Rinaldo Martino

1941/48 San Lorenzo (ARG) 223 games, 142 goals

1949/50 Juventus Turin (ITA) 33 games, 18 goals

1950 Nacional (URU) 18 games, 10 goals

1951 Boca Juniors (ARG) 15 games, 3 goals

1951/53 Nacional (URU) 12 games, 5 goals

1953 CA Cerro (URU) 15 games, 3 goals

With the National Team :

Argentina: 20 caps, 15 goals

(Friendly matches: 7 caps, 4 goals)

(Copa America: 7 caps, 4 goals)

(Copa Newton: 2 caps, 4 goals)

(Copa Lipton: 1 cap, 1 goal)

(Copa Roca: 1 cap, 1 goal)

(Copa Chevallier Boutell: 2 caps, 1 goal)

1st cap: May 25, 1942 against Uruguay (2-0)

Italy: 1 cap

(Friendly match: 1 cap)

Last cap: November 30, 1949 against England (0-2)

Rinaldo Fioramonte Martino

Born November 6, 1921 in Rosario (ARG)

Died November 15, 2000 in Buenos Aires (ARG)

Argentine, Attacking-Midfielder, Left-Winger, Second Striker, Right-Winger, 1m71

Nickname: Mamucho

Rinaldo Martino was born on November 6, 1921 in Rosario, Argentina. The son of Italian immigrants, he was educated by his parents who imagined him to have a "serious" job. But the young boy had only one desire, to play football. Playing with rag or rubber balls, he had fun in the street or with his football club.

His father, who did not really agree with the idea of ​​seeing his son dedicate himself primarily, will complicate things. Sometimes, his mother secretly took him to play in the children's team of Peñarol Rosario, then it will be with his father's agreement.

Still young, he auditioned twice to join the Newell's Old Boys team, both of which were inconclusive. A fan of Rosario Central, he was finally spotted by the San Lorenzo recruiters who did not hesitate for a second to sign the player.

At San Lorenzo, the player played as an inside-left. He made his debut in March 1941 against Newell's Old Boys and scored a goal despite his team's 5-1 defeat. In an irregular team, he shone individually and in 1942 he finished top scorer in the Argentine championship with 25 goals, when he was only 21 years old.

The player was known for his exceptional athletic qualities and in particular for the size of his overpowering thighs. But he also had technical finesse, with excellent dribbling quality and elegance on the pitch. His performances in the Argentine championship allowed him to join the Argentine national team.

In 1945, he participated in the Copa America and was brilliant, he played all 6 matches of the competition and scored 4 goals including the only goal in the last match of the tournament, synonymous with victory for his country. The following year, he only participated in 1 match of the Copa America but won the competition again.

Rinaldo Martino then became a national and international star, it is said that there were many crowds who came to see the player, and even tore the buttons off his shirts. A football superstar.

In 1946, Martino also won the Argentine championship with the famous legendary trio composed of him, Farro and Pontoni. And in December of the same year, his club went on tour in Europe and more precisely in Portugal and Spain. This tour was a show of strength for the Argentine players who beat Portugal 10-4, and won twice against Spain, the only defeat was 4-1 against Real Madrid. In 10 games played in Europe, Martino scored 17 goals.

The player described his team San Lorenzo as one of the best teams of all time and had immense respect for Pontoni, placing his teammate as one of the greatest players of all time. Unfortunately, the adventure with San Lorenzo would end suddenly in 1948 after a general strike of the players, Martino would have chosen a prestigious destination: Juventus Turin.

His adventure in Italy, although short-lived, would be significant for the Italian supporters, alongside Hansen and Boniperti, the Argentinian player shone with his technical qualities and was nicknamed "velvet foot". The impact of the player was so great that he pushed the Italian selection to have him play with them during a match against England in 1949. According to reports, he would have been in the plans of the coach of Italy for the 1950 World Cup, but ultimately not retained.

After this wonderful adventure in Italy, the player went to Uruguay, where he was champion of the country with Nacional Montevideo. Then he returned to Argentina before returning to Uruguay to end his career in 1953, when he was 32 years old.

- Top scorer in the Argentine championship in 1942 (25 goals) (San Lorenzo)

- Inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) in 2013

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