{"id":1140809,"date":"2022-12-04T13:00:18","date_gmt":"2022-12-04T13:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1140809"},"modified":"2022-12-16T13:49:50","modified_gmt":"2022-12-16T13:49:50","slug":"argentina-olympic-gold-2008-lavezzi-messi","status":"publish","type":"cult-corner","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/cult-corner\/argentina-olympic-gold-2008-lavezzi-messi\/","title":{"rendered":"Where are they now? Argentina’s 2008 Olympic gold winners"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite their deserved billing as one of the world’s elite footballing nations, Argentina had to wait nearly 30 years\u00a0<\/b>for a major honour at international after winning the Copa America in 1993, winning last year’s edition to end that barren spell.<\/b><\/p>\n

But, while La Albiceleste<\/em> had a protracted wait before claiming South America’s coveted gong in 2021, they had enjoyed more recent success in one of international football’s less prestigious competitions — the Olympic Games.<\/p>\n

Argentina secured gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and followed that up with another victory\u00a0in Beijing four years later, winning all six of their games with an aggregate score of 11-2.<\/p>\n

The ease with which Argentina won the competition is perhaps unsurprising given the immense talent that made up their 19-man squad.<\/p>\n

Of Argentina’s 2008 Olympic gold medalists, the vast majority have gone on to become some of the most successful players on the planet, but that isn’t necessarily the case for\u00a0everyone…<\/p>\n

Oscar Ustari<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Position:<\/strong> Goalkeeper<\/p>\n

Age:<\/strong> 36<\/p>\n

Senior international apps:<\/strong> 2<\/p>\n

Current club:<\/strong> Pachuca<\/p>\n

Once considered Argentina’s brightest goalkeeping talent, injuries have compromised a promising career for former Sunderland goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, who now plies his trade in Mexico with Pachuca.<\/p>\n

Ezequiel Garay<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Position:<\/strong> Centre-back<\/p>\n

Age:<\/strong> 36<\/p>\n

Senior international apps: <\/strong>32<\/p>\n

Current club:<\/strong> Retired<\/p>\n

Just prior to the Olympics, Ezequiel Garay agreed to join Real Madrid from Racing Santander but after struggling at the Bernabeu he moved on, initially to Benfica and then to Zenit in 2014. He most recently turned out for Valencia but left the club after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in February 2020 and has since retired.<\/p>\n

Fabian Monzon<\/h2>\n

Position:<\/strong> Left-back<\/p>\n

Age:<\/strong> 35<\/p>\n

Senior international apps: <\/strong>7<\/p>\n

Current club:<\/strong> Retired<\/p>\n

Fabian Monzon moved to Real Betis after impressing in Beijing and he went on to play for Nice, Lyon, Fluminense, Catania, Boca Juniors and Universidad de Chile before joining Club Atletico Tucuman in 2019 and retiring last year. His last cap came in 2011.<\/p>\n

Federico Fazio<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Position:<\/strong> Centre-back<\/p>\n

Age:<\/strong> 35<\/p>\n

International apps:<\/strong> 10<\/p>\n

Current club:<\/strong> Salernitana<\/p>\n

The towering centre-back spent seven extremely productive seasons with Sevilla before leaving for Tottenham in 2014. Things didn’t go quite so well in north London, though, and he spent the second half of 2015\/16 back with the Europa League winners, before joining Roma on loan for 2016\/17 and then permanently. After half-a-decade in the Eternal City, he is now trying to keep Salernitana afloat in Serie A.<\/p>\n\n

Pablo Zabaleta<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Position:<\/strong> Right-back<\/span><\/p>\n

Age:<\/strong> 37<\/p>\n

Senior international apps:<\/strong> 58<\/p>\n

Current club:<\/strong> Retired<\/p>\n

After featuring in all six of Argentina’s Olympics matches, Pablo Zabaleta swapped Espanyol for Manchester City, where he played a key role in helping the club become one of England’s most successful clubs. And he finished his time in England (and his career) at West Ham, endearing himself to another set of fans before bowing out in October 2020.<\/p>\n

Fernando Gago<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Position:<\/strong> Defensive Midfield<\/p>\n

Age:<\/strong> 36<\/p>\n

International apps:<\/strong> 61<\/p>\n

Current club:<\/strong> Retired<\/p>\n

Despite impressing on the international stage, Fernando Gago’s club career had mixed success. After struggling to forge a career in Europe with Real Madrid, Roma and Valencia, he’d return to where it all started at Boca Juniors before moving to Velez Sarsfield on a free and then retiring just a month after Zabaleta in November 2020.<\/p>\n