Roberto Ayala

Date of birth12 April 1973
Place of birthParana
NationalityArgentine
Weight76 kg
Height1.78 m
PositionDefender/Centre back

An experienced central defender, Roberto played his early football in Argentina with Ferro Carril Oeste and River Plate before the inevitable move to Europe in the summer of 1995. He spent three seasons with Napoli and a further two with AC Milan where he featured in the team that won the Serie A title in 1998-99, although he was generally a reserve that season.

He has since switched to the Primera Liga, signing for Valencia in August 2000, and was a member of the side that reached the Champions' League Final in 2001.

Roberto won his first cap for Argentina against Chile in November 1994 and won his 100th cap shortly before the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.

He scored Argentina's goal in the 1-1 draw against Germany in the quarter-finals, but they lost the game on penalties - Roberto's kick being one of the two that were missed.

Club history

Team Joined Left Loan / Trialist
Ferro Carril Oeste 01 Jul 1991 01 Dec 1993
River Plate 01 Dec 1993 01 Jul 1995
Napoli 01 Jul 1995 01 Jul 1998
AC Milan 01 Jul 1998 01 Aug 2000
Valencia 01 Aug 2000

Club stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1999-00 AC Milan UEFA Champions League 2
1
2000-01 Valencia Primera Liga 27
1
1
7
1
2000-01 Valencia UEFA Champions League 9
2
2
2001-02 Valencia Primera Liga 29
2
12
2001-02 Valencia UEFA Cup 7
1
2002-03 Valencia Primera Liga 31
1
10
2
2002-03 Valencia UEFA Champions League 12
1
1
2003-04 Valencia Primera Liga 30
1
8
1
2003-04 Valencia UEFA Cup 10
1
2004-05 Valencia Primera Liga 17
2
2006-07 Valencia UEFA Champions League 2
2


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

Club matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
15 Sep 1999 Chelsea v AC Milan D 0-0 UEFA Champions League Group H
26 Oct 1999 AC Milan v Chelsea D 1-1 UEFA Champions League Group H


