
The 2021 Copa América final turned on a long ball he ran onto at the Maracanã, chipping Ederson to beat Brazil and end a twenty-eight-year wait for Argentina. He scored in the 2022 World Cup final as well, and in the 2008 Olympic final and the Finalissima, then took the 2014 Champions League with Real Madrid and five Ligue 1 titles at Paris Saint-Germain. Career record: 145 caps and 31 goals for Argentina; club career at S.L. Benfica, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, Paris Saint-Germain.
| 2005–2007 | Club Atlético Rosario Central |
| 2007–2010 | S.L. Benfica |
| 2010–2014 | Real Madrid Club de Fútbol |
| 2014–2015 | Manchester United |
| 2015–2022 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 2022–2023 | Juventus |
| 2023–2025 | S.L. Benfica |
| 2025–today | Club Atlético Rosario Central |
| Argentina | 145 caps, 31 goals |
Argentina legends whose careers overlapped María's
One rank above: Javier Zanetti at #8.
One rank below: Fernando Redondo at #10.
Argentina's editorial top five: Diego Maradona · Lionel Messi · Alfredo Di Stéfano · Daniel Passarella · José Manuel Moreno.