Walter Samuel
| Date of birth | 23 March 1978 |
| Place of birth | Firmat |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Weight | 83 kg |
| Height | 1.83 m |
| Position | Defender |
A talented and extremely effective defender, Walter began his senior career with Newells Old Boys prior to joining Boca Juniors in 1997.
He went on to become a member of the team that won the Copa Libertadores in 2000 before moving on to AS Roma for £12.5million.
He achieved instant success as they won the Serie A title for the first time in 18 years in his first season at the Stadio Olimpico.
He won his first cap against Venezuela in February 1999 and missed just one of their 18 matches in the campaign to qualify for the 2002 World Cup finals.
Walter, who has become known as The Wall, is a versatile player who generally appeared on the left side of a three man defence for his country but in a more central role for AS Roma.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newell`s Old Boys | 01 Jul 1997 | 01 Jan 1998 | |
| Boca Juniors | 01 Jan 1998 | 01 Jul 2000 | |
| AS Roma | 01 Jul 2000 |
Club stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-01 | AS Roma | Serie A | 31 | 1 |
10
|
||
| 2000-01 | AS Roma | UEFA Cup | 8 | 3 |
1
|
||
| 2001-02 | AS Roma | Serie A | 30 | 5 |
8
|
||
| 2001-02 | AS Roma | UEFA Champions League | 12 |
3
|
|||
| 2002-03 | AS Roma | Serie A | 31 | 2 |
8
|
||
| 2002-03 | AS Roma | UEFA Champions League | 10 |
5
|
|||
| 2003-04 | AS Roma | Serie A | 30 | 1 |
7
|
||
| 2003-04 | AS Roma | UEFA Cup | 7 | 1 |
3
|
||
| 2004-05 | Real Madrid | Primera Liga | 30 | 2 |
13
|
2
|
|
| 2008-09 | Internazionale | UEFA Champions League | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 2009-10 | Internazionale | UEFA Champions League | 2 | ||||
| 2010-11 | Internazionale | UEFA Champions League | 2 |
1
|
|||
| 2010-11 | Internazionale | UEFA Super Cup | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 2011-12 | Internazionale | UEFA Champions League | 6 | 1 |
2
|
||
| 2012-13 | Internazionale | UEFA Europa League | 4 | 1 |
1 |
1
|
|
| 2014-15 | FC Basel | UEFA Champions League | 3 | 1 |
2
|
1
|
|
| 2015-16 | FC Basel | UEFA Champions League | 1 | ||||
| 2015-16 | FC Basel | UEFA Europa League | 3 |
1
|
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Sep 2014 | Real Madrid v FC Basel | L | 5-1 | UEFA Champions League | Group B |
| 09 Dec 2014 | Liverpool v FC Basel | D | 1-1 | UEFA Champions League | Group B |
| 18 Feb 2015 | FC Basel v FC Porto | D | 1-1 | UEFA Champions League | Round of 16 1st leg |
| 10 Mar 2015 | FC Porto v FC Basel | L |
4-0 Agg: 5-1 |
UEFA Champions League | Round of 16 2nd leg |
| 25 Aug 2015 | Maccabi Tel Aviv v FC Basel | D |
1-1 Agg: 3-3 |
UEFA Champions League | Play-off 2nd leg |
| 01 Oct 2015 | FC Basel v Lech Poznan | W | 2-0 | UEFA Europa League | Group I |
| 22 Oct 2015 | FC Basel v Belenenses | L | 1-2 | UEFA Europa League | Group I |
| 10 Dec 2015 | Lech Poznan v FC Basel | W | 0-1 | UEFA Europa League | Group I |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | Argentina | South America Youth Championship | 9 | 2 |
|||
| 1996-97 | Argentina | World Youth Cup | 5 | ||||
| 1997-98 | Argentina | Toulon Under-21 | 3 | 1 |
|||
| 1997-98 | Argentina | World Youth Cup | 1 | ||||
| 1998-99 | Argentina | Copa America | 4 |
2
|
|||
| 1998-99 | Argentina | International Friendly | 3 | 1 |
|||
| 1999-00 | Argentina | FIFA World Cup | 4 | ||||
| 1999-00 | Argentina | International Friendly | 3 | ||||
| 1999-00 | Argentina | Under-23 | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2000-01 | Argentina | FIFA World Cup | 8 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 2000-01 | Argentina | International Friendly | 1 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Argentina | FIFA World Cup | 8 | 1 |
3
|
||
| 2001-02 | Argentina | International Friendly | 2 |
1
|
|||
| 2001-02 | Argentina | Maradona Farewell Match | 1 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Argentina | International Friendly | 2 |
2
|
|||
| 2003-04 | Argentina | FIFA World Cup | 5 |
1
|
1
|
||
| 2003-04 | Argentina | International Friendly | 2 | 1 |
|||
| 2004-05 | Argentina | FIFA Confederations Cup | 2 |
2
|
|||
| 2004-05 | Argentina | FIFA World Cup | 3 | ||||
