
Eighteen minutes into Argentina's 1986 World Cup opener against South Korea, on 2 June in Mexico City, he headed in a Maradona free kick, El Cabezón scoring the way the nickname promised. He finished that tournament a world champion, reached the 1990 final, won the Copa América in 1991 and 1993, the 1986 Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup with River Plate, La Liga with Real Madrid in 1990, and league titles at Boca, River and San Lorenzo. Career record: 97 caps and 7 goals for Argentina; club career at Club Atlético River Plate, Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield, San Lorenzo de Almagro.
| 1980–1984 | Boca Juniors |
| 1985–1988 | Club Atlético River Plate |
| 1988–1989 | CD Logroñés |
| 1989–1990 | Real Madrid Club de Fútbol |
| 1990–1992 | Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield |
| 1992–1992 | SSC Ancona |
| 1992–1993 | Club América |
| 1994–1997 | San Lorenzo de Almagro |
| 1997–1997 | Club Atlético Lanús |
| Argentina | 97 caps, 7 goals |
Argentina legends whose careers overlapped Ruggeri's
One rank above: Nicolás Otamendi at #19.
One rank below: Ricardo Bochini at #21.
Argentina's editorial top five: Diego Maradona · Lionel Messi · Alfredo Di Stéfano · Daniel Passarella · José Manuel Moreno.