Icardi began his footballing career at the youth teams ofVecindario and passed throughLa Masia, the youth system ofLa Liga clubBarcelona, before moving toSerie A clubSampdoria to begin his professional career in 2012. After an impressive season, he joinedInter Milan in July 2013,[4] where he developed into one of the most prolific strikers in Europe. Icardi won theCapocannoniere in both the2014–15 and2017–18 seasons,[note 1] and was named the captain of Inter in 2015, at age 22.[5] Three years later, Icardi was integral for Inter reaching a place in theUEFA Champions League, their first time in six years.[6] He is the club'sninth-highest goalscorer of all time.[7] In 2019, Icardi signed for Paris Saint-Germain on an initial one-year loan deal,[8] where he won a domestic treble. He then joined the club permanently for €50 million. After a successful season on loan toGalatasaray where he led the side to aSüper Lig title, Icardi joined permanently in 2023 for a €10 million fee.[9]
Icardi made his senior debut forArgentina in October 2013. He played sparingly until 2018, earning eight caps and scoring once.
Icardi was born inRosario, Argentina and moved toCanary Islands when he was nine. He is of partialItalian origin through his paternal ancestors named Icardi fromPiedmont and Da Mezan fromVenice.[10] He has an Italian passport.[11]
Icardi joined the Catalan club at the start of2008–09 season and was included on the U-17 team. He was promoted to theU-19 team the following season before joiningSampdoria on loan in January 2011. Icardi later stated that leaving Barcelona was not a bad decision, and that he was convinced that his decision was the right one.[13]
On 11 January 2011, Sampdoria confirmed Icardi had signed with the club on loan[14] until the end of the season. After a successful six-month loan forla Samp, scoring 13 goals in 19 games with the Primavera team, the Italian side utilised the option to buy Icardi for €400,000 in July 2011, signing a three-year deal.[14][15] In 2011–12 season, he scored 19 goals in the reserve league Group A, as the joint-third topscorer of the league along withGonzalo Barreto of Group C.[citation needed]
On 12 May 2012, he made his first-team debut, againstJuve Stabia, after coming off the bench to replaceBruno Fornaroli in the 75th minute of the match. Ten minutes later, Icardi scored his first professional goal to win the match 2–1 for Sampdoria.[16]
On 26 September 2012, he made hisSerie A debut for Sampdoria againstRoma, substituting the Paraguayan midfielderMarcelo Estigarribia in the 49th minute.[17] On 12 November, Icardi scored his first goal in Serie A in theDerby della Lanterna againstGenoa in an eventual 3–1 win.[18] On 6 January 2013, he scored two goals againstJuventus in Sampdoria's 2–1 upset atJuventus Stadium.[19] It was Juventus's second ever loss in the Juventus Stadium since the construction.[20]
On 27 January 2013, he scored four goals in a six-goal thrashing of fellow strugglersPescara, lifting theGenoese side clear of theSerie A relegation zone.[21] On 18 May, during the final match of2012–13 season, Icardi scored again against Juventus, helping the team to beat the eventual champions of Italy 3–2 atStadio Luigi Ferraris.[22]
In late April, it was announced that Icardi would joinInter Milan before the beginning of the2013–14 season.[23] The deal was also later confirmed by Sampdoria board.[24] The transfer fee was €6.5 million for 50% registration rights.[25] Icardi was officially unveiled as an Inter player on 16 July along with Algerian strikerIshak Belfodil,[26] where he was allocated squad number 9.[27] He said that moving to Inter is a "dream come true",[27] adding that he "had a lot of offers, but wanted only Inter".[28]
He made his unofficial debut one day later during the 3–0 away win againstTrentino Select XI by playing in the first half of the 3–0 away win.[29] He scored his first goal for Inter in their 1–1 pre-seasonfriendly draw withBundesliga clubHamburger SV,[30] netting after less than two minutes on the field and being assisted byFredy Guarín.[31]
On 25 August 2013, Icardi made his Inter official debut, coming on as a second-halfsubstitute in a 2–0 home success overGenoa, hitting the crossbar late in the game;[32] he scored his first league goal for theNerazzurri on 14 September, netting the first of a 1–1 home draw againstJuventus, after coming on as a substitute in the 73rd minute.[33]
