Liverpool supporters will be watching on with the rest of the planet this Sunday as the World Cup final arrives once again.
The Reds will have two players facing off in the showpiece, with Alexis Mac Allister likely to start for Argentina and Victor Munoz on the bench for Spain.
The two current Reds are the latest in a long line of players from both nations to represent Liverpool, and as they prepare to do battle in New Jersey, Rousing The Kop have chosen the six best – three from Spain, three from Argentina – to ever turn out at Anfield.
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Choosing the Spanish candidates
It is fair to say that in this particular clash, Spanish players have made a far greater impact on Liverpool than their Argentine compatriots.
All in all, there have been 22 players from Spain who have made at least one appearance for the Reds, with Munoz set to become number 23 this summer.
The first arrival was Josemi in 2004, and though the right-back did not make a big impact at Liverpool, a number of his countrymen to follow certainly have.
There have been some other duds such as Iago Aspas, Javier Manquillo and Luis Alberto, but many have shone.
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Overall, there are five candidates who really stand out: Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina, Luis Garcia and Thiago Alcantara. All bar Torres won trophies with Liverpool, and made a combined 965 appearances for the club between them.
But while Thiago would get in on talent alone, injuries stalled his time with Liverpool, and although Garcia was a hero during the 2005 Champions League and 2006 FA Cup wins, he was not at the level of Torres, Alonso or Reina, who make it through to face off against the three Argentines.
Choosing the Argentine candidates
Looking through Liverpool’s history of Argentinian players is a lot shorter, with only six ever to have worn the famous red. Nevertheless, their impact has been impressive.
The first Argentine to play for Liverpool arrived during the January transfer window, and although Mauricio Pellegrino only played 11 times for the Reds, he paved the way for some quality players.
Emiliano Insua, Sebastian Leto and Javier Mascherano all joined in 2007, and while Leto only made four appearances, Insua and, especially, Mascherano fared better.
‘El Jefe’, as the defensive midfielder was known, developed into one of the best in the world in his position across three-and-a-half years with Liverpool before leaving and becoming a stalwart of Pep Guardiola’s legendary Barcelona team. In terms of Argentinians and Liverpool, Mascherano is certainly one of the best.
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So too is Maxi Rodriguez, who played for six months at Anfield alongside his international colleague, becoming known for his handy knack of scoring hat-tricks across a further two years at the club.
Finally, Mac Allister joined in 2023, and despite a poor season last year, he has followed on ably from Mascherano in particular, becoming a key figure as Liverpool won the Premier League in 2025.
Ranking the six players
Although Spanish players have made a bigger impact on the whole, Argentina house the only Premier League winner here, and that has to be taken into account.
Nevertheless, they also have the player of the half-dozen who made the smallest impact at Liverpool, and that is Maxi, who comes in at number six.
At five is Mascherano who, despite his quality, did not achieve as much as he could have with the Reds. The midfield destroyer did not win a trophy at all, and also loses points for pushing to leave in 2010.
Number four sees the first Spaniard on the list, and though he has the most appearances – and the longest stint of any of these players – it goes to Reina, who, while being a phenomenal goalkeeper, also had some significant flaws. Still, what a servant, and still one of the best goalies in Liverpool history.
Just ahead of him sits Mac Allister, and while the 27-year-old is the only Premier League winner, his stay of three years so far is the second shortest of the six players. Though the No. 10 could still rise up the list, a poor third season at Anfield has counted against him.
That leaves two Spanish players battling it out for the top spot, two World Cup winners no less.
Alonso’s reputation has taken a hit in recent times after he seemingly turned down the chance to join Liverpool as manager in 2024, but the campaign to have him installed before the sacking of Arne Slot this summer showed he still has plenty of fans on Merseyside.
The former No. 14 was absolutely crucial to the Champions League win in 2005, scoring in the final, and also helped Liverpool to secure the FA Cup in 2006. Many of his 210 appearances will live long in the memory, and though he is now in charge of a rival, Alonso will always be welcomed back at Anfield. He takes second for us.
That leaves Torres to take the top spot, another man with a Chelsea past, and though his decision to join the Blues in 2011 remains controversial to this day, there is no denying the impact he made as Liverpool’s No. 9.
One of the absolute best players in the world in his pomp – which came at Anfield – Torres is absolutely the best Spanish or Argentinian player to ever represent Liverpool, trophies or no trophies.
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