Mario Alberto Kempes, born in Belville, Cordoba in 1954, began his career at local club Instituto Cordoba and established himself as a notorious goalscorer. Known as a hard-working forward, Kempes was difficult for defenders to handle.

Kempes was the only foreign based player called up by coach Menotti before the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. The lanky forward had been topscorer in Spain’s Primera Liga in each of the past two seasons. In 1974, at 20, he failed to get on the score-sheet in West Germany and after the first round in 1978, his name was still missing among goalscorers.

But things would change dramatically when Argentina’s team was forced out of Buenos Aires because of ending up as runners-up in their group. Argentina’s new venue for the second phase matches was Rosario, the city where Kempes’ career took off in the early 1970s. It was here that “El Matador” found the goalscoring form that made him topscorer in the tournament.

First he sank Poland with both goals in the 2-0 win, then two more against Peru in the 6-0 demolition before he returned to Buenos Aires and the Final as a changed man. Kempes scored two more against the Netherlands and assisted Bertoni for Argentina’s third in the 3-1 win. The 1982 World Cup in Spain turned out to be a disappointing tournament for Argentina and Kempes. No goals for “El Matador” and Argentina bowed out in the second phase.