Hernan Crespo

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Crespo scored over 300 goals in a 19-year career. At international level, he scored 35 goals and is Argentina's fifth highest goalscorer behind Lautaro Martínez, Sergio Agüero, Gabriel Batistuta and Lionel Messi. He played in three FIFA World Cups: 1998, 2002, 2006. At club level, he was the world's most expensive player when bought by Lazio from Parma in 2000 for €56 million (£35.5 million). He was top scorer in the 2000–01 Serie A with 26 goals. He never received a red card during his career.

In Their Own Story

Crespo won his first cap for Argentina in a friendly against Bulgaria in February 1995. He was part of the side that finished runners-up in the 1995 King Fahd Cup. At the 1996 Olympics, he helped Argentina reach the final with braces against Spain in the quarter-final and Portugal in the semi-final, scoring his sixth goal of the tournament from the penalty spot in the final loss to Nigeria. He scored his first senior goal in a 1998 World Cup qualifier against Ecuador and hit a hat-trick against FR Yugoslavia in a pre-World Cup friendly. At the 1998 World Cup, he made only one substitute appearance as Gabriel Batistuta led the attack; his penalty attempt was saved by David Seaman in the second-round shootout, but Argentina progressed 4–3. During qualification for the 2002 World Cup, Crespo was top scorer for Argentina with nine goals as they topped the group. He also played in the 2006 World Cup. He scored 35 goals for Argentina, making him the nation's fifth highest goalscorer.

Reader's Guide

Crespo's awards include three Serie A scudetti, a Copa Libertadores, a Premier League title and an Olympic Games silver medal. In 2004, he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list. He scored a hat-trick on 13 May 2007 to help Inter defeat Lazio 4–3 and win the Scudetto.

Did You Know?

• Crespo scored a hat-trick on 13 May 2007 to help Inter defeat Lazio 4–3 and win the Scudetto.
• He is the current head coach of Atlas in Liga MX.
• Crespo never received a red card during his career.