Sergio Aguero

Lore & Background

Agüero began his career at the Argentine club Independiente where, on 5 July 2003, he became the youngest player to play in the Argentine Primera División at 15 years and 35 days, breaking the 27 year record previously set by future father-in-law Diego Maradona. In 2006, Agüero moved to La Liga club Atlético Madrid in a transfer worth €23 million, establishing himself as one of the world's best young players. At the club, he won the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup. Agüero signed for Manchester City in 2011 in a transfer for a reported fee of £35 million. He spent 10 years at the club, where he won five Premier League titles, notably scoring a last minute winner in the last league game of his debut season to win the club its first league title since 1968. Further honours with the club include a record six EFL Cups and an FA Cup; he was also part of the club's first UEFA Champions League final. During his time in England, Agüero was awarded the Player of the Year by the FSF for the best player in the Premier League, won the Premier League Golden Boot, and was included in the PFA Team of the Year twice. He is the second highest non-English goalscorer in the Premier League, with 184 goals. He held the record for the most Premier League goals scored by a player for any single club until it was overtaken by Harry Kane in 2022. In 2021, he joined Barcelona on a free transfer, before retiring from football aged 33 due to heart problems in the same year. He played just four matches for the club, with his only goal coming in the first El Clásico of the 2021–22 season. At international level, Agüero represented the Argentina under-20 team as they won the 2005 and 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cups. He played at the 2008 Olympics, scoring two goals in the semi-final against Brazil as Argentina won gold. Agüero is Argentina's third-highest all-time top goalscorer and earned over 100 caps, representing the senior team at three FIFA World Cups (in 2010, 2014, and 2018) and five Copas América (in 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2021), finishing as runner-up with his country at the 2014 World Cup and winning the Copa América in 2021.

In Their Own Story

The Etihad Stadium, 13 May 2012. City trail QPR 2–1. Stoppage time. At 1:15, Edin Džeko equalises. Then, at 3:20, Sergio Agüero collects the ball, drives into the box, and shoots. The net bulges. 93:20 on the clock. City win 3–2. Agüero's goal, scored 100 seconds from the final whistle, is the defining moment of the season. The terms "93:20" and "AGÜEROOOOOO!!!" become part of City folklore.

Reader's Guide

Agüero joined the youth system of Independiente at the age of nine. He started playing for the side, becoming the youngest player to debut in the first division at 15 years and 35 days (on 5 July 2003 against San Lorenzo), when Independiente's coach, Oscar Ruggeri sent Agüero onto the field as a substitute for Emanuel Rivas in the 69th minute of the match. His performance was well received by the press. Despite his early debut, he was not selected again by Ruggeri, and his replacement Osvaldo Sosa, for the remainder of 2002–03 season, having made only one appearance in the Torneo Clausura. Following the arrival of coach Jose Omar Pastoriza, seven months after Agüero's first match he returned to the club's first-team in 4–2 win against Peru's Cienciano during the group stages of the 2004 Copa Libertadores. This meant that he also became the youngest player to participate in the Copa Libertadores, a record that he held for three years. One month later, Agüero again featured in a Copa Libertadores fixture against Ecuador's El Nacional. On 19 June, for the first time, Agüero played a full 90-minute match for Independiente against Atlético de Rafaela during the Torneo Clausura. He scored his first goal for Independiente in a 2–2 draw against Estudiantes on 26 November, with a 22nd minute shot from outside the penalty area. Agüero became a regular in the club's first-team, being selected for the Argentina U-20 squad for the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which Argentina won. During the 2005–06 season, Agüero scored 18 goals in 36 league appearances, having missed two games due to suspension. In a 4–0 win against Racing Club on 11 September, he dribbled from inside of his own half and scored Independiente's fourth goal with a left footed shot. His first red card came in the Torneo Apertura, after slapping an opponent in a match against Tiro Federal. His outstanding performances during the Torneo Apertura attracted interest from a number of large European clubs, and, after months of speculation, Agüero announced on TV in April that he intended to leave the club at the end of the season. Before the end of the season, there had already been speculation of a possible transfer to Atlético Madrid. With his performances being lauded by the press, there was talk of a possible call up for Agüero for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In a 2–0 away victory against Olimpo de Bahia Blanca in

Did You Know?

• Agüero became the youngest player to debut in the Argentine Primera División at 15 years and 35 days, breaking Diego Maradona's record.
• He scored a last-minute winner in the final league game of his debut season to win Manchester City its first league title since 1968.
• Agüero holds the record for the most Premier League hat-tricks, with 12.
• He is Argentina's third-highest all-time top goalscorer and earned over 100 caps.