Claudio Caniggia

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Caniggia's international career was defined by clutch performances and controversy. At the 1990 World Cup in Italy, he came off the bench in the opening match against Cameroon, memorably being fouled three times in a single dribble, the last by Benjamin Massing earning a straight red card. In the second round against Brazil, with the score 0-0 after 80 minutes, a pass from Diego Maradona left Caniggia one-on-one with goalkeeper Taffarel; he dribbled past and scored on the empty goal, giving Argentina victory and eliminating Brazil in a huge upset. In the semi-final against Italy, he headed a cross past Walter Zenga, ending Zenga's record streak of 517 minutes without conceding a goal, sending the match to extra time and eventually penalties, which Argentina won. However, Caniggia had received a yellow card against Italy for deliberate handball, earning him a suspension for the final against West Germany, which Argentina lost 1-0. He was good friends with Maradona; while at Boca Juniors, the duo celebrated a goal in the Superclásico with a kiss on the lips.

In Their Own Story

The defining moment of Caniggia's international career came in the 1990 World Cup second round against Brazil. With the score 0-0 after 80 minutes in Turin, Diego Maradona played a pass that left Caniggia one-on-one against Brazilian goalkeeper Taffarel. Caniggia dribbled past him and scored on the empty goal, giving Argentina the victory and eliminating their chief rivals from the tournament. The goal gave him legendary status among Argentine fans for knocking out Brazil. Earlier in the tournament, he had come off the bench against Cameroon, being fouled three times in a single dribble, with the last foul by Benjamin Massing earning a straight red card. In the semi-final against host nation Italy in Naples, the Italians had not conceded any goals in five matches and led 1-0 at half-time. In the second half, Caniggia headed a cross into the net of goalkeeper Walter Zenga, ending his record streak at 517 minutes without conceding, and sending the match into extra time. Argentina won on penalties, but Caniggia had been cautioned against the Soviet Union and received another yellow card against Italy for deliberate handball, earning him a suspension for the final.

Reader's Guide

To understand Caniggia's impact on the Argentina national team, focus on his role as a creative forward or playmaker rather than a pure striker. He was a quick and physically strong forward with good technique and dribbling skills, known in particular for his exceptional speed. He competed in athletics before his football career, running the 100 meters. His ability to score goals was matched by his capacity to play off other forwards and create chances for teammates. He was often deployed in deeper roles as an advanced playmaker or creative forward, or out wide as a winger. His explosive running enabled him to get past opponents consistently, earning him the nicknames 'El Hijo del Viento' and 'El Pájaro'. At the 1994 World Cup, he scored two goals in the first-round match against Nigeria in Boston, the first from a Gabriel Batistuta free kick rebound and the second from a free kick by Diego Maradona, which he finished into the top right corner. He was taken out of Argentina's third game against Bulgaria 26 minutes into the match and was left out of the squad for the Round of 16 match against Romania, which Argentina lost 3-2. After refusing to cut his long hair despite the rules of coach Daniel Passarella, he was frozen out of the national team for years. He made a brief comeback for the 2002 World Cup but did not play, and received a red card for cursing at the referee from the bench in Argentina's last match against Sweden, becoming the first player to be sent off from the bench in a World Cup.

Did You Know?

• Caniggia was suspended for the 1990 World Cup final against West Germany after receiving a yellow card for deliberate handball in the semi-final against Italy.
• He scored two goals in a first-round match against Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup, the second from a Diego Maradona free kick.
• Caniggia was the first player to be sent off from the bench in a World Cup, receiving a red card for cursing at the referee during Argentina's last match against Sweden in 2002.
• He was good friends with Diego Maradona; while playing for Boca Juniors, the duo celebrated a goal in the Superclásico with a kiss on the lips.
• Caniggia competed in athletics before his football career, running the 100 meters at the provincial level.