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Sergio Agüero
Sergio Agüero
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Sergio Leonel Agüero del Castillo (born 2 June 1988), also known as Kun Agüero,[5] is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation and one of the greatest players in the history of the Premier League.[6][7][8][9] He played for Manchester City from 2011 to 2021 and is the club's all-time top goalscorer and holds the record for most Premier League hat-tricks, with 12.

Key Information

Agüero began his career at the Argentine club Independiente where, on 5 July 2003, he became the youngest player to play in the Argentine Primera División at 15 years and 35 days, breaking the 27 year record previously set by future father-in-law Diego Maradona. In 2006, Agüero moved to La Liga club Atlético Madrid in a transfer worth €23 million, establishing himself as one of the world's best young players and one of the most prolific players in La Liga, winning the Don Balón, the Golden Boy, and the World Soccer Young Player of the Year. Agüero also won the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup while in Madrid.

Agüero signed for Premier League club Manchester City in 2011 in a transfer for a reported fee of £35 million. During his 10 years at the club,[10][11] he won five league titles, notably scoring a last minute winner in the final league game of his debut season to win the club its first league title in 44 years. Further honours with the club include a record six EFL Cups and an FA Cup; he was also part of the club's first UEFA Champions League final. Agüero won a Premier League Golden Boot and was twice included in the PFA Team of the Year. He is the sixth all-time Premier League goalscorer and the second highest non-English scorer in the competition, with 184 goals. He held the record for the most Premier League goals scored by a player for any single club until it was overtaken by Harry Kane in 2022.[12][13] In 2021, he joined Barcelona on a free transfer,[14][15] before retiring from football aged 33 due to heart problems in the same year.[16] He played just four matches for the club, with his only goal coming in the first El Clásico of the 2021–22 season.

At international level, Agüero represented the Argentina under-20 team as they won the 2005 and 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cups.[17] He played at the 2008 Olympics, scoring two goals in the semi-final against Brazil as Argentina won gold.[18] Agüero is Argentina's third-highest all-time top goalscorer and has earned over 100 caps, representing the senior team at three FIFA World Cups (in 2010, 2014 and 2018) and five Copas América (in 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2021), winning the Copa América in 2021.

Club career

[edit]

Independiente

[edit]
Agüero with Independiente in 2005

Sergio Agüero joined the youth system of Independiente at the age of nine. He started playing for the side, becoming the youngest player to debut in the first division at 15 years and 35 days (on 5 July 2003 against Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro), when Independiente's coach, Oscar Ruggeri sent Agüero onto the field as a substitute for Emanuel Rivas in the 69th minute of the match.[19][20] His performance was well received by the press.[21][22][23] Despite his early debut, he was not selected again by Ruggeri, and his replacement Osvaldo Sosa, for the remainder of 2002–03 season, having made only one appearance in the Torneo Clausura. Following the arrival of coach Jose Omar Pastoriza, seven months after Agüero's first match he returned to the club's first-team in 4–2 win against Peru's Cienciano during the group stages of the 2004 Copa Libertadores. This meant that he also became the youngest player to participate in the Copa Libertadores, a record that he held for three years.[24] One month later, Agüero again featured in a Copa Libertadores fixture against Ecuador's El Nacional. On 19 June, for the first time, Agüero played a full 90-minute match for Independiente against Atlético de Rafaela during the Torneo Clausura.[25] He scored his first goal for Independiente in a 2–2 draw against Estudiantes on 26 November, with a 22nd minute shot from outside the penalty area.[26][27] Agüero became a regular in the club's first-team, being selected for the Argentina U-20 squad for the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which Argentina won.

During the 2005–06 season, Agüero scored 18 goals in 36 league appearances, having missed two games due to suspension. In a 4–0 win against Racing Club on 11 September, he dribbled from inside of his own half and scored Independiente's fourth goal with a left footed shot.[27][28] His first red card came in the Torneo Apertura, after slapping an opponent in a match against Tiro Federal.[29] His outstanding performances during the Torneo Apertura attracted interest from a number of large European clubs, and, after months of speculation, Agüero announced on TV in April that he intended to leave the club at the end of the season. Before the end of the season, there had already been speculation of a possible transfer to Atlético Madrid.[27] With his performances being lauded by the press, there was talk of a possible call up for Agüero for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.[30][31][32] In a 2–0 away victory against Olimpo de Bahia Blanca in round 17 of the Torneo Clausura, Agüero received his fifth yellow card of the season. This prevented him from playing his last game for Independiente in a fixture against Boca Juniors in Avellaneda one week later. The yellow card brought tears to his eyes, as television cameras recorded.[33] Agüero, who scored Independiente's second goal of the match later said "I think that it was my last goal for Independiente". He played his last game for Independiente, two weeks later, in a 2–0 away defeat to Rosario Central.[34] On 30 May, Agüero officially transferred to Atlético Madrid for €20 million, marking a record for the club.[35]

Atlético Madrid

[edit]

2006–09: Transfer and fast rise to stardom

[edit]
Agüero playing for Atlético Madrid in 2007

In May 2006, Agüero joined Spanish club Atlético Madrid for a fee reported to be around €20 million, breaking the club's previous transfer record.[36][37] He caused controversy early in his Atlético career by using his hands to score the winning goal against Recreativo Huelva on 14 October 2006, only his second goal for the club, with the first coming in a 4–1 away win against Athletic Bilbao on 17 September.[38] He ended his first season in Madrid with seven goals in all competitions, eased into European football by manager Javier Aguirre, who opted to bring him in and out of the line-up as Atlético finished seventh, enough to qualify for the UEFA Intertoto Cup.

Following the departure of strike partner Fernando Torres to Liverpool in the summer of 2007, Agüero secured his starting spot for the Rojiblancos and soon became arguably the team's most important player at the age of just 19. In the 2007–08 season, he finished third highest scorer in La Liga, behind Dani Güiza and Luís Fabiano, with 19 goals, and was runner up in the Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano award.[39] Agüero won many plaudits for his man of the match display against Barcelona in March 2008, scoring twice, assisting a goal and winning a penalty for Atlético in a 4–2 win.[40][41] He also scored important goals against the likes of Real Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla and Villarreal to help Atlético finish fourth and qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over ten years.[42]

Agüero was once again a regular goalscorer for Atlético in the 2008–09 season, continuing to establish a lethal partnership with Uruguayan striker Diego Forlán, also a former Independiente player. On 16 September, he scored his first Champions League goals in a 3–0 away win at PSV Eindhoven, helping Atlético eventually reach the last 16 of the competition.[43] In March 2009, Forlán and Agüero each scored a brace in a 4–3 win over league leaders Barcelona, the latter scoring the winning goal in the match's final minutes.[44] With the help of more vital goals in a formidable end of the season run-in from his team, Agüero finished in the top ten contenders for the Pichichi Trophy, which was won by his teammate Forlán.[45] Atlético finished fourth in the league, qualifying for the following season's Champions League.

2009–11: UEFA Europa League win and departure

[edit]

Despite not being as prolific in front of goal, Agüero had another good season in 2009–10, and was praised for his influential performances as Atlético enjoyed their most successful season in over a decade.[46] On 3 November 2009, he scored twice against Chelsea during a 2–2 draw in the Champions League at the Vicente Calderón. Atlético were knocked out of the competition, but went on to reach the final of the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League, where Agüero assisted both goals in a 2–1 extra time win against English club Fulham.[47] He also helped Atlético reach the final of the Copa del Rey, although this time they were not victorious, losing to Sevilla in the Camp Nou on 19 May.[48]

Agüero (left; pictured with Pepe) with Atlético Madrid during the 2010–11 season

On 27 August 2010, Atlético Madrid captured the UEFA Super Cup by beating favorites Inter Milan 2–0. Agüero provided the assist for José Antonio Reyes' opening goal and then secured the win by scoring the second.[49] On 4 January 2011, Atlético Madrid confirmed via their official website that Agüero had signed a new contract which would keep him at the club until 2014.[50] The following day, he was named as the new vice-captain of Atlético, along with strike partner Diego Forlán.[51] The 2010–11 season was arguably Agüero's most successful for Atlético, as he scored 20 league goals for the first time in his career. Between March and May 2011, he went on a run of seven consecutive goalscoring appearances, a feat that no other player in Europe could match during the season.[52] Agüero's final outing for Atlético came on 21 May against Mallorca, a game in which he reached two milestones. In a 4–3 win, he scored his first career hat-trick, the second goal being his 100th for the Colchoneros.[53] Failure to celebrate any of the goals, however, led to speculation that he would be on his way out of the club.

On 23 May 2011, Agüero announced on his official website that he wanted to move from Atlético and formally asked to be released from his contract.[54][55] Agüero later spoke to ESPN, where he stated that he would "not be returning to Atlético".[56] On the same day that Agüero officially became a Manchester City player, Atlético hosted a 2011–12 Europa League qualifier against Strømsgodset IF, where a group of Atlético fans brandished "Agüero, We Hope You Die" banners in a reaction to the striker's transfer to City at the Vicente Calderón on 28 July 2011, after he had previously stated his desire to see out his contract with the club just weeks before requesting a transfer.[57] Upon his departure, Atlético used the money from Agüero's sale to buy Radamel Falcao as his replacement.[58]

Manchester City

[edit]

2011–12: Record transfer and Premier League win

[edit]

On 28 July 2011, Manchester City confirmed that Agüero had signed a five-year contract with the club. The fee was reported to be in the region of £35 million.[59][60] He was given the number 16 shirt for his first season at City and, as he did in Atlético, wore the name "Kun Agüero" on his shirt. He was an unused substitute in the Dublin Super Cup match against Inter Milan and the 2011 FA Community Shield against Manchester United with manager Roberto Mancini believing Agüero was not yet fit.[61] Agüero made his debut for City on 15 August 2011 in a 4–0 Premier League victory over Swansea City. Agüero came on as a substitute in the 59th minute, scoring his first goal for the club within nine minutes after a tap-in from a cross from full back Micah Richards. He then turned provider with an assist after chipping over the oncoming goalkeeper before flicking the ball back into the penalty box and into the path of David Silva to score. Agüero rounded off his debut by scoring again in injury time with a 30-yard strike. His 30-minute debut gained rave reviews among football journalists, with some suggesting it was one of the best in English football.[62][63]

