Javier Mascherano is an Argentina international football player who currently features for the Spanish and European champions Barcelona. He is a defensive midfielder and is hailed as one of the world’s best in his position.
Mascherano is a product of the youth system of Argentine powerhouse River Plate and made his debut for the senior side in 2003. He played for two years at River and made 46 league appearances and won the Clausura Championship in 2003.
Corinthians signed Mascherano in 2005 for $15 million but did not manage to settle well due to injury. In the summer of 2006 he was signed by English Premier League side West Ham United but failed to settle at Upton Park and after a protracted transfer saga, was loaned to Liverpool in January 2007. Mascherano was then taken on board on a permanent contract by Liverpool in 2008.
| Position | Midfielder |
| Height / weight | 1.74 m / 84 kg |
| Born | 8 Jun 1984 |
| Nationality |
Argentina
|
| Number | 14 |
| Team History | |
Estudiantes de La Plata
|
2019 - 2020 |
| Hebei China Fortune F.C. | 2018 - 2019 |
Barcelona
|
2010 - 2018 |
Liverpool
|
2007 - 2010 |
West Ham
|
2006 - 2007 |
Corinthians
|
2005 - 2006 |
|
Club Atletico River Plate
|
2003 - 2005 |
Mascherano was a regular for Liverpool in the 2007-2008 season and his impressive performances at Anfield followed by the departure of Rafael Benitez in 2010 saw him leave for Barcelona. He won La Liga and the Champions League in his first season at Camp Nou in 2010-11 and the Copa del Rey in 2011-12. He was also instrumental in Barca winning the Spanish championship in 2013, often featuring as a central defender with class.
Mascherano made his international debut for Argentina in 2003 and featured for his nation at the 2005 Confederations Cup in 2005 and the 2006 and 2010 Germany World Cup. He has played in over 90 international matches for his country.