Due to injury, Icardi missed most of the games of the first part of the season,[34] only returning to first-team matches in February. On 14 February 2014, during the away match againstFiorentina atStadio Artemio Franchi, Icardi returned in the field after four months and scored the winner after only ten minutes.[35] Later, on 5 April, Icardi scored a brace during the 2–2 home draw againstBologna.[36] That was his first brace of his Inter career. This was followed by another brace during the 0–4 away win against his former sideSampdoria.[37] Before the match, he was booed by the home fans, but he quieted them down by scoring in the 13th minute from a cross fromPalacio, making a negative gesture which saw him booked.[38]
On 10 May 2014, inJavier Zanetti's last competitive match at theSan Siro, in which Inter defeatedLazio 4–1 to secure a place inEuropa League play-off for next season, Icardi scored the second goal of the match in the 37th minute after an assist fromKovačić and went to celebrate with Zanetti.[39] He ended his first season withNerazzurri with 23 matches in all competitions, including 22 in the league, scoring 9 goals in the process with an average of one goal in every 145 minutes.
On 10 June 2014, Inter and Sampdoria reached the deal to terminate the co-ownership for another €6.5 million,[25] making Inter was the sole employer of Icardi in the football field.[40]
On 20 August 2014, in Inter's first match ofthe season against Iceland'sStjarnan for first leg of play-off round of the2014–15 Europa League, Icardi opened a 3–0 away win.[41] That was his first European goal, in his European debut. In the returning leg, he came in as a second-half substitute and scored two times in a 6–0 win at theSan Siro, to advance his team into the group stage 9–0 on aggregate.[citation needed]
During the second match of the league season on 14 September, he scored his secondSerie A hat-trick in a 7–0 thrashing ofSassuolo.[42] Ten days later, Icardi was injured and substituted in the 24th minute forDani Osvaldo during the 2–0 home win againstAtalanta.[43] On 26 October, Icardi netted his first Serie A goal for over a month, the winner on a penalty kick againstCesena and giving Inter their first away win of the league.[44] He was decisive again three days later, scoring a 90th-minute penalty kick won byZdravko Kuzmanović in a 1–0 win againstSampdoria, giving his former side their first loss of 2014–15 season.[45]
On 9 November, Icardi scored twice after two assists by Palacio during a 2–2 home draw againstHellas Verona.[46] This draw caused the sacking of coachWalter Mazzarri, who was replaced with the returningRoberto Mancini.[47] On 6 January of the following year, in the first match of the second part of the season, Icardi netted the only goal for his team during the 1–1 draw againstJuventus atJuventus Stadium; the goal came in 64th minute after a pass from the Colombian midfielderFredy Guarín.[48] During that match, he had a conflict with his strike partner Osvaldo who was angry with him after Icardi decided to shoot instead of passing to his teammate who was in a better position to score.[49] Due to this, Osvaldo left the team in the end of January.[citation needed] Five days later, Icardi was decisive in Inter's 3–1 home win againstGenoa, scoring the second goal and earlier making an overhead kick (saved by goalkeeper) which was turned into an assist for Palacio.[50]
In the match against Sassuolo, Inter lost 1–3 with Icardi scoring the only goal for his team after a mistake from the Sassuolo defence. After the match, he along with Guarín had a conflict with the fans at theMapei Stadium. They went to throw their shirt to the fans who refused and threw them back at them, spewing insults at them.[51] On 7 February, Icardi responded by scoring twice in a 3–0 home win againstPalermo, refusing to celebrate in the process.[52] After the match Icardi told to the media that the reason he did not celebrate was not the conflict with the fans but failing to find a way to renew his contract with the club directors. He was later criticized by Mancini for not celebrating.[53]
