Esteban Cambiasso

Early career

Cambiasso began his professional career with Argentinos Juniors in 1995, moving to Real Madrid in 1996 along with his brother Nicolás Cambiasso. In 1998, he moved back to Argentina, where he played for three years with Independiente and one with River Plate. With some good experience under his belt, he returned to Real Madrid in 2002. He helped Los Blancos win the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup in 2002, and the Liga and the Supercopa de España in 2003, also reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League that season. Cambiasso also reached the Copa del Rey final the following season.

Inter Milan

In July 2004, Cambiasso signed with Serie A club Inter Milan after his contract with Real Madrid expired in June. He helped Inter win the Coppa Italia during his first season with the club, playing regularly as a defensive midfielder, partnered in the middle of Inter's midfield with fellow Argentine Juan Sebastián Verón. In Italy, he became known as one of the outstanding players of the 2004–05 season, along with Milan's Kaká. During the return match of the 2006 Coppa Italia Final, Cambiasso scored an impressive goal, the first of the match, for the 3–1 victory over Roma. On 9 September 2006, he scored twice in the opening game of the season, with Inter defeating Fiorentina 3–2. On 7 November 2007, he along with Zlatan Ibrahimović scored a brace apiece to defeat CSKA Moscow 4–2 in the Champions League. On 23 December, Cambiasso…

Cambiasso first represented Argentina in the youth squads, along with national teammates Juan Román Riquelme, Pablo Aimar, Walter Samuel and others. He was in the squads for the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, where he scored the first goal in the final even though he was the youngest player on the squad, and captained the team during the 1999 edition. Cambiasso made his Argentina senior national debut in 2000. He participated in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup with his national side, a tournament in which Argentina reached the final. On 15 May 2006, he was named in the Argentina national team for the 2006 World Cup. On 16 June, he capped a 24-pass Argentine interplay with a finish to score the second goal in a 6–0 victory over Serbia and Montenegro. In the quarter-finals match against Germany on 30 June 2006, the match went into penalties, where Cambiasso had his penalty kick saved, resulting in Argentina losing 4–2 and Germany progressing to the semi-final. The following year, he represented his country at the 2007 Copa América, where Argentina reached the final, losing out to South American rivals Brazil. Since Diego Maradona took over as Argentina coach, Cambiasso was only called-up once to the national team for a friendly game on 14 November 2009 against Spain, despite continuing to play a vital role for Inter in their treble-winning season, and re-affirming his status as one of Europe's best central midfielders. On 12 May 2010, Cambiasso and Inter teammate Javier…

Cambiasso was primarily a central midfielder, capable of playing as a defensive or box-to-box midfielder. Cambiasso was also deployed occasionally as a playmaking sweeper. He was left-footed and known for his passing range, tactical intelligence, and ability to distribute the ball and create chances. His role has been likened to that of a metodista, a midfielder who can dictate play while also contributing defensively. Eurosport said about Cambiasso, when José Mourinho was still managing Inter, "There is nothing glamorous about the bald Argentine, but he is the heartbeat of the Inter side that have become the dominant force in Italian football. Just the kind of determined, hard-running midfielder José Mourinho loves. Originally a destroyer, the 29-year-old has become increasingly adventurous from an offensive standpoint, and weighs in with six to eight goals per season." Goal said, "All in all, this player is one of the greatest players to have ever pulled an Inter shirt on and to grace the pitch in the Serie A. He is an intelligent midfielder, who has the capacity to change the shape of a game off his own boot. He is one of the most influential midfielders in Italian football, and for that reason and many more, he will certainly be remembered as one of the most talented players of all time." In 2017, Sean Lunt of The Versed pronounced him one of the most under-rated players of the last 15 years.

Cambiasso has a daughter and a son. On 22 November 2008, his wife Claudia gave birth to their daughter Victoria before Cambiasso's match for Inter against Juventus. After Inter won the Derby d'Italia, Cambiasso dedicated the win to his daughter. His son Dante was born on 24 September 2013. Two days later, Cambiasso scored a goal against Fiorentina and dedicated it to his family.