City continued their strong start, winning 3–2 away at Bolton Wanderers with Agüero missing two chances in the penalty box.[64] On 28 August, Agüero scored his third league goal in Manchester City's 5–1 rout of Tottenham Hotspur.[65] On his third start for the club, he scored his first Premier League hat-trick, against Wigan Athletic.[66] On 18 September, he scored twice at Craven Cottage against Fulham, but City were held to a 2–2 draw.[67] Having been substituted after just 28 minutes due to an injury during a 4–0 win against Blackburn Rovers on 1 October, Agüero returned to action in a 2011–12 UEFA Champions League group stage fixture, where he came on for Nigel de Jong on 62 minutes and scored a 93rd-minute winner in his side's 2–1 victory against Villarreal on 18 October.[68][69] On 23 October, Agüero took part in his first Manchester derby, scoring in the 69th minute as he converted a Micah Richards pass across the face of goal. The match finished 6–1 to City.[70] On 1 November, Agüero was shortlisted for the prestigious FIFA Ballon d'Or. On 19 November, he scored a penalty in a 3–1 win at home to Newcastle United, ending Newcastle's unbeaten start to the season.[71]

Agüero (right) and Samir Nasri parade the Premier League trophy, May 2012

Agüero made his League Cup debut in the quarter final match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, scoring the only goal of the game in the 83rd minute from an Adam Johnson through-ball.[72] His next goal came in a 5–1 home win against Norwich City, opening the scoring in the 32nd minute, giving him his 13th goal of the season and maintaining the team's 100% league record at home.[73] On 21 December, he scored a brace as City beat Stoke City 3–0 at home.[74] On 3 January 2012, he opened the scoring in a 3–0 win at home to Liverpool, beating Pepe Reina with a low shot.[75] Agüero scored his 15th goal on 4 February, scoring a penalty against Fulham in a 3–0 win at a snow-covered City of Manchester Stadium.

During the first-leg of a Europa League round of 32 match against Porto, Agüero entered the field in the 78th minute for Mario Balotelli and scored the match-winning goal, and his first Europa League goal for Manchester City, in the 85th minute.[76] The game ended 2–1, and, in the second-leg, Agüero scored within 19 seconds in a 4–0 win on 22 February. Manchester City advanced to the last 16 of the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League, having won 6–1 on aggregate. On 25 February, Agüero scored his 16th league goal in a 3–0 win against Blackburn.[77][78] During the second-leg of Manchester City's Round of 16 Europa League fixture against Sporting CP on 15 March, Agüero netted a double to help City claim a 3–2 win, having been trailing 2–0 at half-time, to level the scores at 3–3 on aggregate. Sporting CP won on away goals, as they defeated Manchester City 1–0 in the first-leg on 8 March.[79] One week later, Agüero scored his 17th league goal in 2–1 win against Chelsea on 21 March.[80] On 29 March, Agüero was ruled out for 10 days to two weeks due to a foot problem, which was later diagnosed as a reaction to a substance that blistered his foot.[81][82][83]

On 11 April, Agüero scored two goals for himself and also set up another two goals (for David Silva and Carlos Tevez) in a 4–0 home victory against West Bromwich Albion.[84] On 14 April, Agüero scored a double in a 6–1 away win against Norwich City, his two goals meaning that he had surpassed 20 league goals in the Premier League.[85] He scored one goal in the next match, in which Manchester City beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–0.[86] On 4 May, Agüero was named Manchester City Player of The Year. His first goal in the 6–1 away win against Norwich also won him the club's Goal of the Season award.[87]

Final game of the season

[edit]
Main article: Manchester City F.C. 3–2 Queens Park Rangers F.C.

"In my career so far it's the most important goal. You score the goal in the last minute to win the title. You're not sure if that's ever going to happen in your career again. I wish I could tell you how I did it but I can't. I thought for all the world that Mario [Balotelli] was going to have a go himself but he just moved it on one more and it fell at my feet and I just thought: 'Hit the target, hit it as hard as you can and hit the target.' And it went in."

Sergio Agüero, on his last-minute goal against Queens Park Rangers in 2012 which won the Premier League for City.[88]

Five straight wins helped City wipe out an eight-point deficit against Manchester United and they went into the final day's fixtures leading on goal difference. Facing relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers, City needed to match or better United's result at Sunderland. By the 66th minute, QPR's Joey Barton was sent off after elbowing Agüero's teammate Carlos Tevez in the face. After being shown the red card, Barton proceeded to kick Agüero's knee, then attempted to attack Vincent Kompany, only for him to be held back by Micah Richards. Despite that, QPR still went ahead 2–1 against City, while United were 1–0 up against Sunderland.

In response, manager Roberto Mancini sent on strikers Edin Džeko and Mario Balotelli in an attempt to get the two goals City now needed for the title. Five minutes of injury time began for City with their and United's match scores unchanged. Džeko equalised to give City a glimmer of hope and United finished their own game with a 1–0 victory. In the 94th minute, Agüero, receiving the ball from Balotelli, drove into the penalty area and placed a powerful low shot into the corner of the goal, clinching the win and the first top flight English title for Manchester City since 1968.[89] Agüero's goal sent the City of Manchester Stadium into a frenzy and he was dragged to the floor jubilantly by his City teammates. Vincent Kompany recalled that Agüero was crying on the floor,[90] and when asked if he cried during the Manchester City parade the following day, Agüero stated: "Yeah, a little".[91]

2012–13: Injuries and league runner-up

[edit]

Agüero started the 2012–13 season in the 2012 FA Community Shield against Chelsea at Villa Park as Manchester City won 3–2.[92] In Manchester City's first league match, Agüero had to be stretchered off in the 13th minute of their home game against Southampton due to a knee injury.[93] Agüero was an unused substitute in City's 3–2 defeat to Real Madrid on 18 September 2012. Following the match, Agüero said he would have joined Real Madrid had they made an offer for him in 2011 but was left with "no option but to join City".[94] Agüero made his return in a 1–1 home draw against Arsenal in the Premier League and went on to score his first goal of the season against Fulham on 29 September in a 2–1 away win in the Premier League.[95][96] He followed this up with another goal the following weekend against Sunderland in a 3–0 home win.[97] His next league goal came in a 2–1 win at home against Tottenham on 11 November.[98] He followed this up with another two goals the following weekend against Aston Villa in a 5–0 win at home.[99] Agüero also scored in back-to-back games in the Champions League in successive draws at home to Ajax and Real Madrid.[100][101] He scored his next goal on 15 December, where he scored the opening goal, as Manchester City won 3–1 away against Newcastle.[102] Agüero then scored against Norwich City on 29 December in a 4–3 away win.[103] In his next match on 2 January, after scoring a penalty in the 73rd minute, Agüero damaged his hamstring during a 3–0 victory over Stoke.[104]

Agüero made his return for Manchester City on 19 January after coming on as an 81st-minute substitute in a 2–0 victory against Fulham.[105] On 3 February, Agüero scored the equaliser after beating Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina in a race to the ball out near the right corner flag.[106] On 17 February, Agüero helped Manchester City to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup as he scored twice in a 4–0 win at home to Leeds United.[107] He sustained a knee injury in the 2–0 win over Chelsea on 24 February.[108] This eventually led to him missing the Argentina squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Venezuela and Bolivia.[109] Agüero made his return for Manchester City on 30 March after coming on as a substitute with warm reception in a 4–0 victory against Newcastle.[110]

On 8 April, Agüero scored a solo goal to give City the win in the Manchester derby in the 78th minute, seven minutes after coming on as a substitute for Samir Nasri.[111] Agüero then scored a header to help Manchester City defeat Chelsea on 14 April in the FA Cup semi-final and reach the final.[112] In the 82nd minute of the tie, Agüero made a two-footed tackle on David Luiz after the defender had previously appeared to tackle him.[113] Despite the incident warranting a red card at the time, the FA announced Agüero would not be punished following confirmation that referee Chris Foy had at least seen part of the incident and acted on it during the match. Many people disagreed with this decision and felt that the FA had failed to act.[114] On 17 April, Agüero revealed that he had apologised to David Luiz for his rash challenge on the defender.[115] Agüero withdrew as a precaution at half-time on 17 April in Manchester City's 1–0 home victory over Wigan after feeling tightness in a hamstring, but he appeared as an unused substitute in City's 3–1 away loss at White Hart Lane against Tottenham on 21 April.[116] He scored his next goal on 27 April, where he scored the opening goal, as Manchester City won 2–1 home against West Ham United.[117] On 11 May, Agüero started for Manchester City in the 2013 FA Cup Final, where the team lost 1–0 to Wigan. Agüero scored his final goal of the season in a 2–0 away win against Reading on 14 May.[118]

The Times reported that he was the main transfer target of Spanish giants Real Madrid,[119] but Agüero responded by saying, "I'm very happy at City and I feel appreciated and loved here which means a lot to me."[120] Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano also negated the idea of a transfer, insisting Agüero would stay at the City of Manchester Stadium.[121][122] However, former Argentina international Diego Maradona backed him to join Real Madrid, believing Agüero's presence in the Madrid team could help get even more out of Cristiano Ronaldo.[123] On 25 May 2013, Agüero signed a one-year extension to his contract, keeping him at Manchester City until 2017.[124][125] Agüero stated his commitment to Manchester City on 28 May 2013, saying, "I'm committed to Manchester City, it's a great club."[126]

2013–14: Second Premier League win

[edit]
Agüero and Edin Džeko about to kick off against Cardiff City in 2013

Following a knee injury that ruled him out of all of the club's pre-season games,[127] Agüero scored in City's 4–0 victory over Newcastle United in the opening game of the 2013–14 Premier League season.[128] On 22 September 2013, he scored a brace in a 4–1 home win against Manchester United.[129] On 8 November, after scoring five goals in four matches between 5 October and 2 November, Agüero was awarded the Premier League Player of the Month for the first time. During the same period, he had also scored both goals for City in a 2–1 away win against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.[130] He scored six goals in five matches in the Champions League group stage as Manchester City qualified for the knockout phase for the first time.