On 11 April, he scored the first goal during the 0–3 away win against Verona, helping Inter get their first win after six consecutive matches.[54] He scored twice on the final day in a 4–3 win overEmpoli and finished the season as the jointSerie A top goalscorer with 22 goals with Verona'sLuca Toni.[55] Although Inter failed to qualify for European competition for the second time since 1999, Icardi's form attracted attention from abroad, however he signed a new four-year contract at the season's end.[56]
Before the start of2015–16 season, it was announced that Icardi would be the new captain of Inter, replacingAndrea Ranocchia who lost his status after a poor 2014–15 season.[5] In his first match as skipper, he was taken off after 15 minutes during the league win againstAtalanta; Icardi was substituted forStevan Jovetić, who scored the winning goal in the third minute of added time.[57] After the examinations, it was announced that Icardi suffered a thigh injury and he missed the following league match againstCarpi.[58] He made his comeback on 13 September during the 1–0 home win against the cross-town rivals ofMilan and opened his scoring account one week later againstChievo Verona, helping Inter to clinch the 4th consecutive victory.[59] On 27 September, Icardi was again on the scoresheet but this time in a 1–4 defeat versusFiorentina, who ended Inter's undefeated streak of the 2015–16 season.[60]
One month later, on 28 October, following the 0–1 away win overBologna where Icardi scored the only goal of the match following an assist fromAdem Ljajić,[61] he complained about lack of services to him, accusing his teammates in the process. Icardi told the media that: "In ten matches I've received four chances to score, and I've taken three. I think that is a good average."[62] After that, he was benched for the following league match againstRoma, where Inter won, again a 1–0 victory.[63] After the game, coachMancini said that leaving Icardi on the bench was a "tactical decision", adding that Icardi "must improve his game".[64][65] He returned to the starting lineup in the next league match againstTorino, where Inter grabbed another 1–0 victory.[66]
On 22 November, in his 100thSerie A appearance, he scored in a 4–0 win over the minnows ofFrosinone, helping Inter to seal its biggest victory of the season.[67] On 13 December, Icardi netted his first brace of the season, in the 0–4 thrashing ofUdinese, benefiting in both occasions from the mistakes of Udinese defenders.[68] In Inter's final match of 2015, Icardi's goal was not enough to avoid the 2–1 home loss againstLazio, but still the team managed to end the year in the first place.[69] At the end of the year, Icardi was ranked the 82nd best footballer in the world by the English newspaperThe Guardian.[70]
On 6 January 2016, Icardi finishedIvan Perišić's cross from close range for the only goal away againstEmpoli, putting Inter on top of Serie A.[71] A month later, on 3 February, he scored his 50th Inter goal in all competitions in a 1–0 home win overChievo, returning Inter to its winning ways after four consecutive matches.[72][73] In February 2016, it was reported by several newspapers that Inter had rejected a €30 million bid fromManchester United to sign Icardi.[74][75][76] On 9 April, he scored his 50thSerie A goal in a 1–0 away win overFrosinone, making his 100th Inter appearance in the process.[77]
Icardi started the next season on 21 August by playing in the 2–0 away defeat toChievo in the opening league match,[78] and scored his first goal of the season a week later during the 1–1 draw againstPalermo at home.[79] On 11 September, Icardi scored both goals, including a last-minute winner, as Inter overturn the score against newly promoted sidePescara for the first win of the season under the new coachFrank de Boer.[80] One week later, in theDerby d'Italia match againstJuventus, Icardi scored an equalizer in the 68th minute, and provided theIvan Perišić goal ten minutes later, as Inter overturn the score again to beat the lifetime rivals for the first time in league since November 2012.[81] It was Icardi's seventh goal in eight appearances against Juventus.[82]
This was followed by a brace in Inter's 2–0 win atEmpoli three days later, taking the lead of goalscorers table with six goals in six appearances; it was also the first time that he has scored in four consecutive Serie A matches.[83][84]
