Javier Mascherano was rarely the biggest man on the pitch. He was usually the fiercest. The Argentine started as a defensive midfielder, and at Barcelona under Pep Guardiola he was converted into a centre-back.
His most famous moment came for Argentina at the 2014 World Cup. Mascherano made a last-ditch tackle on Arjen Robben that stopped Argentina from conceding. It is still one of the best-remembered tackles in the tournament's history.
Too small for centre-back?
That was the worry, and he answered it. Mascherano was not 6 feet tall, but he read the game well, passed the ball out cleanly and fitted Barcelona's short-passing system perfectly. As a centre-back there he won 5 La Liga titles and 2 Champions League trophies.
For Argentina he earned 147 caps, putting him among the most capped players the country has produced.
Intelligence, aggression and a refusal to give up on a lost ball made him indispensable at club and international level. The tackle on Robben on its own would earn him a mention. His career earns him number 16.
Tomorrow: number 15.