On 14 December 2013, Agüero was substituted in a 6–3 win against Arsenal due to a calf injury[131] and missed eight matches.[132] On 16 January 2014, he returned from injury in an FA Cup third-round replay against Blackburn Rovers, scoring after coming on as a substitute in the 5–0 win.[133] In the next round of the competition, he scored his first hat-trick of the season in a 4–2 victory over Watford. On 29 January, he scored his 50th Premier League goal in a 5–1 victory at Tottenham but was substituted with a hamstring injury.[134][135] On 2 March, Agüero returned to the City team for the 2014 Football League Cup Final, where they beat Sunderland 3–1 at Wembley Stadium.[136] In his third appearance since returning from the hamstring problem, Agüero suffered a recurrence of the injury and was withdrawn at half-time in a 2–1 Champions League loss at Camp Nou against Barcelona.[137] He missed the team's next five league matches, before returning to the starting line-up in a 3–2 loss against Liverpool at Anfield on 13 April.[138] On 21 April, Agüero scored his first goal since January in a 3–1 defeat of West Bromwich Albion at the City of Manchester Stadium.[139] After scoring his final goal of the season in a 3–2 win over Everton at Goodison Park on 3 May, Agüero started for Manchester City against West Ham as the team secured its second Premier League title in three seasons with a 2–0 win.[140]

2014–16: League top goalscorer and individual success

[edit]
Agüero playing against CSKA Moscow in 2014

On 14 August 2014, Agüero signed a new five-year contract to keep him at City until 2019.[141] Agüero scored his first goal of 2014–15 while appearing as an 83rd-minute substitute for Edin Džeko in City's opening match of the Premier League season against Newcastle on 17 August.[142] Due to his late return from the World Cup, Agüero was again used as a substitute in the second game of the season against Liverpool, but, after replacing Džeko, took just 23 seconds to score City's third goal in the 3–1 win.[143] On 18 October, he scored all four of City's goals in a 4–1 home win over Tottenham, two of which were penalties; he took another penalty in the match, but it was saved by Hugo Lloris. This took Agüero to 61 Premier League goals for the club, surpassing Carlos Tevez as the club's record scorer in the competition.[144] He was the first player in the season to reach ten Premier League goals, doing so with the only goal in the Manchester derby on 2 November.[145]

Aguero is every bit as important to them as Luis Suárez was to Liverpool last year or Gareth Bale to Tottenham Hotspur the year before.

— English football journalist Martin Samuel after City's win over Bayern Munich.[146]

Agüero scored a hat-trick in City's 3–2 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League group stage on 25 November, starting with a penalty which he won himself.[147] Five days later, in his 100th Premier League match, he was wrongly booked for simulation by referee Mike Jones after being fouled by José Fonte in the penalty area, although City went on to defeat Southampton 3–0.[148] On 2 December, Agüero was named the Football Supporters' Federation Player of the Year for 2014.[149][150] He was also awarded Premier League Player of the Month for November 2014, a month in which he scored three league goals and assisted two more.[151]

Agüero sustained a knee injury in the second minute of Manchester City's 1–0 win over Everton on 6 December[152] and was unable to appear again for the remainder of 2014. He returned to City's matchday squad for the return fixture with Everton at Goodison Park on 10 January 2015[153] and appeared as a 67th-minute substitute in the 1–1 draw.[154] On 11 February, he scored his first two goals of 2015 in a 4–1 win at Stoke City.[155] On 21 February, 72 seconds into a match against Newcastle United, Agüero scored the fastest penalty kick in the Premier League since 1994.[156] On 12 April, Agüero scored twice in a 4–2 derby loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford. His second goal of the match took him to 100 goals for City in all competitions.[157] On 19 April, he scored his 20th league goal of the season in a 2–0 home win against West Ham United.[158] He passed 30 goals for the season with a hat-trick in a 6–0 home win over Queens Park Rangers on 9 May, relegating the opponents.[159] On 24 May, in City's final match of the season against Southampton, Agüero scored his 26th league goal of the season, ending 2014–15 with the Premier League Golden Boot.[160]

On 7 August 2015, Agüero announced he would be switching from his number 16 shirt to the number 10 shirt, previously worn by teammate Edin Džeko.[161] Nine days later, he opened the scoring in a 3–0 home victory over reigning champions Chelsea.[162] During City's 2–0 victory away at Everton on 23 August, Agüero halted the game after noticing that an Everton supporter was in need of emergency treatment. The striker alerted the referee and the other players and made sure that the man received attention from the medics.[163] On 30 September, Agüero earned and converted a last-minute penalty to give City a 2–1 win at Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Champions League group stage.[164] On 3 October, Agüero scored five goals against Newcastle in a 6–1 comeback win, joining Andy Cole, Alan Shearer, Jermain Defoe and Dimitar Berbatov in scoring as many in a Premier League game.[165] His five goals within 23 minutes of game time made it the fastest five-goal haul since the Premier League started in 1992.[166] Four minutes after scoring his fifth goal in the 62nd minute, Agüero was substituted by manager Manuel Pellegrini, as he had been receiving treatment due to a leg injury at half time.[167]

On 8 October, in a 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Ecuador, Agüero sustained a hamstring injury early on and was carried off the pitch in tears. Agüero himself said he expected to be out for around four weeks (in which the derby against Manchester United was to be played), although several media outlets later claimed the injury would last for eight weeks.[168][169] He returned on 21 November, scoring in a 1–4 home loss to Liverpool; this was his 85th Premier League goal, making him the top-scoring South American of all time in the division, ahead of his compatriot and former strike partner Carlos Tevez.[170] On 16 April 2016, Agüero scored a hat-trick in a 3–0 win at Chelsea, ending with a penalty kick. He became the third visiting player to score a Premier League hat-trick at Stamford Bridge, and the fifth player to have three 20-goal seasons in the division.[171] Three days later, he scored his 100th Premier League goal in a 1–1 draw at Newcastle. He reached the century in 147 games, second only to Alan Shearer who did so in 124.[172] The goal was also his sixth against Newcastle for the season, making him just the sixth player in the Premier League era to have scored six goals against the same club in a single campaign.[173] Agüero ended the 2015–16 Premier League season with 24 goals, one behind Golden Boot winner Harry Kane and level with Jamie Vardy.[174] However, with his goals coming from 30 appearances, Agüero recorded the league's best goals to minute ratio.[175]

2016–20: All-time club top scorer, sustained domestic success

[edit]

On 13 August 2016, Agüero scored Manchester City's first competitive goal under the management of Pep Guardiola in a 2–1 victory against Sunderland on the opening day of the 2016–17 Premier League season.[176] In a league match against West Ham on 28 August, Agüero struck opponent Winston Reid in the throat with his arm, an incident which went unpunished by the referee. Reid lost his voice with the strike, and had to be substituted. The FA gave Agüero a three-match ban for violent conduct, accusing him of behaving in an "aggressive manner that was excessive in force and brutal".[177] On 5 November, Agüero scored his 150th goal for Manchester City in a 1–1 draw against Middlesbrough in the league.[178] Agüero was sent off in a 1–3 loss to Chelsea on 3 December for a tackle on David Luiz and was given a four-match suspension.[179]

"He's a legend, and it's a part of history in the club. Aguero's numbers speak for themselves – he is amazing."

— Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola on Agüero after he scored a hat-trick against Watford, putting him two goals away from becoming club record scorer.[180]

Having scored on Manchester City's opening fixture of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion on 12 August 2017,[181] Agüero scored his second goal of the season against Liverpool in a 5–0 win on 9 September. This was his 124th Premier League goal, and saw him overtake Trinidadian Dwight Yorke as the top-scoring non-European in the competition's history.[182] One week later, Agüero scored his sixth Premier League hat-trick in a 6–0 win at Watford to put Manchester City top of the league. On 28 September, he was involved in a road accident after attending a Maluma concert in Amsterdam, when his taxi crashed into a lamppost. He was left with a fractured rib and ruled out for two weeks.[183][184]

On 21 October, Agüero scored his 177th goal for Manchester City in a 3–0 win over Burnley, equalling the record set by Eric Brook. This was also the Citizens 11th straight win, equalling another club record.[185] He scored his record 178th goal for the team on 1 November away at Napoli in a Champions League group game, a 4–2 win that sent his team through to the knockout stages of the competition.[186] On 20 January 2018, Agüero scored a perfect hat-trick, his second of the season, against Newcastle in a 3–1 win with his second goal being the landmark 350th goal of his career.[187] He was later awarded the Premier League Player of the Month for January, claiming the award for the fifth time in his career.[188] On 10 February, Agüero scored four goals in a 5–1 Premier League home thrashing of Leicester City, claiming his third hat-trick of the season.[189] He opened the scoring in the 2018 EFL Cup Final on 25 February, by chipping Arsenal's David Ospina in a 1vs1 situation, ultimately helping City secure a convincing 3–0 victory at Wembley Stadium.[190]

In City's first game of the 2018–19 season, Agüero scored both goals in the 2–0 2018 FA Community Shield victory over Chelsea, the first goal being his 200th for the club.[191] On 19 August 2018, Agüero scored his 9th Premier League hat-trick in a 6–1 home victory against Huddersfield Town, putting him behind only Alan Shearer's 11.[192] He also leapfrogged Robin van Persie to enter the league's top ten scorers of all time, and second place in foreign Premier League scorers only to Thierry Henry's 175.[193] Agüero hit the post twice in a 1–1 away draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers.[194] On 21 September, Manchester City confirmed via their official website that Agüero had signed a new contract with the club which would keep him at the club until 2021.[195] On 22 September, in his 300th appearance for Manchester City, Agüero scored the opening goal in an eventual 5–0 away win over Cardiff City.[196]