On 7 October, Icardi signed a new contract extension with Inter until June 2021, with a buy-out clause of €110 million.[85][86] With the new deal, Icardi will earn €4,5 million per season plus various bonuses based on his performances, goals and image rights. Shortly after signing the contract, Icardi stated: "I'm really happy to have signed this new contract that will keep me at the club until 2021. My dream is to win trophies with this team. I heard lots of things during the transfer window, as you always do, but the club was on my side. I have my agent and wife Wanda to thank for this renewal and we're all pleased at home."[87]
Icardi scored a brace to beat Torino 2–1 at the San Siro, giving Inter their first win in their last 5 games.[88] Then, he continued with his outrageous form, scoring back-to-back home braces againstCrotone andFiorentina.[89] In the last match of 2016, Icardi scored another brace againstLazio to help Inter finish the year on a high.[90] He finished the first part of the season with 14 goals and 5 assists, being the most efficient striker in the top 5 leagues, overtaking stars suchCristiano Ronaldo andLionel Messi.[91][92]The Guardian named him the world's 49th best player, winning 33 positions compared to last year ranking.[93]
On 15 January 2017, in the 3–1 home win againstChievo which was the fifth consecutive win in league, Icardi scored his 15th league goal of the season becoming the first Inter player to score at least 15 goals in three consecutive seasons sinceZlatan Ibrahimović andChristian Vieri.[94][95] On 12 March, he scored a hat-trick against Atalanta, bringing his tally to 20 goals for the season.[96] Icardi amassed 24 league goals in 34 appearances in the2016–17 season, setting a new personal best.[97] In Europa League, he scored twice in five matches as Inter finished last inGroup K.[98]
"He is the captain of Inter, and he is not your average kind of attacker. I have always told that he has the back bone like Ibrahimovic, because he wants the responsibility, he is a special kind of person and football player. A great guy and a great professional."
Icardi missed much of thepre-season after getting injured in May.[100] He was ready for the start of the season, however, scoring a brace inside 15 minutes in the opening matchday against Fiorentina as Inter won 3–0.[101] He repeated the feat a week later atRoma, as Inter overturned the score to win 3–1,[102] the first league win atStadio Olimpico after nine years; the goals were Icardi's first at the Olimpico as well.[103] On 10 September, Icardi scored with penalty kick againstSPAL to record his 76th Serie A goal forNerazzurri, entering in Inter's top 10 Serie A goalscorers.[104]
Later on 15 October, Icardi scored all three goals as Inter defeated cross-town rivalsMilan 3–2 to put Inter in second place.[105] He became the first player to score a hat-trick in theDerby della Madonnina sinceDiego Milito in May 2012.[106] Later on throughout the season, on 18 March 2018, Icardi scored four goals, including a 14-minute hat-trick, his 6th in Serie A, against his former club, Sampdoria, to give Inter a 5–0 win at theStadio Luigi Ferraris.[107] Furthermore, he broke the 100 goal mark in Serie A during the same match, taking his total tally to 103 Serie A goals in his 180th Serie A appearance, becoming the6th youngest player ever to achieve this feat, at the age of 25 years and 27 days; his fourth goal of the match was also his 100th goal for Inter, in his 172nd appearance for the club.[108][109][110][111]
On 22 April, Icardi scored a tap-in in the 2–1 away win versusChievo which was his 26th league goal of the season, becoming the first Inter player sinceAngelillo in the 1958–59 season to achieve the feat.[112] The next week, Icardi scored on Inter's dramatic 2–3 loss to Juventus, marking his 8th goal in 11 appearances against the Turin side.[113]
In the final championship game away versusLazio, Icardi won and converted a penalty kick to temporally level the score in an eventual 3–2 win.[114] This win placed Inter fourth in championship tied on points with Lazio but ahead on head-to-head points, meaning the club had returned to Champions League for the first time since 2012.[115] With 29 goals, Icardi won theCapocannoniere jointly with Lazio'sCiro Immobile,[116] breaking his previous record of 24 goals set in the previous season; he also become the first Inter player to reach this tally sinceAntonio Angelillo during the1958–59 season (33 goals).