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1994-95 Argentina Copa America 3
1
1994-95 Argentina Copa Mercosur 1
1
1994-95 Argentina FIFA Confederations Cup 3
1
1994-95 Argentina International Friendly 7
1994-95 Argentina Panamerican Games 6
1
1995-96 Argentina FIFA World Cup 1
1995-96 Argentina International Friendly 4
1996-97 Argentina FIFA World Cup 6
1
1996-97 Argentina Olympics 6
1997-98 Argentina FIFA World Cup 10
1
1997-98 Argentina International Friendly 8
1
1998-99 Argentina Copa America 4
1998-99 Argentina International Friendly 4
1999-00 Argentina FIFA World Cup 4
1
1999-00 Argentina International Friendly 5
1
2000-01 Argentina FIFA World Cup 8
2
2000-01 Argentina International Friendly 1
2001-02 Argentina FIFA World Cup 6
2001-02 Argentina Maradona Farewell Match 1
2002-03 Argentina International Friendly 2
2003-04 Argentina Copa America 5
1
1
1
2003-04 Argentina FIFA World Cup 6
1
2003-04 Argentina International Friendly 3
2004-05 Argentina FIFA World Cup 2
1
2004-05 Argentina International Friendly 1
1
2004-05 Argentina Olympics 6
1
2005-06 Argentina FIFA World Cup 8
1
1
2005-06 Argentina International Friendly 4
1
2006-07 Argentina Copa America 5
1
1
2006-07 Argentina International Friendly 4
1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
16 Nov 1994 Chile v Argentina W 0-3 International Friendly
23 Dec 1994 Argentina v Romania W 1-0 International Friendly
27 Dec 1994 Argentina v Yugoslavia W 1-0 International Friendly
08 Jan 1995 Argentina v Japan W 5-1 FIFA Confederations Cup Group B
10 Jan 1995 Nigeria v Argentina D 0-0 FIFA Confederations Cup Group B
13 Jan 1995 Argentina v Denmark L 0-2 FIFA Confederations Cup Final
14 Feb 1995 Argentina v Bulgaria W 4-1 International Friendly
02 Mar 1995 Argentina v Paraguay W 3-0 Copa Mercosur
12 Mar 1995 Argentina v USA W 3-0 Panamerican Games Group A
14 Mar 1995 Argentina v Honduras D 2-2 Panamerican Games Group A
16 Mar 1995 Argentina v Paraguay W 1-0 Panamerican Games Group A
18 Mar 1995 Argentina v Chile W 1-0 Panamerican Games Quarter-final
21 Mar 1995 Argentina v Honduras W 3-2 Panamerican Games Semi-final
24 Mar 1995 Argentina v Mexico W 0-0 (5-4) Panamerican Games Final
13 May 1995 South Africa v Argentina D 1-1 International Friendly
31 May 1995 Argentina v Peru W 1-0 International Friendly
22 Jun 1995 Argentina v Slovakia W 6-0 Unofficial
30 Jun 1995 Argentina v Australia W 2-0 International Friendly
08 Jul 1995 Argentina v Bolivia W 2-1 Copa America Group C
11 Jul 1995 Argentina v Chile W 4-0 Copa America Group C
14 Jul 1995 Argentina v USA L 0-3 Copa America Group C
17 Jul 1995 Brazil v Argentina D 2-2 Copa America Quarter-final
20 Sep 1995 Spain v Argentina L 2-1 International Friendly
21 Dec 1995 Argentina v Venezuela W 6-0 International Friendly
24 Apr 1996 Argentina v Bolivia W 3-1 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
20 Jun 1996 Argentina v Poland W 2-0 International Friendly
07 Jul 1996 Peru v Argentina D 0-0 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
20 Jul 1996 USA v Argentina W 1-3 Olympics Finals Group A
22 Jul 1996 Argentina v Portugal D 1-1 Olympics Finals Group A
24 Jul 1996 Argentina v Tunisia D 1-1 Olympics Finals Group A
27 Jul 1996 Argentina v Spain W 4-0 Olympics Quarter-final
30 Jul 1996 Argentina v Portugal W 2-0 Olympics Semi-final
03 Aug 1996 Nigeria v Argentina L 3-2 Olympics Final
01 Sep 1996 Argentina v Paraguay D 1-1 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
09 Oct 1996 Venezuela v Argentina W 2-5 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
15 Dec 1996 Argentina v Chile D 1-1 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
30 Apr 1997 Argentina v Ecuador W 2-1 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
08 Jun 1997 Argentina v Peru W 2-0 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
06 Jul 1997 Paraguay v Argentina W 1-2 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
20 Jul 1997 Argentina v Venezuela W 2-0 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
10 Sep 1997 Chile v Argentina W 1-2 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
12 Oct 1997 Argentina v Uruguay D 0-0 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
16 Nov 1997 Argentina v Colombia D 1-1 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
19 Feb 1998 Argentina v Romania W 2-1 International Friendly
24 Feb 1998 Argentina v Yugoslavia W 3-1 International Friendly
10 Mar 1998 Argentina v Bulgaria W 2-0 International Friendly
22 Apr 1998 Republic of Ireland v Argentina W 0-2 International Friendly
29 Apr 1998 Brazil v Argentina W 0-1 International Friendly
14 May 1998 Argentina v Bosnia and Herzegovina W 5-0 International Friendly
19 May 1998 Argentina v Chile W 1-0 International Friendly
25 May 1998 Argentina v South Africa W 2-0 International Friendly
14 Jun 1998 Argentina v Japan W 1-0 FIFA World Cup Finals group H
21 Jun 1998 Argentina v Jamaica W 5-0 FIFA World Cup Finals group H
26 Jun 1998 Argentina v Croatia W 1-0 FIFA World Cup Finals group H
30 Jun 1998 Argentina v England W 2-2 (4-3) FIFA World Cup Finals 2nd round
04 Jul 1998 Netherlands v Argentina L 2-1 FIFA World Cup Finals quarter-final
31 Mar 1999 Netherlands v Argentina D 1-1 International Friendly
09 Jun 1999 Mexico v Argentina D 2-2 International Friendly
13 Jun 1999 USA v Argentina L 1-0 International Friendly
20 Jun 1999 Argentina v Lithuania D 0-0 International Friendly