On 4 November, Agüero scored his 150th Premier League goal in a 6–1 home win over Southampton in his 217th Premier League appearance; he became only the ninth player in history to achieve this landmark, and only the third player after Henry and Wayne Rooney to do so for one club. He was also the second-fastest player to reach this milestone, after Shearer, who took five fewer appearances.[197][198] On 11 November, Agüero scored the second goal in a 3–1 win against Manchester United, making him the joint highest scorer in Manchester derbies in the Premier League era, level with Rooney.[199] On 29 January 2019, Agüero scored after 24 seconds in an eventual 2–1 defeat at Newcastle United.[200] On 3 February, he scored a hat-trick against Arsenal, including a goal after 48 seconds, bringing his Premier League tally of hat-tricks to ten, in a 3–1 win at the Etihad Stadium.[201] On 10 February, Agüero scored his 11th Premier League hat-trick, as City defeated rivals Chelsea 6–0 at home;[202] with this feat, he equalled Shearer's record of 11 in the competition.[203] The hat trick also saw him overtake Tommy Johnson's and Eric Brook's record of 158 league goals for the club, and set a new record of 160 goals.[204] The following month, he scored twice in a 7–0 (10–2 aggregate) Champions League win over Schalke 04 and in doing so helped the club equal the record for the largest winning margin in the knockout-phase of the competition.[205][206]

On 10 August 2019, Agüero came on as a substitute replacing Gabriel Jesus, in a match that was dominated by the newly introduced VAR, at the London Stadium against West Ham United. With City 3–0 up, they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Riyad Mahrez. Agüero took the penalty and it was saved by opposing keeper Łukasz Fabiański. However, VAR stepped in and re-awarded the penalty for an infringement by Declan Rice. Agüero scored the re-awarded penalty in an eventual 5–0 away opening day win for the Citizens to start their Premier League title defence.[207] On 12 January 2020, Agüero scored 12th hattrick of his Premier League career against Aston Villa in 6–1 away victory at Villa Park, taking his individual tally past Henry's 175 goal mark.[208] Agüero scored the 399th and 400th goals of his professional career in a 3–1 away win over AFC Bournemouth on 25 August.[209]

2020–21: Final season, European finalist

[edit]

After several weeks on the sidelines due to a meniscus injury,[210] Agüero returned to action on 17 October 2020 in a 1–0 victory against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.[211] On 21 October, he scored his first goal of the season in a 3–1 win over Porto in the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League.[212] On 13 March 2021, Agüero scored his first league goal since January 2020 in a 3–0 away win against Fulham.[213] On 29 March 2021, City announced that Agüero would leave the club at the end of the season following the expiry of his contract.[214] On 23 May, on his final league appearance for the club, Agüero came off the bench to score twice in an eventual 5–0 home win over Everton, as City celebrated their Premier League title victory on the last matchday of the season; his brace saw him reach 184 league goals in 275 appearances, breaking Wayne Rooney's record for most Premier League goals for a single club.[215] On 29 May, he played his last match for the club after he came on as substitute in the second half, in a 1–0 loss against Chelsea in the Champions League final, where he was seen crying at the end, having failed to win the Champions League in his final game with City.[216] In total, Agüero managed 260 goals for City in 390 appearances.[217]

Barcelona and retirement

[edit]

I am proud or happy for my career. Since I was five years old, I have dreamed of playing soccer, being in the First Division [in Argentina], I never thought of arriving in Europe. Thanks Independiente, Atlético de Madrid, who bet on me when I was 18 years old, the people of City, who already know how I feel, I have left the best. To Barça, it has been incredible, I knew that I was coming to one of the best clubs in the world, but things happen for a reason. And to the Argentina national team, which is what I love the most.

— Sergio Agüero upon retiring[218]

On 31 May 2021, Agüero agreed to sign for La Liga club Barcelona on a two-year contract starting 1 July, with a buyout clause set at €100 million.[219]

On 17 October, he debuted as a substitute in a 3–1 home victory against Valencia.[220] In his first El Clásico appearance on 24 October, Agüero came on as a substitute in the 77th minute, scoring his first goal for the club in the last minute of play of a 2–1 home defeat to Real Madrid.[221] One week later, he was taken to hospital with chest discomfort diagnosed as cardiac arrhythmia during an eventual 1–1 home draw against Alavés.[222] It was reported in November that he would be out of action for at least three months,[223] but on 15 December, Agüero announced his retirement from football on the advice of doctors, and thanked the teams he had played for.[224][218]

International career

[edit]

Youth teams

[edit]

Agüero was selected for the Argentina U17 team to participate at the 2004 U-16 South American Championship in Paraguay in September. He participated in all of Argentina's group stage matches, scoring in a 2–1 win against the United States and a 3–1 win against Ecuador to help Argentina finish top of their group. Agüero scored in the 47th minute of Argentina's 1–0 quarter-final victory against Peru, setting up a semi-final match against Colombia which Argentina lost 2–0.

Agüero represented Argentina at two FIFA World Youth Championships, winning back-to-back world titles. He was part of the team that won the 2005 edition in the Netherlands, alongside his future 2008 Olympics squad teammates Fernando Gago and Lionel Messi. At the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, held in Canada, Agüero scored twice and helped set up three goals in a 6–0 win over Panama in the second game of the group stage of the tournament. He then scored the only goal in Argentina's third match against North Korea from a free kick. Having qualified to the round of 16, he scored two of the three goals against Poland that would eventually give them a 3–1 win to advance to the next round. Argentina defeated Mexico in the quarter-finals and Chile in the semi-finals, and faced the Czech Republic in the final, a team they drew 0–0 in the group stage. Agüero captained and scored the equaliser in the 62nd minute, leading to a 2–1 victory. In addition, Agüero won the Golden Boot of the tournament, scoring six goals in seven, and the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.

As a member of the Argentine squad for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Agüero scored two goals in the space of five minutes in the semi-final 3–0 win over Brazil on 19 August 2008.[225] Argentina went on to win its second consecutive gold medal at the Olympic tournament.

Senior team

[edit]

Debut, 2010 World Cup and 2011 Copa América

[edit]

At age 18, Agüero debuted for the Argentine senior squad in a friendly match against Brazil on 3 September 2006, played at Emirates Stadium, England.[226] One year later, he scored his first international goal in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Bolivia, and went on to score three more times as the Albiceleste successfully qualified for the finals in South Africa.[227]

Agüero taking on two Swiss players in an international friendly in 2012

Agüero was named in the 23-man squad for the 2011 Copa América where Argentina had been drawn into Group A with Bolivia, Colombia, and Costa Rica.[citation needed] On 1 July, in Argentina's opening group stage match against Bolivia, he came on for Ezequiel Lavezzi on 71 minutes and scored an equaliser on 76 minutes to secure a 1–1 draw.[228][229] On 11 July, in Argentina's third group stage match against Costa Rica, Agüero scored a goal in each half as Argentina won 3–0 and finished in second position in their group.[230]

2014 World Cup, and 2015 and 2016 Copas América

[edit]

Agüero was named in Argentina's 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[231] On 15 June, he started alongside Lionel Messi as a forward in Argentina's 2–1 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Estádio do Maracanã.[232]

Agüero was named in the Argentine squad for the 2015 Copa América, and in a warm-up game on 7 June against Bolivia in San Juan, he scored his first international hat-trick in a 5–0 victory.[233] On 13 June, he scored Argentina's opening goal of the tournament in a 2–2 group stage draw with Paraguay.[234] Three days later at the same ground, he headed a cross from Manchester City teammate Pablo Zabaleta for a 1–0 win against holders Uruguay.[235] At the semi-final stage, Agüero headed in Ángel Di María's cross as Argentina defeated Paraguay 6–1 to reach the 2015 Copa América Final.[236] Agüero started the final against Chile, but was replaced in the 74th minute for Gonzalo Higuaín in an eventual penalty shootout loss.[237]

Agüero was included in Gerardo Martino's 23-man squad for the Copa América Centenario and scored his first goal of the tournament in Argentina's second group match, a 5–0 win over Panama on 10 June 2016, which allowed them to advance to the quarter-finals of the competition.[238] Agüero considered retiring from international football shortly after losing against Chile in a penalty shootout in the final of the tournament for a second consecutive time.[239]

2018 World Cup, 2019 Copa América, and 2021 Copa América

[edit]

On 14 November 2017, Agüero was taken to hospital after fainting in the dressing room at half-time in a 4–2 loss to Nigeria in a friendly match in Krasnodar, Russia.[240]

In May 2018, Agüero was named in Argentina's preliminary 35-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia;[241] later that month, he was included in Jorge Sampaoli's final 23-man squad for the competition.[242] In his team's first group match of the tournament against Iceland on 16 June, he scored the opening goal of an eventual 1–1 draw; this was his first ever World Cup goal.[243] In the round of 16 match against France on 30 June, Agüero scored Argentina's final goal in a 4–3 defeat, which saw his side eliminated from the World Cup.[244]

On 21 May 2019, he was included in Lionel Scaloni's final 23-man Argentina squad for the 2019 Copa América.[245] In Argentina's final group match against Qatar on 23 June, Agüero scored the second goal in a 2–0 win, which enabled his team to advance to the knock-out stages.[246] On 28 June, in the quarter-finals of the tournament, Agüero assisted Lautaro Martínez's opening goal, and was also involved in the second goal, scored by Giovani Lo Celso, as Argentina defeated Venezuela 2–0 to advance to the semi-finals.[247] In the third-place match against Chile on 6 July, Agüero scored the opening goal in an eventual 2–1 win, to help Argentina capture the bronze medal.[248]

On 28 June 2021, Agüero made his 100th senior international appearance for Argentina in a 4–1 win against Bolivia in his team's final group stage match of the 2021 Copa América, also setting up Messi's second goal.[249] Argentina eventually won the tournament.

During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Agüero was present with the winning Argentine team for the duration of the tournament as an unofficial supporter, as his heart conditions had forced his retirement a year earlier. Though not an official member of the team, he was seen celebrating with the players after their win in the final.[250]

Style of play

[edit]

Sergio is a photocopy of Romário, they are the same player.