Icardi began the new season in slow form, failing to score in the opening six championship matches. He also missed the away game against Bologna due to injury.[117] Icardi played his first match in the UEFA Champions League on 18 September in Inter's openingGroup B game againstTottenham Hotspur, netting a late equalizer with a 20-yard volley in an eventual 2–1 home win.[118] His strike was named Champions League Goal of the Week.[119] In the second game away atPSV Eindhoven, Icardi was on the score-sheet again by netting a tap-in after taking the ball around goalkeeperJeroen Zoet to give Inter a second 2–1 comeback win.[120] By doing so Icardi become the first Inter player sinceAdriano in2004–05 season to score in each of his first two Champions League matches.[121][122]
By scoring a brace in Inter's 2–1 win atSPAL,[123] Icardi reached 103 Serie A goals by matchingChristian Vieri[124] tally as the seventh player with the most Serie A goals scored with Inter.[125] In the first game following the international break, Icardi played and scored the game-winner againstMilan to make it five league wins in a row for Inter,[126] also scoring the club's 300th goal in theDerby della Madonnina.[127]
Icardi made his 200th Serie A appearance on 24 November by playing in the last 13 minutes of a 3–0 home win over Frosinone.[128][129] On 13 February 2019, because of several comments that Icardi's wife and agent,Wanda Nara, made about Inter's management and its players on the TV programTiki Taka,[130] Inter announced that he was to be replaced bySamir Handanović as club captain.[131] In response to being stripped of the captaincy, Icardi refused to play in the club'sUEFA Europa League match againstRapid Wien the following day.[132]
He returned in action on 3 April in the league match againstGenoa, 53 days since his last appearance; on his return, Icardi scored a penalty after being fouled inside the penalty area byCristian Romero, who received a straight red card. In the second half, he also set up Ivan Perišić goal before making way forKeita Balde in 80th minute.[133] With this goal, Icardi matched Christian Vieri as Inter's eighth all-time top goalscorer with 123 goals.[134]
In July 2019, it was announced that Icardi would not travel on the club's pre-season tour.[135] On 8 August 2019, the club signed Belgian strikerRomelu Lukaku; the following day he was assigned the number 9 shirt that had been worn by Icardi since his arrival in 2013.[136] To avoid potential legal complications, on 20 August Inter assigned Icardi with the number 7 shirt.[137]
On 1 May, Icardi won his first club trophy, as PSG were crowned Ligue 1 champions after the season had been called off amid theCOVID-19 pandemic; at the time of the league's premature suspension, PSG were in first place, with a twelve–point lead over second–placed Marseille.[145] On 31 May, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan reached an agreement for Icardi's transfer, worth a reported €60 million.[146] Icardi signed a four-year contract with PSG.[146] After the season resumed in the summer, Icardi went onto win theCoupe de France,Coupe de la Ligue, and reached theUEFA Champions League final, in which he remained an unused substitute despite being the team's leading goalscorer in the tournament with 5 goals in 7 games, alongsideKylian Mbappé.[147]
Icardi missed the first two matches of the season, which were againstLens andMarseille, due to having tested positive forCOVID-19.[148] He made his return to action on 16 September 2020, in a 1–0 win againstMetz,[149][150] and scored his first two goals of the season in a 2–0 win againstReims on 27 September.[151] In October 2020, PSG managerThomas Tuchel announced that Icardi had suffered an injury to the internal ligament of the knee.[152]
Icardi's return to play came on 28 November, as he came on as a substitute in a 2–2 league draw againstBordeaux.[153] Before the next match againstManchester United, he suffered a setback on his injury, and his time on the sidelines was extended.[154] He had to wait until 9 January 2021 to make his return, coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 win againstBrest; he would go on to score a goal himself and assist another forPablo Sarabia.[155] In the following match, which was against rivals Marseille in theTrophée des Champions, Icardi scored a goal and won a penalty, as PSG were victorious 2–1. He was awarded theman of the match trophy.[156] On 19 May, Icardi opened the scoring for PSG in their 2–0 defeat ofMonaco in the2021 Coupe de France Final.[157]
