Mario Kempes

Mario Alberto Kempes Chiodi is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a striker or attacking midfielder. A prolific goalscorer, he finished as La Liga's top goalscorer twice with Valencia, where he amassed 116 goals in 184 league games. He is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

At international level, Kempes was the focal point of Argentina's 1978 World Cup win, scoring twice in the final and receiving the Golden Boot as top goalscorer. He also won the Golden Ball for the player of the tournament, making him one of only three players to have won all three awards at a single World Cup, along with Garrincha in 1962 and Paolo Rossi in 1982. Kempes won South American Footballer of the Year, Onze d'Or, and World Cup Golden Ball in 1978.

In 2004, he was named to the FIFA 100 list of the greatest living footballers. Nicknamed El Toro and El Matador, Kempes now works as a football analyst and Spanish commentator for ESPN Deportes, and his voice is familiar to millions of Latin American gamers as a commentator in the FIFA and EA Sports FC video game series. [edit]

Mario Kempes was born in Bell Ville, a small agricultural town in Córdoba province known for its football manufacturing industry. He started playing football at age seven, inspired by his father, also named Mario, who was a footballer. At 14, he joined the reserves of Talleres. His youth career included stints at Club Atlético y Biblioteca Bell, Talleres, and Instituto. He made his professional debut at Instituto in 1970 at age 16, scoring 11 goals in 13 appearances. In 1973, he moved to Rosario Central, where he became a prolific goalscorer, netting 85 goals in 105 matches over three seasons. His 25 goals in 25 games during the 1974 Nacional made him the championship's top scorer. [edit]

Kempes' move to Valencia in 1976 marked his European breakthrough. He won the Copa del Rey, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, and UEFA Super Cup with the club, finishing as La Liga's top scorer twice. His defining moment came at the 1978 World Cup, where he led Argentina to victory, scoring twice in the final against the Netherlands and winning the Golden Boot with six goals and the Golden Ball as best player. After Valencia, he played for River Plate, a second stint at Valencia, Hércules, and several clubs in Austria, Indonesia, Chile, and Albania before retiring in 1996. Since 2002, he has focused on punditry, joining ESPN Deportes as a football analyst. From FIFA 13 through FIFA 23 and EA Sports FC 24, he provided Spanish commentary for the Latin American version of the games. [edit]

Known as El Toro and El Matador, Kempes was feared for his pace, directness, and powerful long-range shooting. Opponents considered him dangerous outside the penalty area, where he was as fast as a lightning bolt. He is widely regarded as one of the best Argentinian players ever and the reason for Argentina's 1978 World Cup victory. Today, he is a familiar voice to Latin American FIFA gamers and a respected analyst on ESPN Deportes, where his commentary style is both knowledgeable and passionate. [edit]

Mario Kempes maintains a distinct global profile as a historical figure whose influence extends far beyond his playing days, with current metrics tracking his visibility across media coverage, search activity, and cultural consumption worldwide. In the latest cycle of the iFANN Global Fame Rankings, he holds the position of the 26th most famous person from Argentina, a placement that has remained steady since the previous assessment. While he does not command a formalized fan organization with a specific moniker, his supporters are naturally integrated into the broader identities of the Argentine national team and Valencia CF. His legacy is defined by reverence rather than modern engagement campaigns; fans view him as the foundational hero who established the trajectory for future generations of South American talent. Unlike contemporary stars who rely on active social media ecosystems, Kempes remains a stabilizing voice in sports commentary, respected for his calm analysis during major tournaments and his role in dispelling rumors about the national team. The absence of a dedicated fandom name reflects his status as a historical icon whose connection to the public is rooted in shared national memory rather than organized grassroots movements.[edit]

Kempes was the sole Argentine player based abroad invited to the 1978 World Cup squad. His performance in that tournament inspired Gabriel Batistuta to become a footballer. Bell Ville, his hometown, is famous for manufacturing footballs, with over a dozen factories. Instituto's academy also produced Ossie Ardiles and Paulo Dybala. Kempes tried out as a color commentator by doing one half of a match with Luis Omar Tapia before joining ESPN. Valencia honored him with a 1992 exhibition match against PSV Eindhoven, where he scored twice. A widely retold story involves his arrival at Valencia, where he silenced early doubters to lead the club to a La Liga title in his first season, creating a mythos of transition from struggle to immortality at the Mestalla stadium. The central legend of his career remains the 1978 World Cup final, where his two goals against the Netherlands provided a rare source of national unity during a politically turbulent time, transforming Argentina into a football powerhouse. Massive street celebrations followed the victory, with millions taking to the roads to honor the nation's first world title, cementing Kempes as the face of a historic moment that endures in archival footage and modern retrospectives.[edit]

Kempes' father, also named Mario, was a footballer who inspired his son to start playing at age seven. His mother is Eglis Kempes. As of his recent documentary Ruta De Kempes, he is married to Julia Kempes, who appears alongside his mother in photos from the filming. Details about children have not been publicly disclosed. [edit]

Kempes works alongside Fernando Palomo and Ciro Procuna as commentators for FIFA and EA Sports FC video games. He tried out as a color commentator with Luis Omar Tapia before joining ESPN. His 1978 World Cup performance inspired Gabriel Batistuta to become a footballer. He shares Instituto's academy with Ossie Ardiles and Paulo Dybala. [edit]

Mario Kempes is married to Julia Kempes, as confirmed by recent public appearances and the filming of his documentary Ruta De Kempes in Rosario, Argentina. No details about their wedding date or how they met are publicly available. The couple appears together in photos from the documentary. No previous marriages or other romantic relationships have been documented in public sources. As of 2026, Kempes remains married to Julia. [edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Mario Kempes' net worth stands at $10 million as of 2026 estimates. His financial standing derives from earnings accumulated during a professional career spanning clubs in Argentina, Spain, Austria, Chile, Indonesia, and Albania. Additional income streams include his current position as a football analyst and Spanish commentator for ESPN Deportes, alongside voiceover work for the FIFA and EA Sports FC video game series from FIFA 13 through EA Sports FC 24. He has also participated in the documentary project Ruta De Kempes. While exact figures remain private, his long tenure in the sport and sustained media presence have secured a comfortable financial position.[edit]

Kempes won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball at the 1978 World Cup, the only player alongside Garrincha and Paolo Rossi to achieve both in a single tournament. He also won South American Footballer of the Year and Onze d'Or in 1978. At club level, he won the Copa del Rey, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, and UEFA Super Cup with Valencia, and twice won the Pichichi Trophy as La Liga's top scorer. [edit]