International Career
Aimar first represented Argentina at youth levels. Along with future senior team stars Esteban Cambiasso and Juan Román Riquelme, he won the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, and went on to gain over 50 full caps since his debut in 1999. He played in the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups.
In the 2002 World Cup, for which he was picked ahead of Riquelme, he appeared against England, subbing in for Juan Sebastián Verón in the 0–1 loss, which led coach Marcelo Bielsa to start him against Sweden, at the latter's expense.
Aimar scored the last goal of the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, during Argentina's 4–1 loss in the final to champions Brazil, also appearing with the national side in the 2007 Copa América (losing in the final to the same team, this time 0–3).
After several months in the sidelines, Aimar received another international callup in October 2009, for decisive 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay. In the match against the former, he repaid the faith placed in him by coach Diego Maradona, assisting Gonzalo Higuaín for Argentina's opener, with a sublime through ball, in an eventual 2–1 win.
Read more about this topic: Pablo Aimar
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“Like the old soldier of the ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Goodbye.”
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964)