01 Jul 1999 Argentina v Ecuador W 3-1 Copa America Group C
04 Jul 1999 Argentina v Colombia L 0-3 Copa America Group C
07 Jul 1999 Argentina v Uruguay W 2-0 Copa America Group C
11 Jul 1999 Brazil v Argentina L 2-1 Copa America Quarter-final
04 Sep 1999 Argentina v Brazil W 2-0 International Friendly
07 Sep 1999 Brazil v Argentina L 4-2 International Friendly
13 Oct 1999 Argentina v Colombia W 2-1 International Friendly
17 Nov 1999 Spain v Argentina W 0-2 International Friendly
23 Feb 2000 England v Argentina D 0-0 International Friendly
29 Mar 2000 Argentina v Chile W 4-1 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
26 Apr 2000 Venezuela v Argentina W 0-4 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
04 Jun 2000 Argentina v Bolivia W 1-0 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
29 Jun 2000 Colombia v Argentina W 1-3 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
19 Jul 2000 Argentina v Ecuador W 2-0 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
26 Jul 2000 Brazil v Argentina L 3-1 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
16 Aug 2000 Argentina v Paraguay D 1-1 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
03 Sep 2000 Peru v Argentina W 1-2 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
08 Oct 2000 Argentina v Uruguay W 2-1 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
15 Nov 2000 Chile v Argentina W 0-2 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
28 Feb 2001 Italy v Argentina W 1-2 International Friendly
25 Apr 2001 Bolivia v Argentina D 3-3 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
03 Jun 2001 Argentina v Colombia W 3-0 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
14 Aug 2001 Ecuador v Argentina W 0-2 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
05 Sep 2001 Argentina v Brazil W 2-1 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
05 Sep 2001 Argentina v Brazil W 2-1 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
06 Oct 2001 Paraguay v Argentina D 2-2 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
08 Nov 2001 Argentina v Peru W 2-0 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
10 Nov 2001 Argentina v World XI W 6-3 Maradona Farewell Match
14 Nov 2001 Uruguay v Argentina D 1-1 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL South American qualifier
20 Nov 2002 Japan v Argentina W 0-2 International Friendly
12 Feb 2003 Netherlands v Argentina L 1-0 International Friendly
20 Aug 2003 Uruguay v Argentina W 2-3 International Friendly
06 Sep 2003 Argentina v Chile D 2-2 FIFA World Cup South America
09 Sep 2003 Venezuela v Argentina W 0-3 FIFA World Cup South America
15 Nov 2003 Argentina v Bolivia W 3-0 FIFA World Cup South America
18 Nov 2003 Colombia v Argentina D 1-1 FIFA World Cup South America
30 Mar 2004 Argentina v Ecuador W 1-0 FIFA World Cup South America
28 Apr 2004 Morocco v Argentina W 0-1 International Friendly
06 Jun 2004 Argentina v Paraguay D 0-0 FIFA World Cup South America
27 Jun 2004 Argentina v Colombia L 0-2 International Friendly
30 Jun 2004 Argentina v Peru W 2-1 International Friendly
07 Jul 2004 Argentina v Ecuador W 6-1 Copa America Group B
10 Jul 2004 Argentina v Mexico L 0-1 Copa America Group B
13 Jul 2004 Argentina v Uruguay W 4-2 Copa America Group B
17 Jul 2004 Peru v Argentina W 0-1 Copa America Quarter-final
25 Jul 2004 Argentina v Brazil L 2-2 (2-4) Copa America Final
11 Aug 2004 Argentina v Serbia and Montenegro W 6-0 Olympics Group C
14 Aug 2004 Argentina v Tunisia W 2-0 Olympics Group C
17 Aug 2004 Argentina v Australia W 1-0 Olympics Group C
21 Aug 2004 Argentina v Costa Rica W 4-0 Olympics Quarter-final
24 Aug 2004 Italy v Argentina W 0-3 Olympics Semi-final
28 Aug 2004 Argentina v Paraguay W 1-0 Olympics Final
30 Mar 2005 Argentina v Colombia W 1-0 FIFA World Cup South America
08 Jun 2005 Argentina v Brazil W 3-1 FIFA World Cup South America
17 Aug 2005 Hungary v Argentina W 1-2 International Friendly
03 Sep 2005 Paraguay v Argentina L 1-0 FIFA World Cup South America
09 Oct 2005 Argentina v Peru W 2-0 FIFA World Cup South America
12 Oct 2005 Uruguay v Argentina L 1-0 FIFA World Cup South America
12 Nov 2005 Argentina v England L 2-3 International Friendly
16 Nov 2005 Qatar v Argentina W 0-3 International Friendly
30 May 2006 Argentina v Angola W 2-0 International Friendly
10 Jun 2006 Argentina v Ivory Coast W 2-1 FIFA World Cup Finals Group C
16 Jun 2006 Argentina v Serbia and Montenegro W 6-0 FIFA World Cup Finals Group C
21 Jun 2006 Netherlands v Argentina D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Finals Group C
24 Jun 2006 Argentina v Mexico W 2-1 FIFA World Cup Finals - Round of 16
30 Jun 2006 Germany v Argentina L 1-1 (2-4) FIFA World Cup Quarter-final
11 Oct 2006 Spain v Argentina L 2-1 International Friendly
07 Feb 2007 France v Argentina W 0-1 International Friendly
02 Jun 2007 Switzerland v Argentina D 1-1 International Friendly
05 Jun 2007 Argentina v Algeria W 4-3 International Friendly
28 Jun 2007 Argentina v USA W 4-1 Copa America Group C
02 Jul 2007 Argentina v Colombia W 4-2 Copa America Group C
05 Jul 2007 Argentina v Paraguay W 1-0 Copa America Group C
08 Jul 2007 Argentina v Peru W 4-0 Copa America Quarter-final
11 Jul 2007 Argentina v Mexico W 3-0 Copa America Semi-final
15 Jul 2007 Argentina v Brazil L 0-3 Copa America Final


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.