Javier Mascherano - International Career

International Career

Mascherano’s first international appearance came in 2001. September of that year saw him play on the Argentina team that finished fourth in the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship.

His impact at youth levels was such that he made his senior international debut before playing a single minute for River Plate's first team (due to his central midfield position at club level being occupied by River’s long standing captain Leonardo Astrada, nicknamed the Chief). That international debut came in a friendly against Uruguay on July 16, 2003.

Halfway through the 2003–04 Apertura (Opening) championship, Mascherano was called up to play in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship. Argentina again finished fourth with Mascherano the team's outstanding player. He was however suspended for the third place play-off.

In January 2004, he joined up with Argentina's under-23 team for the South American Pre-Olímpico tournament in Chile. Argentina won the tournament, thereby qualifying for the 2004 Summer Olympics. In August, Mascherano and the team went on to become gold medal-winners in Greece.

At the end of the 2003–2004 season, Mascherano was included in the senior squad for the 2004 Copa América. Argentina lost to Brazil on penalties in the final, but Mascherano impressed enough to be voted Argentina's player of the tournament by his team-mates.

The following year, Mascherano played in the Confederations Cup in Germany, a tournament that ended in disappointment for Argentina who went down 4–1 to Brazil in the final.

In the 2006 World Cup, he played every minute of every game for Argentina, with Argentina being knocked out by Germany in the Quarter-finals.

His first two goals for the senior Argentina team came in July 2007 during the Copa América 2007. Mascherano’s performance at the tournament was such that he was widely selected as the best Argentine player in a squad full of stars.

2008 saw another, less welcome, first as Mascherano received his first red card for the national team after receiving two yellow cards in a match against the USA, on 8 June 2008. He was sent of in the 86th minute of the match, which went on to end 0–0.

Later that year, Mascherano was selected to represent Argentina in the Olympic games in Beijing as one of their over-23 year old players. He was thrilled at the call up saying "It's important for any athlete to defend the gold medal. I might be the only person from my country ever to do it and I'll go down in history." Argentina won the tournament making Mascherano only the second Argentine sportsman ever (following polo player Juan Nelson) to win two Olympic gold medals.

Soon after being appointed head coach of Argentina in November 2008, Diego Maradona announced that he wanted Mascherano to be the team's captain. "I want Mascherano to be my captain because I believe he is the Argentinian player who is closest to the idea I have about the Argentinian shirt – sweat for it, sacrifice for it, being a professional, being close to the team-mate," he said. "I will convince him. He will be my captain."

Mascherano accepted Diego Maradona's offer to become the new Argentina captain on 10 November, replacing Javier Zanetti. At the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Argentina captained by Mascherano, got to the quarter finals where they were defeated 4–0 by Germany.