On 7 August 2021, Icardi scored his first goal of the2021–22 season in a 2–1 league win over newly promotedTroyes.[158] On 19 September, he scored the winning goal in stoppage time to hand PSG a 2–1 victory overLyon.[159] By the end of the season, Icardi had only scored five goals across all competitions, his lowest tally in a campaign since his debut season at Sampdoria.[160]
He began the season in Paris without participating in a game for PSG, however he was named for the match against Nantes for the final ofTrophée des Champions.The decision was made by coach Galtier to keep Icardi out of the squad list for the Champions League for the season.[161]
On 8 September 2022, Icardi signed a one-year loan contract with TurkishSüper Lig clubGalatasaray.[162][163] He was presented to thousands of fans when he landed atAtatürk Airport in the same night.[164]
Icardi made his official debut for the side on 16 September 2022, coming off the bench in a 2–1 win againstKonyaspor.[165] Notably, he played a significant role in the encounter againstAlanyaspor on 23 October, where he netted his first league goal and contributed a pivotal outside-of-foot assist toDries Mertens, ultimately helping them get a draw. Demonstrating his prowess, Icardi had another fine performance in a 7–0 triumph overİstanbul Başakşehir, recording one goal and two assists. Following a minor injury sustained towards the end of the2022 FIFA World Cup,[166] the Argentine footballer made an impressive comeback by scoring and assisting in theintercontinental derby againstFenerbahçe, within just fifteen minutes of play. His passion and determination quickly earned him a place in the hearts of the fans. During a match againstAntalyaspor at theNef Stadium, the song "Aşkın Olayım," which had been dedicated to Icardi for some time, was played, further solidifying his connection with the supporters.[167]
On 14 April 2023, Icardi scored a hat-trick and recorded a further assist in a 6–0 win overKayserispor.[168] Following a 4–1 away victory againstAnkaragücü on 30 May, in which Icardi scored a brace, Galatasaray secured the2022–23 Süper Lig title.[169] Icardi then scored in Galatasaray's reverse fixture against Fenerbahçe on 4 June, capping off a run of 13 goals in 9 matches. This also meant he had scored in all of the derby games he played in for his side (against Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş).[170] Icardi would conclude the league campaign with 22 goals and 7 assists.[171]
2023–24: Süper Lig top goalscorer and back-to-back league titles
"Some players have a gift on the pitch, mine is scoring goals. There's no secret. I recently reached the milestone of 200 goals, and with every goal I score, I'm genuinely delighted by the support of the fans."
On 28 July 2023, Galatasaray announced that Icardi had arrived in Istanbul to complete his permanent transfer to Turkey.[173] On 30 July, he signed a three-year contract with the club.[174] As per the agreement, Icardi would receive a salary of €6 million per year and a transfer fee of €10 million was paid to his former club Paris Saint-Germain.[175]
On 21 October, Icardi surpassedGala legendGheorghe Hagi's tally of eight goals to become the foreign player with the most goals in derbies for Galatasaray, reaching ten.[180][181] On 24 October, he scored aPanenka penalty againstBayern Munich in his side's 3–1 Champions League group stage home defeat.[182][183]
On 26 May 2024, Icardi scored twice in a 3–1 away overKonyaspor, a result that clinched the Süper Lig title for the club with a league record 102 points.[184][185] He also ended the season as the Süper Lig's top scorer with 25 goals.[186]
Icardi enjoyed a strong start to the2024–25, scoring the club's first goal of the Süper Lig season during a comeback win againstHatayspor. His goal, a calmly taken penalty in the 80th minute, helped Galatasaray overturn a 1–0 defeat to win the match 2–1.[187]
On November 7, 2024, he suffered ananterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee during a 3–2 Europa League win againstTottenham Hotspur in Istanbul. Icardi went down in pain as he attempted to close down a pass from Tottenham goalkeeperFraser Forster. The club has declared that he ruptured his ACL and damaged hismeniscus and would undergo a "pre-operative rehabilitation" before an operation on his right knee.[188][189] He was set to miss the rest of the season.