Often considered to be one of the best strikers in the world,[252] Agüero is regarded as an all-out centre forward,[253] although he is a versatile player, who can also play as a second striker off another striker, which he often did at Atlético Madrid with Diego Forlán,[254][255] due to his passing ability, link-up play, tactical intelligence, and vision, which made him a capable assist-man.[255][256] When asked to name the players who influenced his playing style, Agüero named former Brazilian striker Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Diego Maradona as the best players to have played the game, but said that the player who influenced his style of play the most was "the Brazilian Ronaldo".[257] Aguero has a diminutive figure with a stocky build, which has led to comparisons with former Manchester City teammate Carlos Tevez[258] and past forwards such as Romário,[251] Alessandro Del Piero,[256] and Diego Maradona.[259][260] When both were on the same team, some pundits called Agüero Tevez's heir apparent at City[261] and others said that he was superior to his compatriot.[262] His ex-manager at Manchester City, Roberto Mancini, has compared Agüero to former Brazilian striker, Romário, due to his pace, goalscoring ability, positioning in the area, and technique.[251] Although naturally right footed, Agüero is also capable of striking well with his left foot, and can finish well both inside and outside the area with his powerful and accurate shot.[256][259]

A prolific goalscorer, Agüero's playing style is characterised by agility, acceleration, excellent movement off the ball, and strength, being described as "sharp and clever" by former Argentine player Osvaldo Ardiles;[263][264] a view which is shared by his international captain Lionel Messi, who believes Agüero possesses "immense power, strength and an incredible work ethic".[265] Combined with his close control, quick feet, dribbling skills, and strength to keep the ball, he has been described as "a menace in the box".[254][259] Despite his ability, Agüero's playing time has often been limited by injuries throughout his career.[259]

Personal life

[edit]
Agüero in 2011

Agüero was formerly married to Gianinna Maradona, the youngest daughter of Diego Maradona. On 19 February 2009, Giannina gave birth to their son, Benjamín, in Madrid. Diego Maradona was there for the birth of his first grandson, while Agüero, then 20, missed Atlético's training session earlier in the day. Atlético offered their congratulations in a statement on their official website.[266] Agüero and Giannina divorced in 2012 after four years of marriage.[267]

Agüero's nickname "Kun", which features on his shirt, dates back to his childhood. It was first given to him by his grandparents, due to a resemblance to the character "Kum-Kum" from the anime Wanpaku Omukashi Kumu Kumu which was Agüero's favourite television programme as a child.[268] He said "I have grown to appreciate it because it's unique. It's not every day an athlete is nicknamed after a cartoon character!"[268] Agüero has a tattoo on the inside of his right arm inscribed in Tengwar—a form of writing invented by J. R. R. Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings—that transliterates roughly to Kun Agüero in the Latin script. He also has a tattoo on his left arm of his son's name and date of birth.[269] Agüero holds Spanish nationality, after being granted citizenship in 2010 whilst playing for Atlético Madrid.[270]

Gastón del Castillo and Mauricio del Castillo are brothers of Agüero.[271] Agüero shares a close friendship with Lionel Messi, his regular roommate during outings for the national team since 2005. He described Messi as being "like a brother" in his 2014 autobiography, Born to Rise, which contains a foreword written by Messi.[272]

During the three-month football break due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Agüero started live-streaming himself playing various video games on Twitch. He became the fastest-growing streamer in the month of May,[273] reaching 1 million followers. He has been especially popular among the Spanish-speaking community, collaborating with many big names such as El Rubius and even calling Messi once live on air.[274] In November 2022, Agüero joined the newly established Kings League serving as chairman for one of the competing teams, Kunisports,[275] featuring as a guest player for his own side.[276]

Agüero welcomed his second child, a daughter named Olivia, with actress Sofía Calzetti in 2024.[277] In 2025, Disney+ released Kun by Agüero, a documentary series about his life and career.[278]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[259][279]
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Independiente 2002–03[280] Argentine Primera División 1 0 — — — — 1 0
2003–04[281] Argentine Primera División 5 0 — — 2[c] 0 — 7 0
2004–05[282] Argentine Primera División 12 5 — — — — 12 5
2005–06[283] Argentine Primera División 36 18 — — — — 36 18
Total 54 23 — — 2 0 — 56 23
Atlético Madrid 2006–07[284] La Liga 38 6 4 1 — — — 42 7
2007–08[285] La Liga 37 19 4 2 — 9[d] 6 — 50 27
2008–09[286] La Liga 37 17 1 0 — 9[e] 4 — 47 21
2009–10[287] La Liga 31 12 7 1[f] — 16[g] 6 — 54 19
2010–11[288] La Liga 32 20 4 3 — 4[h] 3 1[i] 1 41 27
Total 175 74 20 7 — 38 19 1 1 234 101
Manchester City 2011–12[289] Premier League 34 24 1 1 3 1 10[j] 5 0 0 48 31
2012–13[290] Premier League 30 12 4 3 0 0 5[e] 2 1[k] 0 40 17
2013–14[291] Premier League 23 17 3 4 2 1 6[e] 6 — 34 28
2014–15[292] Premier League 33 26 1 0 1 0 7[e] 6 0 0 42 32
2015–16[293] Premier League 30 24 1 1 4 2 9[e] 2 — 44 29
2016–17[294] Premier League 31 20 5 5 1 0 8[e] 8 — 45 33
2017–18[295] Premier League 25 21 3 2 4 3 7[e] 4 — 39 30
2018–19[296] Premier League 33 21 2 2 3 1 7[e] 6 1[k] 2 46 32
2019–20[297] Premier League 24 16 2 2 3 3 3[e] 2 0 0 32 23
2020–21[298] Premier League 12 4 0 0 1 0 7[e] 2 — 20 6
Total 275 184 22 20 22 11 69 43 2 2 390 260
Barcelona 2021–22[299] La Liga 4 1 0 0 — 1[e] 0 0 0 5 1
Career total 508 282 42 27 22 11 110 62 3 3 685 385
  1. ^ Includes Copa del Rey, FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes Football League/EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in Copa Libertadores
  4. ^ Eight appearances and six goals in UEFA Cup, one appearance in UEFA Intertoto Cup
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  6. ^ The second goal against Huelva is considered as an own goal by Magnus Troest.
  7. ^ Eight appearances and four goals in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa League
  8. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  9. ^ Appearance in UEFA Super Cup
  10. ^ Six appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, four appearances and four goals in UEFA Europa League
  11. ^ a b Appearance in FA Community Shield

International

[edit]
Appearances and goals by national team and year[300]
National team Year Apps Goals
Argentina 2006 2 0
2007 4 1
2008 9 4
2009 6 2
2010 5 2
2011 8 5
2012 7 2
2013 8 5
2014 10 1
2015 10 10
2016 11 1
2017 4 2
2018 5 3
2019 8 3
2020 0 0
2021 4 0
Total 101 41
Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Agüero goal.[300]
List of international goals scored by Sergio Agüero
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 17 November 2007 Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires, Argentina  Bolivia 1–0 3–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 26 March 2008 Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt  Egypt 1–0 2–0 Friendly
3 4 June 2008 Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, United States  Mexico 4–1 4–1 Friendly
4 6 September 2008 Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires, Argentina  Paraguay 1–1 1–1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 11 October 2008 Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires, Argentina  Uruguay 2–0 2–1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 28 March 2009 Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires, Argentina  Venezuela 4–0 4–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 12 August 2009 Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow, Russia  Russia 1–1 3–2 Friendly
8 24 May 2010 Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires, Argentina  Canada 5–0 5–0 Friendly
9 7 September 2010 Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires, Argentina  Spain 4–1 4–1 Friendly
10 20 June 2011 Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires, Argentina  Albania 3–0 3–0 Friendly
11 1 July 2011 Estadio Ciudad de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina  Bolivia 1–1 1–1 2011 Copa América
12 11 July 2011 Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba, Argentina  Costa Rica 1–0 3–0 2011 Copa América
13 2–0
14 15 November 2011 Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia  Colombia 2–1 2–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
15 2 June 2012 Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires, Argentina  Ecuador 1–0 4–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
16 12 October 2012 Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, Argentina  Uruguay 2–0 2–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
17 6 February 2013 Friends Arena, Stockholm, Sweden  Sweden 2–1 3–2 Friendly
18 11 June 2013 Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito, Ecuador  Ecuador 1–0 1–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
19 10 September 2013 Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay  Paraguay 2–1 5–2 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
20 18 November 2013 Busch Stadium, St. Louis, United States  Bosnia and Herzegovina 1–0 2–0 Friendly
21 2–0
22 3 September 2014 Esprit Arena, Düsseldorf, Germany  Germany 1–0 4–2 Friendly
23 31 March 2015 MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, United States  Ecuador 1–0 2–1 Friendly
24 6 June 2015 Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan, Argentina  Bolivia 2–0 5–0 Friendly
25 3–0
26 4–0
27 13 June 2015 Estadio La Portada, La Serena, Chile  Paraguay 1–0 2–2 2015 Copa América
28 16 June 2015 Estadio La Portada, La Serena, Chile  Uruguay 1–0 1–0 2015 Copa América
29 30 June 2015 Estadio Municipal de Concepción, Concepción, Chile  Paraguay 5–1 6–1 2015 Copa América
30 4 September 2015 BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, United States  Bolivia 2–0 7–0 Friendly
31 4–0
32 9 September 2015 AT&T Stadium, United States  Mexico 1–2 2–2 Friendly
33 10 June 2016 Soldier Field, Chicago, United States  Panama 5–0 5–0 Copa América Centenario
34 11 November 2017 Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia  Russia 1–0 1–0 Friendly
35 14 November 2017 Krasnodar Stadium, Krasnodar, Russia  Nigeria 2–0 2–4 Friendly
36 29 May 2018 La Bombonera, Buenos Aires, Argentina  Haiti 4–0 4–0 Friendly
37 16 June 2018 Otkritie Arena, Moscow, Russia  Iceland 1–0 1–1 2018 FIFA World Cup
38 30 June 2018 Kazan Arena, Kazan, Russia  France 3–4 3–4 2018 FIFA World Cup
39 23 June 2019 Arena do Grêmio, Porto Alegre, Brazil  Qatar 2–0 2–0 2019 Copa América
40 6 July 2019 Arena Corinthians, São Paulo, Brazil  Chile 1–0 2–1 2019 Copa América
41 18 November 2019 Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv, Israel  Uruguay 1–1 2–2 Friendly

Honours

[edit]

