Leonardo Ponzio facts for kids
Ponzio with River Plate in 2016
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leonardo Daniel Ponzio | ||
| Date of birth | 29 January 1982 | ||
| Place of birth | Las Rosas, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Newell's Old Boys | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2003 | Newell's Old Boys | 90 | (9) |
| 2003–2006 | Zaragoza | 114 | (5) |
| 2007–2008 | River Plate | 55 | (1) |
| 2009–2012 | Zaragoza | 100 | (6) |
| 2012–2021 | River Plate | 185 | (8) |
| Total | 544 | (29) | |
| International career | |||
| 2001 | Argentina U20 | 7 | (0) |
| 2003–2013 | Argentina | 8 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Leonardo Daniel Ponzio (born on January 29, 1982) is a famous Argentinian former footballer. He mostly played as a defensive midfielder, which means he helped protect his team's goal.
Ponzio started his professional career in 2000 with Newell's Old Boys. He then spent many years playing for two main clubs: Zaragoza in Spain and River Plate in Argentina. He played over 240 games for Zaragoza and won the Copa del Rey with them. With River Plate, he won many more trophies and became one of their most successful players ever.
Ponzio's Club Journey
Starting Out in Argentina
Leonardo Ponzio was born in Las Rosas, Santa Fe, Argentina. He began his football journey in the youth teams of Newell's Old Boys. This club is located in Rosario, a city close to his hometown. He played over 100 official games for Newell's Old Boys before moving on.
Playing in Spain with Zaragoza
When he was just 21, Ponzio moved to Spain to play for Real Zaragoza. This happened for the 2003–04 season. He quickly became a very important player in the midfield for the Spanish team. He played almost every game for three seasons.
First Time at River Plate
Even though Zaragoza was doing well, Ponzio left in January 2007. He moved back to Argentina to join Club Atlético River Plate. He scored his first goal for River Plate in the Copa Libertadores tournament. This is a big competition for South American clubs.
Back to Zaragoza
In January 2009, Ponzio returned to Real Zaragoza. The team was then in the Segunda División, which is Spain's second-highest league. He helped the team get promoted back to the top league right away. He was a strong defensive player and sometimes even played as a full-back. He scored a great long-range goal in April 2010.
Becoming a Legend at River Plate
On January 4, 2012, Ponzio decided to leave Zaragoza again. He returned to Club Atlético River Plate for personal reasons. This was a very important move for his career. He spent many more years with River Plate, from 2012 until he retired in 2021. During this time, he helped the club win many major titles. He became a true leader and a fan favorite.
Ponzio's International Career
Leonardo Ponzio also played for the Argentinian national team. He played for the under-17 and under-20 teams. He earned his first "cap" (which means an appearance in a game) for the senior national team in 2003.
Winning the U-20 World Cup
In 2001, Ponzio was part of the Argentina U20 team that won the FIFA U-20 World Cup. This big tournament was held in Argentina. Ponzio played in all seven matches, helping his team win the trophy on their home soil.
Ponzio's Trophies and Awards
Leonardo Ponzio won many important titles throughout his career with different clubs and the national youth team.
Trophies with Zaragoza
- Copa del Rey: 2003–04 (This is Spain's main cup competition)
Trophies with River Plate
- Argentine Primera División (League Titles): Clausura 2008, Torneo Final 2014, Superfinal 2014, Campeonato 2021
- Copa Argentina (National Cup): 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19
- Supercopa Argentina (Super Cup): 2017, 2019
- Copa Libertadores (South American Champions League): 2015, 2018
- Copa Sudamericana (South American Europa League): 2014
- Recopa Sudamericana (South American Super Cup): 2015, 2016, 2019
- Suruga Bank Championship (International Club Cup): 2015
- Primera B Nacional (Second Division): 2011–12 (Helped River Plate get promoted back to the top league)
Trophies with Argentina U20
- FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2001
See also
In Spanish: Leonardo Ponzio para niños