| 2004-05 | Argentina | International Friendly | 1 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Argentina | FIFA World Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Argentina | International Friendly | 3 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 2006-07 | Argentina | International Friendly | 1 |
||||
| 2009-10 | Argentina | FIFA World Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2009-10 | Argentina | International Friendly | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 2010-11 | Argentina | International Friendly | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jan 1997 | Argentina v Paraguay | W | 5-2 | SAYC | Group B |
| 19 Jan 1997 | Argentina v Colombia | D | 1-1 | SAYC | Group B |
| 22 Jan 1997 | Argentina v Bolivia | W | 2-1 | SAYC | Group B |
| 26 Jan 1997 | Argentina v Uruguay | L | 0-1 | SAYC | Group B |
| 29 Jan 1997 | Argentina v Venezuela | W | 3-0 | SAYC | Final round |
| 31 Jan 1997 | Argentina v Uruguay | D | 1-1 | SAYC | Final round |
| 02 Feb 1997 | Argentina v Brazil | W | 2-0 | SAYC | Final round |
| 05 Feb 1997 | Chile v Argentina | L | 3-0 | SAYC | Final round |
| 07 Feb 1997 | Argentina v Paraguay | D | 1-1 | SAYC | Final round |
| 18 Jun 1997 | Hungary v Argentina | W | 0-3 | World Youth Cup | Group E |
| 20 Jun 1997 | Argentina v Canada | W | 2-1 | World Youth Cup | Group E |
| 23 Jun 1997 | Argentina v Australia | L | 3-4 | World Youth Cup | Group E |
| 26 Jun 1997 | Argentina v England | W | 2-1 | World Youth Cup | 2nd round |
| 29 Jun 1997 | Argentina v Brazil | W | 2-0 | World Youth Cup | Quarter-final |
| 05 Jul 1997 | Argentina v Uruguay | W | 2-1 | World Youth Cup | Final |
| 16 May 1998 | France v Argentina | L | 3-0 | Toulon Under-21 | Group A |
| 18 May 1998 | Argentina v England | W | 2-0 | Toulon Under-21 | Group A |
| 23 May 1998 | France v Argentina | W | 0-2 | Toulon Under-21 | Final |
| 04 Feb 1999 | Venezuela v Argentina | W | 0-2 | International Friendly | |
| 10 Feb 1999 | Argentina v Mexico | W | 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 | |
| 01 Dec 1999 | Argentina v Denmark | W | 4-0 | U23 | |
| 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 | |
| 28 Mar 2001 | Argentina v Venezuela | W | 5-0 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 25 Apr 2001 | Bolivia v Argentina | D | 3-3 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 27 Mar 2002 | Cameroon v Argentina | D | 2-2 | International Friendly | |
| 17 Apr 2002 | Germany v Argentina | W | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
| 02 Jun 2002 | Argentina v Nigeria | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group F |
| 07 Jun 2002 | Argentina v England | L | 0-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group F |
| 12 Jun 2002 | Sweden v Argentina | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group F |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 28 Apr 2004 | Morocco v Argentina | W | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
| 02 Jun 2004 | Brazil v Argentina | L | 3-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 06 Jun 2004 | Argentina v Paraguay | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 18 Aug 2004 | Japan v Argentina | W | 1-2 | International Friendly | |
| 09 Oct 2004 | Argentina v Uruguay | W | 4-2 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 13 Oct 2004 | Chile v Argentina | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 04 Jun 2005 | Ecuador v Argentina | L | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 18 Jun 2005 | Australia v Argentina | W | 2-4 | FIFA Confederations Cup | Group A |
| 21 Jun 2005 | Germany v Argentina | D | 2-2 | FIFA Confederations Cup | Group A |
| 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 | |
| 01 Mar 2006 | Croatia v Argentina | L | 3-2 | International Friendly | |
| 03 Sep 2006 | Brazil v Argentina | L | 3-0 | International Friendly | |
| 03 Mar 2010 | Germany v Argentina | W | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
| 12 Jun 2010 | Argentina v Nigeria | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group B |
| 17 Jun 2010 | Argentina v Korea Republic | W | 4-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group B |
| 11 Aug 2010 | Republic of Ireland v Argentina | W | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.