Atlético Madrid

Manchester City

Argentina U20

Argentina U23

Argentina

Individual

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Sergio Agüero

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Sergio Leonel Agüero, known as Sergio Agüero or Kun Agüero, is an Argentine former professional footballer who played primarily as a striker. Born on 2 June 1988 in , , he began his career at Independiente, debuting at age 15 as the youngest player in history, and went on to become one of the most prolific goalscorers in modern football, amassing 385 club goals across his career. Agüero earned 101 caps for the national team, scoring 41 goals, and won the in 2021; he retired at age 33 in December 2021 after being diagnosed with a cardiac while at . Agüero's professional journey started with Independiente in 2003, where he scored 23 goals in 54 appearances over three seasons, helping the club to a strong league position. In 2006, at age 18, he transferred to for a reported €20 million, the highest fee for a teenager at the time, and quickly established himself as a key player. During his five-year spell in , he netted 74 league goals in 175 appearances (234 total appearances), including a standout 2010 triumph where he scored crucial goals in the knockout stages, such as against Sporting CP. He also won the 2010 and reached the 2010 quarter-finals. In 2011, Agüero joined Manchester City for a club-record £38 million, marking the beginning of his most successful period. Over ten seasons, he became the club's all-time leading scorer with 260 goals in 390 appearances, including a record 184 goals in 275 games, placing him fourth on the competition's all-time list behind , , and . His highlights include scoring 23 goals in his debut 2011–12 season to help City win their first title in 44 years, capped by his iconic stoppage-time goal in a 3–2 win over Queens Park Rangers on 13 May 2012—known as the "Aguerooooo!" moment. Agüero secured five titles (2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021), one (2019), and five League Cups, while earning the 2014–15 Golden Boot with 26 goals; he also scored five goals in a single match against Newcastle United on 3 October 2015, a competition record. In the , he scored 41 goals for City. Internationally, Agüero shone in youth tournaments, winning the in 2005 and 2007—earning the Golden Ball and Golden Boot in the latter with six goals—and an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games. He debuted for Argentina's senior team in 2006 and featured in four World Cups (2010, 2014, 2018), as well as multiple Copa Américas, including the 2021 victory where he contributed one goal. After leaving City as a in 2021, Agüero signed a two-year contract with , but played only five matches—scoring once against Real Madrid—before retiring following an irregular heartbeat episode on 30 October 2021 against Alavés.

Early Life

Birth and Family Background

Sergio Leonel Agüero del Castillo was born on 2 June 1988 in Quilmes, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, into a large family facing significant economic hardships. His parents, Leonel del Castillo and Adriana Agüero, were teenagers—aged 17 and 19, respectively—when they relocated from Tucumán province to the capital with their first child, Jessica, eventually raising seven children in total in modest conditions, including a home without running water near the polluted Las Víboras river in Gonzalez Catán. The family resided in the tough La Cueva de las Víboras area, known for its challenging environment, where survival often depended on community ties and informal work. Agüero's father, Leonel, a former amateur footballer who played in local weekend tournaments for teams like Dardo Rocha in the Liga de Bernal, played a pivotal role in fostering his son's early interest in the sport. Recognizing Sergio's talent from a young age, Leonel sacrificed his own playing ambitions at 27 to coach and transport him to nearby potreros—improvised street pitches—and introductory youth leagues, such as baby fútbol at , ensuring exposure despite the family's poverty. , a homemaker, balanced this by enforcing discipline and prioritizing education alongside football, shaping a supportive yet demanding household dynamic. The "Kun," by which Agüero is widely known, originated in his years when his grandparents likened the child's sounds—"koo" or "koom"—or his resemblance to the lead character in the Japanese Wanpaku Oji no Orochi Shimai, commonly referred to as , a boy; this affectionate moniker stuck through family and persisted into his professional life. Growing up amid these influences, Agüero's initial football experiences were informal, rooted in family encouragement and the vibrant street culture of suburbs, laying the groundwork for his passion before structured youth development.

Youth Career and Debut

Sergio Agüero joined Independiente's youth academy at the age of nine in 1997, following successful trials that highlighted his exceptional goal-scoring talent and technical prowess. His rapid progression through the club's youth ranks was marked by consistent performances, earning recognition from Independiente legend , who served as a youth coach and praised Agüero's natural ability early on. Agüero made his professional debut for Independiente's senior team on 5 July 2003, in the final match of the Torneo Clausura against San Lorenzo, at just 15 years and 33 days old. This appearance established him as the youngest player ever to feature in Argentina's Primera División, surpassing the previous record held by . His first senior goal came on 27 November 2004, during a 2–2 draw with in the Torneo Inicial, where he equalized with a composed finish. Agüero's early contributions demonstrated his potential, as he transitioned from limited substitute roles to more regular involvement, scoring five goals across 13 appearances in his initial senior outings before fully integrating into the first team by 2005.

Club Career

Independiente (2003–2006)

Agüero's youth debut laid the foundation for his rapid ascent to the senior squad at Independiente, where he achieved full integration in 2004 following limited appearances the previous year. By the end of his time at the club, he had recorded 23 goals in 56 appearances across all competitions, showcasing his emerging talent as a prolific forward. His standout performances came during the 2005–06 season, when he netted 18 goals in the across the tournaments (9 in each), contributing significantly to Independiente's competitive standing. In the Clausura 2006, Agüero continued his scoring form with 9 goals in 17 league appearances, helping the team to a mid-table 13th place finish. These domestic exploits drew widespread interest from European clubs, highlighting his speed, finishing, and ability to perform in high-stakes matches. Agüero's club form paralleled his contributions to Argentina's youth international success, particularly at the 2005 in the , where he scored six goals to claim the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer and helped secure the title. This international recognition amplified his profile, culminating in a high-profile transfer to . On 30 May 2006, the Spanish club finalized a €23 million deal—effective from July 2006—marking a record fee for Independiente and the highest ever for an 18-year-old South American player at the time.

Atlético Madrid (2006–2011)

Sergio Agüero joined from Independiente in May 2006 at the age of 18, signing a five-year contract for a reported transfer fee of €23 million, which made him the most expensive player in the club's history at the time. The move marked a significant transition for the young forward, who relocated to along with his family to ease the adjustment to European football. However, Agüero faced initial challenges, including and difficulties adapting to the , which impacted his early integration into the team and daily life in . Despite these hurdles, Agüero showed promise in his debut season of 2006–07, scoring six goals in La Liga as he adjusted to the demands of professional football in Europe. His breakthrough came in the 2007–08 season, following Fernando Torres's departure to Liverpool, when Agüero became a central figure in Atlético's attack. He netted 19 goals in 37 La Liga appearances, finishing as the league's third-highest scorer behind Dani Güiza and Luís Fabiano, and contributed to the team's fourth-place finish. His performances earned him selection to the La Liga Team of the Season, highlighting his rapid development into one of Spain's top young talents. Agüero's form continued to elevate Atlético's European ambitions. In the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League, he scored six goals across the competition, including a crucial brace in the round of 16 second leg against Sporting CP that secured advancement on away goals despite a 2–2 draw. Atlético went on to win the tournament, defeating 2–1 in the final in , where Agüero provided both assists for Diego Forlán's extra-time goals. The victory qualified Atlético for the , which they won 2–0 against in ; Agüero sealed the triumph by scoring the second goal in the 83rd minute after José Antonio Reyes's opener. Over his five seasons at Atlético, Agüero established himself as a prolific scorer and key leader, tallying 101 goals in 234 appearances across all competitions. In the summer of , amid interest from Chelsea—which had previously pursued him but withdrawn due to concerns over the fee and personal factors—Agüero activated his release clause and transferred to Manchester City for €38 million.

Manchester City (2011–2021)

Sergio Agüero joined Manchester City from on 28 July 2011, signing a five-year contract for a club-record transfer fee of £35 million plus add-ons. He made his debut as a substitute in a 4–0 win over Swansea City on 15 August 2011, scoring twice in his first start against Bolton Wanderers a week later. In his debut 2011–12 season, Agüero scored 23 goals in 34 appearances, finishing as the club's top scorer and helping City secure a second-place finish in the league while reaching the . The 2011–12 season culminated in one of the most dramatic finishes in history, with Agüero's 94th-minute goal securing a 3–2 victory over Queens Park Rangers on 13 May 2012 and clinching City's first top-flight title in 44 years. His volley, assisted by , came after City had trailed 2–1 in stoppage time, capping a campaign where Agüero's 23 league goals were pivotal to Roberto Mancini's side edging Manchester United on . This triumph marked the beginning of City's dominance in English football during Agüero's tenure. Over the next decade, Agüero contributed to four more titles in 2013–14, 2017–18, 2018–19, and 2020–21, along with one (2019), six League Cups, and two Community Shields (2018, 2019). He became the club's all-time leading scorer with 260 goals in 390 appearances across all competitions, surpassing Eric Brook's record of 177 in October 2017. Agüero's prolific output included 184 goals, the highest by any non-European player in the competition's history at the time of his departure. The 2012–13 season saw Agüero battle knee and hamstring injuries, missing 14 league games yet still managing 19 goals in 25 appearances as City finished second. He rebounded strongly in 2014–15, winning the with 26 goals in 33 matches despite playing under . In 2018–19, Agüero scored 21 league goals under , playing a key role in City's domestic treble of the , , and —the first such feat in English football history. During the 2020–21 season, Agüero netted 16 goals in limited starts, contributing to City's fifth league title and an victory, though they lost the Champions League final 1–0 to Chelsea. Persistent injuries reduced his involvement, and with his contract expiring in June 2021, Agüero announced his departure from City after 10 years, having scored in his final match—a 5–0 win over Everton on 23 May 2021.

Barcelona (2021)

Sergio Agüero joined on a free transfer from Manchester City, effective 1 July 2021, signing a one-year contract with an option to extend until June 2023 and a €100 million . After recovering from a calf injury that sidelined him for the early part of the season, Agüero made his official debut on 17 October 2021, entering as a substitute in the 85th minute of a 3–1 victory over at . He scored his only goal for the club on 24 October 2021 in a 1–2 defeat to Real Madrid, with a composed finish from a cross. In total, he made five appearances for , all as a substitute, without any further goals or assists. On 30 October 2021, during a 1–1 La Liga draw against Alavés, Agüero experienced and , prompting his substitution in the 41st minute; he was immediately taken to a for evaluation and diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia, a heart rhythm disorder. Following extensive medical tests that ruled out a return to competitive play, Agüero announced his retirement from professional football on 15 December 2021, at age 33, during an emotional press conference at where he tearfully reflected on his career and thanked for their support. The club issued a statement expressing their commitment to his ongoing medical care and praising his contributions despite the brevity of his tenure.

