Omar Sívori

Omar Sívori was one of the greatest South American players of the twentieth century and the only Argentine to win the Ballon d'Or in 1961. A native of San Nicolás de los Arroyos, in Buenos Aires Province, he was a striker with refined technique, disconcerting dribbling and an eye for goal, being compared to the greatest stars of his generation. Known by the nickname 'El Cabezón', Sívori emerged at River Plate before transferring to Juventus in 1957 for a record fee. In Italy, he formed the famous trio 'Il Trio Meraviglioso' with Welshman John Charles and Italian Giampiero Boniperti, dominating Italian football for nearly a decade and winning three Italian League titles and multiple Italian Cups. His Italian naturalization allowed Sívori to represent the Azzurri after having played for the Albiceleste, making him one of the rare players in history to play for two national teams. Pelé and Alfredo Di Stéfano publicly acknowledged his extraordinary talent. After ending his career in 1969 at Napoli, he became a coach and established himself as an eternal legend of Juventus and Argentine football. He passed away on February 17, 2005.