Argentine men’s national football team star Cristian “Cuti” Romero was chosen as the man of the match in Wednesday’s UEFA Europa League final, where Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester United in a duel of English teams.

Romero, an integral part of the team that won the 2022 World Cup and 2021 and 2024 Copa América under Lionel Scaloni, captained Tottenham and played a crucial role in the final. 

His team took the lead in the 42th minute as striker Brennan Johnson tapped in the ball in a complex play from Spurs. The North Londoners had to defend that advantage for the remainder of the game, with Romero’s aerial dominance and determined defending proving crucial as he cleared several of United’s attempts at goal.

“It was a hard season for us,” said Romero after the match. “We honestly deserved the win, because nobody knows what went on inside the dressing room. But we always give everything we have. People always talked badly of this team and the coach, but today we shut a lot of people up.”

Romero added he feels loved at the club, a sentiment he reciprocates, and feels proud to have achieved such a big goal.

“Tottenham hadn’t lifted a trophy in several years, and my mentality coming here was to try and make history. That’s the only way to leave your name etched somewhere,” he said.

The win comes as Spurs secure their first European title after 41 years, having previously won the competition — then known as the UEFA Cup — in 1972 and 1984. The club have a strong link with Argentine football, with 1978 World Cup winners Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricardo Villa having played and won several trophies at during their time in England. Ardiles in particular is held as a legend at the club, playing there until 1988 and going on to coach them in 1993.

Argentine stars at the center of long-awaited title wins

Romero is hardly the first Argentine star to inspire an European team to break a barren spell, particularly in recent years.

Perhaps the most famous example is that of Sergio “Kun” Agüero at Manchester City. The Argentine star proved a revelation in his first season at the club in 2011-12, leading the charge with 23 goals in the 34 in the league. The most important, however, came in the last match of the season, when the Argentine star scored an added-time winner in a 3-2 win over QPR that sealed City’s first league title in 44 years.

It was a similar story for another Argentine star striker, Gabriel Batistuta. After nine years with Fiorentina in Italy’s Serie A, Bati moved to AS Roma at the behest of legendary head coach Fabio Capello at a then record 36 million euros. It was money well spent, as the Argentine striker led Roma with 20 goals as the Giallorossi won the league title after 18 years.

A less known case is that of striker Leonardo Ulloa at Leicester City. Despite being mainly a substitute, the Argentine managed to score six goals in 29 games as the Foxes won their first Premier League title in 132 years of history in 2016. His most important strike came in February of that year, as Ulloa netted a last minute penalty against Norwich City at home, which Leicester fans celebrated so fervently they caused a 0.3 Richter scale earthquake.