has played for Olympiacos, Porto, Genoa and Bursaspor.
  • Maxi Rodriguez Newells Atletico Rafaela Primera Division 11-03-2016Fotos Télam

    6Maxi Rodriguez

    The former Atletico Madrid and Liverpool midfielder started his career with La Lepra and returned for a five year stint between 2012-17, winning the league in 2013.
  • Marcelo Bielsa Lille 07262017Getty Images

    7Marcelo Bielsa

    Although Bielsa had a modest playing career, he was born in Rosario and played for Newell's between 1977-78. His career was over by 1980, but he would return to manage his former club with spectacular success 10 years later and the team's stadium now carries his name.
  • Mauricio Pochettino Tottenham 2018-19Getty Images

    8Mauricio Pochettino

    The Tottenham manager started his career at Newell's and played for them for five years between 1989-94. He went onto have a successful career in Europe with Espanyol, PSG and Bordeaux.
  • Diego Maradona Argentina press conference 2010Getty Images

    9Diego Maradona

    Maradona spent a year at the end of his career with the Rosario club after moving from Sevilla in 1993. It was a short stint, however, and the Argentine left for Boca Juniors in 1995.
  • Lionel Messi BarcelonaGetty

    10Lionel Messi

    Although he moved to Barcelona when he was 14, Messi played for Newell's' youth team until 2000. He has since gone onto win four Champions Leagues and five Ballons d'Or.