International Career

Youth International Career

Agüero began his youth international career with Argentina's U17 team, earning his first call-up based on his emerging form at Independiente. He featured prominently in the in , where he played all matches as Argentina advanced to the final but finished as runners-up after a 0-3 defeat to . Transitioning to the U20 level, Agüero contributed to Argentina's victory in the 2005 South American U20 Championship in , helping secure qualification for the World Cup. In the subsequent 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup in the , he made seven appearances and scored two goals, including one in the final 2-1 win over , as Argentina claimed the title. Two years later, at the in , Agüero emerged as the tournament's standout performer, netting six goals to share the Golden Boot and earning the Golden Ball as the best player, while scoring the equalizer in the 2-1 final victory against the to defend the title. Agüero capped his youth international journey with the U23 team at the 2008 Olympics, where he played a pivotal role in securing the gold medal—the country's second consecutive Olympic football triumph. He scored twice in the 3-0 semi-final win over and featured in the tense 1-0 final victory against , sealed by Ángel Di María's late goal. Throughout his youth career, Agüero amassed 16 appearances across U17, U20, and U23 levels, scoring 8 goals and establishing himself as one of 's most promising talents.

Senior International Career (2006–2021)

Sergio Agüero made his senior debut for the national team on 3 2006, entering as a substitute in a 3–0 friendly defeat to at the in . He waited just over a year for his first international goal, scoring in a 3–0 World Cup qualifier win over on 17 November 2007. Agüero's early call-up reflected his rapid rise at , positioning him as a key forward prospect alongside emerging talents like . Agüero featured in Argentina's squad for the in , making four appearances across the group stage and knockout rounds without scoring as the team advanced to the quarter-finals before a 4–0 loss to . The following year, at the hosted on home soil, he played a more prominent role with three goals in four matches, including a late equalizer in a 1–1 group-stage draw against and the opener in a 1–1 quarter-final tie with that ended in a defeat, marking Argentina's earliest exit since 1963. In the in , Agüero opened the scoring with a powerful left-footed strike in a 2–1 group-stage victory over but suffered a shortly after, missing the subsequent group matches. He recovered to feature in the knockout stages, including full appearances in the round of 16 against and quarter-final against , before substituting in the semi-final loss to the and the final—a 1–0 extra-time defeat to . He rebounded for the in , netting three goals—including a diving header against and strikes against and —to help reach the final, where they fell to the hosts on penalties despite dominating possession. Agüero continued as a regular under , scoring two goals at the in the United States: one in a 5–0 group-stage rout of and another in a 4–2 quarter-final win over , though once again lost the final to on penalties. At the in , he contributed two goals in four matches, opening the scoring in a 1–1 group-stage draw with and adding a consolation strike in a 4–3 round-of-16 defeat to France, as exited at the knockout stage. Under , Agüero scored twice at the in —a group-stage goal against and another in the 2–1 third-place victory over —securing bronze for a rebuilding side. His final major tournament came at the , where limited club minutes at restricted him to substitute roles; he scored once in a 4–1 group win over but played sparingly overall as claimed their first continental title in 28 years with a 1–0 final win against . Agüero retired from international duty after the 2021 triumph, having amassed 101 caps and 41 goals for Argentina across three World Cups and five Copa Américas, establishing himself as the nation's third-highest scorer behind Messi and Diego Maradona.

Playing Style and Legacy

Playing Style

Sergio Agüero was renowned as a versatile striker capable of leading the line or operating as a second forward, excelling as a clinical finisher inside the penalty area through his exceptional off-the-ball movement and ability to exploit spaces. His low center of gravity, stemming from his compact 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) frame and strong lower body, granted him remarkable agility and explosive acceleration, allowing quick changes of direction and bursts over short distances that made him difficult to dispossess. This physical profile contributed to his predatory instincts in the box, earning him the affectionate nickname "El Kun" – derived from a childhood resemblance to a cartoon character – which teammates and analysts often associated with his instinctive goal-poaching prowess. Among Agüero's key strengths were his in tight spaces, where he could navigate crowded areas with close control and deft touches, and his proficiency in one-touch finishing, delivering calm, precise strikes under pressure with a high conversion rate. Despite his stature, he demonstrated surprising aerial ability, ranking among the top headed goalscorers in the during his tenure, thanks to his timing and leap. His movement during attacks was described as "incredible," blending runs off defenders with deeper positioning to link play, making him a dynamic threat who combined finishing with tactical awareness. However, Agüero's career was hampered by occasional injury proneness, particularly to his knees and hamstrings, which led to extended absences and limited his consistency at times. He was also less effective as a lone target man in isolation, thriving more in partnerships where he could hover behind or alongside another forward to maximize his movement and finishing rather than holding up play against physical defenses. Agüero drew comparisons to for his flair and technical virtuosity on the ball, though he was more overtly goal-oriented as a pure striker rather than a . Manchester City manager frequently praised his intelligence, noting Agüero's sharpness both with and without the ball, which allowed him to read games astutely and contribute to team dynamics beyond scoring.

Legacy

Sergio Agüero's transfer to in 2006 at the age of 18 marked him as one of the youngest South American players to move to a major European club, a deal worth around €20 million that highlighted his prodigious talent early in his career. During his decade at Manchester City, he became the club's all-time leading goalscorer with 260 goals in 390 appearances across all competitions, a record that underscored his consistency and lethal finishing. In the specifically, Agüero netted 184 goals, a record for a foreign player at the time that placed him second in the competition's all-time list for non-English scorers as of 2025 (behind ), and he holds the outright record for the most hat-tricks by any player with 12. Agüero played a pivotal role in transforming Manchester City from a mid-table outfit into a dominant force in English and European football, contributing significantly to their first title in 44 years through his goals and leadership on the pitch. His impact extended beyond the club, inspiring a new generation of Argentine talents, including , who cited watching Agüero's performances at City as a key motivation for pursuing a career in the . Culturally, Agüero became an enduring icon, most famously through his 94th-minute winning goal against Queens Park Rangers on May 13, 2012, which clinched the title and spawned the viral "Agüeroooo!" from commentator Martin Tyler's exuberant call—a moment so significant that Manchester City unveiled a permanent of it outside the Etihad in 2022. Post-retirement, he has maintained a strong media presence as a content creator for Disney+ and through involvement. As of 2025, he continues as a popular streamer focusing on video games, has ventured into competitive , and occasionally participates in matches. He engages in via the Kun Agüero Foundation and other initiatives aiding underprivileged children in , including donations to hospitals and youth organizations. Agüero received multiple inclusions in the , earning spots in 2018 and 2019 for his outstanding contributions to Manchester City's title-winning campaigns. He was also nominated for the several times, with his 2012 shortlisting reflecting his peak form during Manchester City's triumphant season.

Personal Life

Family and Relationships

Sergio Agüero was married to Giannina Maradona, the youngest daughter of Argentine football legend , from 2008 until their divorce in 2012. The couple wed in a private ceremony in shortly after Agüero's move to , and their relationship drew significant media attention due to the Maradona family connection. In February 2009, Giannina gave birth to their son, Benjamín Agüero Maradona, in , where Agüero was establishing his professional career. Benjamín, whose godfather is , has occasionally appeared publicly alongside his father at football events, including being held by Agüero before an national team match in 2009. The pair share , and Agüero has emphasized the importance of his role as a father in maintaining a positive co-parenting dynamic post-divorce. Agüero grew up in a close-knit in Buenos Aires, as the second of seven children born to taxi driver Leonel del Castillo and housewife Adriana Agüero. He has maintained strong bonds with his father, who provided strict guidance during his youth, and his siblings, including regular gatherings that underscore their enduring support system. He was in a relationship with Argentine model Calzetti starting in 2019; after a brief separation in 2023, they reconciled and welcomed a daughter, Olivia, in September 2024. As of November 2025, they remain partners.

Health Issues and Retirement

During his decade at Manchester City, Agüero endured a series of minor injuries that occasionally sidelined him, including recurrent issues with his , , and muscles, though none were linked to cardiac problems. On October 30, 2021, shortly after joining , Agüero experienced symptoms of cardiac during a match against Alavés, prompting his substitution in the 41st minute due to and . He was immediately hospitalized for evaluation, where tests confirmed an irregular heartbeat consistent with , a condition he had briefly encountered in his youth but which had not recurred during his professional career until then. Following the , Agüero underwent treatment, including the implantation of a pacemaker to regulate his heart rhythm, and medical experts advised against resuming professional football due to the risks of intense physical exertion exacerbating the condition. Barcelona initially projected a three-month recovery period to assess treatment efficacy, ruling him out until at least January 2022. Agüero announced his retirement on December 15, 2021, at an emotional in , where he tearfully expressed peace with the decision, prioritizing his health while thanking his family, Independiente, , Manchester City, , and the national team for their support throughout his career. In the initial phase of recovery, provided comprehensive medical and logistical support, including specialized monitoring, while Agüero adapted to lifestyle changes such as reduced and regular health check-ups to manage the . By early , reports indicated no long-term complications from the procedure, allowing him to focus on rehabilitation without further incidents at that stage.

Post-Retirement Activities

Following his retirement from professional football in December 2021 due to cardiac arrhythmia, Sergio Agüero transitioned into media and content creation roles. In April 2022, he signed an exclusive partnership with Disney+ and ESPN to develop streaming and television content, including documentaries about his life and career. This collaboration led to the release of the docuseries Kun by Agüero in 2025, which explored his personal challenges and football journey. Agüero has also maintained an active presence on Twitch under the username SlakunTV, where he streams video games and has amassed over 4.7 million followers as of November 2025, becoming one of the platform's top-growing sports personalities post-retirement. Additionally, he serves as CEO of KRÜ Esports, a team he co-founded in 2020, continuing to engage in competitive gaming events and content production. In June 2025, Agüero participated in an exclusive interview with FIFA ahead of the Club World Cup, discussing the tournament's format and prospects for clubs like Manchester City and Argentine teams. Agüero has made occasional guest appearances in football matches, leveraging his recovered health to participate in non-competitive events. In January 2023, he came out of retirement for a one-off friendly with Ecuadorian club during the Noche Amarilla fixture against Mushuc Runa, playing 18 minutes without incident. More recently, in March 2025, he featured for Independiente's senior team—his boyhood club—in the Avellaneda derby against Racing Club, entering as a substitute and scoring in a 3-3 draw. Following the match, Agüero reported positive health updates in April 2025, stating he felt physically strong and without complications from his condition. In business ventures, Agüero has diversified into and while addressing contractual matters from his playing days. He participated in a event in February 2025 as part of Formula E's Evo Sessions, making a one-off debut driving a Porsche 99X Electric alongside champion . His ongoing role with KRÜ Esports includes sponsoring racing simulations and team management. Separately, in May 2024, Agüero filed a lawsuit against seeking €3 million in unpaid salary from his 2021 contract termination agreement, with the case remaining unresolved as of late 2025. Regarding future involvement in football, Agüero expressed in 2025 that he is open to roles but prefers non-dugout projects, citing the demanding preparation required for coaching. He has also engaged in , supporting youth initiatives in through affiliations with organizations like Fundación Garrahan, which aids children's health and indirectly benefits community sports programs.

