Argentine · Bell Ville, Argentina · Born 15 July 1954Explosive Argentine striker who won the 1978 World Cup Golden Boot and was one of the most feared marksmen in European football during the late 1970s.
Mario Alberto Kempes was born on 15 July 1954 in Bell Ville, Córdoba Province, Argentina, and joined the youth ranks of Instituto Atlético Central Córdoba at 16, alongside future Argentina teammate Osvaldo Ardiles. His performances there earned him a move to Rosario Central and, in 1976, to Spanish club Valencia, where he twice finished as La Liga's top scorer and became one of the most feared strikers in Europe. Kempes was the only overseas-based player Argentina coach César Luis Menotti selected for the 1978 World Cup on home soil, despite a policy favouring domestic-league players — an exception Menotti was persuaded to make given Kempes' devastating form in Spain. After a slow start to the tournament without a goal, Kempes exploded in the knockout stages, scoring twice in the semi-final and then twice more in the final itself, a 3-1 extra-time win over the Netherlands that delivered Argentina's first-ever World Cup title. Kempes finished the 1978 tournament with six goals, winning both the Golden Boot as top scorer and the Golden Ball as best player — a rare double achieved by only two other players in World Cup history, Garrincha in 1962 and Paolo Rossi in 1982. His performance made him a national hero and, given the era predated the Ballon d'Or opening to non-European players, a stadium in his native Córdoba was later renamed Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in his honour. Nicknamed "El Matador" for his ruthless finishing, Kempes went on to play at two further World Cups, in 1974 and 1982, and earned 43 caps for Argentina, scoring 20 goals. After Valencia, he had spells with River Plate and clubs in Austria and Indonesia before retiring in 1996. He has remained closely connected to the game as a television commentator for ESPN in the decades since.
Leading Argentina to 1978 World Cup victory as tournament top scorer
He scored twice in the 1978 World Cup final against the Netherlands, including a goal where he dribbled past three defenders — one of the most celebrated individual World Cup final performances of all time.
Did You Know?How They Played
Physical striker with excellent finishing, aerial ability and leadership qualities
Lasting Impact
Argentina's 1978 World Cup hero and one of the greatest strikers of his generation
Career Honours
- World Cup 1978
- Copa del Rey 1979
- European Cup Winners' Cup 1980
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instituto Córdoba | 1973–1976 | 109 | 115 | #10 |
| Valencia | 1976–1981 | 176 | 48 | #18 |
| River Plate | 1981–1982 | 111 | 29 | #18 |
| Estudiantes | 1984–1986 | 0 | 0 | — |
| First Vienna FC | 1986–1987 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Fernández Vial | 1993–1996 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Rosario Central | 1976–1976 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hércules | 1982–1984 | 125 | 27 | #9 |
| Kremser SC | 1987–1988 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Pelita Jaya | 1988–1989 | 0 | 0 | — |
 Argentina | — | 43 | 20 | — |
Argentine Athletes