Versatile forward Maxi Rodriguez made his name with a string of impressive displays as Argentina won the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship on home soil. His form attracted interest from a number of European clubs and he moved from Newell's Old Boys to Espanyol the following year. Rodriguez, equally at home on the right wing or as a central striker, enjoyed three impressive seasons in Barcelona and scored 15 times in the 2004-05 campaign to secure a move to Atletico Madrid. The set-piece specialist scored on his senior international debut against Japan in June 2003, but had to wait until Jose Pekerman took charge 15 months later to become a regular member of the squad.