You may remember him as being the man that famously missed three penalties in a Copa America game against Colombia in 1999, or as the oldest Argentine player to score at a World Cup when he poked home against Greece in South Africa 2010. You may remember him for his dyed blonde hair and his extraordinary career at Boca Juniors, or as the unlucky player that broke his leg whilst celebrating a goal for Villarreal. However you remember him, there is no doubt that he was a fantastic striker and will always be fondly remembered for a career that rarely had a dull moment.
Built like a tank, excellent in the air, and with a fierce left foot for good measure, Martin Palermo had the characteristics and attributes to become a top quality striker. Although a three year spell in Spain with Villarreal, Betis and Alaves did not perhaps turn out as both he, or his fans, imagined it would, he is in the history books as Boca’s highest ever scorer with 236 goals to his name. Countless moments of magic have been witnessed whilst he wore the distinctive blue and yellow kit; the video clip of a sensational headed goal scored from distance is only a few years old and demonstrates a unique ability and quickness of thought unmatched by many of his younger competitors.
Despite his talent he never managed to cement his place in the national team and finished his career with just 15 games and 9 goals for Argentina. Whether his hat-trick of missed penalties affected his chances we will never know, but certainly at club level he regularly performed to his best and will always be greeted with affection by at least one half of Buenos Aires.