Career Statistics

Club Statistics

Sergio Agüero's club career statistics reflect his prolific scoring record across 685 appearances and 385 goals in all competitions, along with 113 assists. The following table provides a breakdown of his appearances, goals, and assists by club:
ClubAppearancesGoalsAssists
Independiente56231
23410147
Manchester City39026065
510
Agüero holds the record as Manchester City's all-time top scorer with 260 goals in 390 appearances across all competitions. Season-by-season statistics, encompassing all competitions, highlight his consistency and peak performances, such as leading the in scoring with 26 goals. The tables below summarize key metrics (appearances, goals, assists, and minutes played) for each club, focusing on annual totals to illustrate his development and impact.

Independiente

Agüero debuted as a youth in 2003 and became a regular by 2006, contributing 23 goals in limited minutes.
SeasonAppearancesGoalsAssistsMinutes
200310021'
2004700231'
20051251729'
2006361803,131'
Total562314,112'

Atlético Madrid

Joining in 2006, Agüero emerged as a key forward, peaking in 2010–11 with 27 goals across competitions and helping win the and .
SeasonAppearancesGoalsAssistsMinutes
2006–0742702,766'
2007–085027133,744'
2008–094721153,590'
2009–105417124,051'
2010–11412773,366'
Total234994717,517'

Manchester City

Agüero's decade-long stint from 2011 to 2021 defined his legacy, with multiple 20+ goal seasons in the and Champions League contributions, including 41 goals in 79 Champions League appearances.
SeasonAppearancesGoalsAssistsMinutes
2011–124830103,473'
2012–13401832,717'
2013–14342892,287'
2014–15423293,201'
2015–16442953,523'
2016–17453373,504'
2017–18393072,934'
2018–194630103,370'
2019–20322342,093'
2020–21201611,120'
Total3902606528,222'

Barcelona

Agüero's brief 2021–22 stint was limited by injury, yielding just one goal in La Liga.
SeasonAppearancesGoalsAssistsMinutes
2021–22510165'
Total510165'

International Statistics

Sergio Agüero earned 101 caps for the Argentina senior national team between 2006 and 2021, during which he scored 41 goals. His debut came on 1 February 2006 in a 2–1 friendly win over Brazil, where he provided an assist. Agüero's international career concluded in July 2021 after Argentina's Copa América triumph, marking his final appearance in a 3–0 quarter-final victory over Ecuador. In youth internationals, Agüero featured for Argentina's U17, U20, and U23 teams, accumulating approximately 29 caps and 19 goals. At U17 level, he played 5 matches and scored 3 goals at the 2004 South American Championship, helping Argentina secure third place. With the U20 side, he appeared in 19 games, netting 14 goals, including 6 at the 2005 South American Championship, 2 at the 2005 U-20 World Cup, and 6 as top scorer (Golden Boot and ) at the , where won the title. For the U23 team, he recorded 5 caps and 2 goals at the , contributing to Argentina's with both strikes in the semi-final against . Agüero's senior tournament record highlights his contributions in major competitions. In the World Cups of 2010, 2014, and 2018, he made 12 appearances and scored 3 goals: one against in 2010 and two in 2018 versus and . Across five editions from 2011 to 2021, he featured in 24 matches, scoring 9 goals, including notable strikes in the 2015 and 2019 tournaments as reached the finals in both. His goals were distributed as follows: 21 in 37 friendlies, 9 in 28 World Cup qualifiers, and the aforementioned tallies in World Cups and . The timeline of Agüero's 41 senior international goals spanned 14 years, with his scoring peaking in friendlies and qualifiers. Below is a comprehensive table of his goals, including dates, opponents, final scores, and competition types (based on verified records).
DateOpponentScoreCompetition Type
17 Nov 20073–0 Qualifier
26 Mar 20082–0Friendly
4 Jun 20084–1Friendly
6 Sep 20081–1 Qualifier
11 Oct 20082–1 Qualifier
28 Mar 20094–0 Qualifier
6 Jun 20091–0 Qualifier
12 Aug 20093–2Friendly
24 May 20105–0Friendly
17 Jun 20104–1
20 Jun 20114–0Friendly
1 Jul 20111–1
11 Jul 20113–0
15 Nov 20112–1 Qualifier
2 Jun 20124–0 Qualifier
12 Oct 20123–0 Qualifier
6 Feb 20133–2Friendly
10 Sep 20135–2 Qualifier
19 Nov 2013Bosnia & 2–0Friendly
3 Sep 20144–2Friendly
12 Nov 20142–1Friendly
31 Mar 20152–1Friendly
6 Jun 20155–0Friendly
13 Jun 20152–1
16 Jun 20151–0
30 Jun 20156–1
4 Sep 20157–0Friendly
10 Jun 20165–0
11 Nov 20171–0Friendly
14 Nov 20172–4Friendly
29 May 20184–0Friendly
16 Jun 20181–1
30 Jun 2018France3–4
23 Jun 2019Qatar2–0Friendly (Copa América prep)
6 Jul 2019Chile2–1
18 Nov 20192–2Friendly
8 Oct 20201–0 Qualifier
17 Nov 20202–0 Qualifier
25 Jun 20211–0
28 Jun 20214–1

Honours

Manchester City

Atlético Madrid

Barcelona

(No honours won)

Argentina

Individual

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  35. https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/u17worldcup/articles/mexico-giovani-dos-santos-carlos-vela-2005
  36. https://www.transfermarkt.com/sergio-aguero/nationalmannschaft/spieler/26399/wettbewerb_id/U17W
  37. https://kidskonnect.com/people/sergio-aguero/
  38. https://www.fifa.com/en/articles/messi-pogba-maradona-and-more-every-under-20-world-cup-golden-ball-winner-tournament-fifa-football-soccer
  39. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/sergio-aguero-beijing-golden-boy-to-quiet-king-of-goals
  40. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/aug/20/olympics2008.olympicsfootball
  41. https://www.playmakerstats.com/player/sergio-aguero/24841
  42. https://www.transfermarkt.com/sergio-aguero/nationalmannschaft/spieler/26399
  43. https://fbref.com/en/players/4d034881/matchlogs/2010/c1/Sergio-Aguero-Match-Logs
  44. https://www.espn.com/soccer/stats/_/league/CONMEBOL.AMERICA/season/2011/copa-america
  45. https://www.espn.com/soccer/stats/_/league/FIFA.WORLD/season/2018
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  49. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11907331/sergio-aguero-manchester-city-striker-better-than-ever-as-he-eclipses-thierry-henrys-record
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  55. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/08/05/pep-guardiola-praises-two-goal-hero-sergio-aguero-arriving-top/
  56. https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/manchester-city-all-time-top-goal-scorers-sergio-aguero/blt240b09520a843803
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  58. https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/who-has-the-most-hat-tricks-in-premier-league-history-aguero-shearer--players-who-scored-most-goal-trios/1vextbcepgz6f1o9g5li024p9k
  59. https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/premier-league/articles-video/salah-surpasses-ag%25C3%25BCero-and-becomes-the-all-time-top-foreign-scorer-in-the-premier-league-2025-04-27
  60. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57111816
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  63. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/may/13/manchester-city-unveil-sergio-aguero-statue-of-goal-that-changed-everything
  64. https://www.sportbible.com/football/sergio-aguero-has-a-surprising-new-job-after-retiring-20220416
  65. https://www.sportskeeda.com/player/sergio-aguero
  66. https://www.latintimes.com/sergio-aguero-opens-about-life-after-soccer-i-enjoy-not-having-explain-myself-anyone-591699
  67. https://www.givemesport.com/sergio-aguero-has-very-different-career-after-retiring-football-aged-33/
  68. https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/sergio-aguero-comeback-retirement-argentina-34953562
  69. https://mundoalbiceleste.com/2019/04/25/sergio-aguero-included-in-pfa-premier-league-team-of-the-year/
  70. https://www.mancity.com/news/first-team/first-team-news/archive/2012/october/city-trio-named-on-ballon-dor-shortlist
  71. https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/aguero-wife
  72. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/13298093/giannina-maradona-sergio-aguero-diego-daughter/
  73. https://www.manchestercity.news/sergio-aguero-man-city-stats-retirement-girlfriend-lionel-messi-diego-maradona-related-instagram-twitch-x-goals-qpr-trophies-argentina-age-height-transfers/
  74. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/sergio-aguero-of-argentina-holds-his-son-benjamin-prior-to-news-photo/85683277
  75. https://www.legit.ng/ask-legit/1440464-giannina-maradonas-biography-diego-maradonas-daughter/
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  77. https://www.pulsesports.ng/lifestyle/story/sergio-aguero-welcomes-1st-child-with-girlfriend-sofia-calzetti-years-after-dumping-maradonas-daughter-2024091418461204664
  78. https://www.the-sun.com/sport/8998363/sergio-aguero-splits-model-girlfriend-sofia-calzetti/
  79. https://www.glix.hu/stock-image/GLIX-115-3B28Y9B/cannes-france-26th-apr-2025-sergio-aguero-and-sofia-calzetti-attend-the-pink-carpet-on-day-three-during-the-8th-canneseries-international-festival-at-palais-des-festivals-credit:-sopa-images-limited/a-stock-foto
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