CoachOkan Buruk announced that Icardi would take over as Galatasaray team captain afterFernando Muslera's departure to Argentine clubEstudiantes.[190] On 15 August 2025, in the second match of the2025-26 season, Mauro Icardi, who was on the bench during theFatih Karagümrük match played at RAMS Park, he replacedBarış Alper Yılmaz in the 81st minute, returning to the field after 281 days. Six minutes later, he scored the goal that sealed the 3-0 victory for his team. On 13 December 2025, in a Süper Lig match againstAntalyaspor, Icardi scored in a 4–1 away victory, equalingGheorghe Hagi’srecord for most Süper Lig goals scored by a foreign player in Galatasaray history.[191]
On 4 February 2026, Argentinian star Icardi has become the highest-scoring foreign player in the history of the yellow-red club.[192][193]
Icardi scored his first goal with Argentina U20 on 19 August in a 2–0 win overJapan,[197] which was followed by another two in the 2–1 win againstTurkey three days later.[198] The tournament ended in conquest, as Icardi was the top scorer with three goals.[199]
FollowingItaly national football team managerCesare Prandelli's interest in Icardi's performances, in February 2013, Icardi stated his wish to play for theArgentina senior team, despite also being eligible to play for Italy, saying: "I'm very grateful to Italian football for the opportunity it has given me, I'd also like to thank Prandelli for the nice words he expressed about me. But I have to be honest and sincere – I'm Argentine, I feel Argentine, and I've always dreamed of wearing the shirt of my nation. To actually do that would be the maximum for me."[200]
On 15 October 2013, he played his first game for the main squad, coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute forAugusto Fernández in a 2–3FIFA World Cup qualifier loss away toUruguay.[201]
In April 2016, Icardi was excluded fromGerardo Martino's preliminary squad for theCopa América Centenario,[202] although the Argentine manager later named him to Argentina's preliminary under-23 squad for the2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.[203] However, Inter did not release Icardi to participate in the Olympics.[204]
In October 2016, rumours started to speculate in Argentina thatLionel Messi was behind Icardi's exclusion from the national team due to Messi's friendship withMaxi López, Icardi's wife's former partner.[205][206] The national team coachEdgardo Bauza stated that Icardi's off-field antics have nothing to do with him not being selected for Argentina and he would receive a call-up soon, adding that Messi does not "dictate" the team.[207][208] However, he was omitted again for the2018 FIFA World Cup qualification matches againstBrazil andColombia in November.[209]
On 19 May 2017, Icardi received his first call-up after more than three years by newly appointed coachJorge Sampaoli for the friendlies againstBrazil andSingapore in June.[210]
In May 2018, Icardi was named in Argentina's preliminary 35-mansquad for the2018 FIFA World Cup inRussia.[211] Later that month, however, he was left out from the final 23.[212]
Icardi scored his first senior international goal on 20 November 2018, in a 2–0 friendly home win overMexico.[213] His goal, scored after just 71 seconds, was the fourth quickest goal in Argentina history.[214] In this match, he won the first trophy with the senior team - Copa Adidas 2018.[215]
In May 2019, Icardi was included in Argentina managerLionel Scaloni's preliminary 40-man squad for the2019 Copa América.[216] Later that month, however, he was excluded from the final 23-man squad for the tournament.[217]
Throughout multiple periods, Icardi's form dipped and he was subsequently left out of Argentina's squad for the2022 FIFA World Cup having failed to impress with Paris Saint-Germain or on loan with Galatasaray.[218][219]
NicknamedEl niño del partido,[220] Icardi is a quick, tactically intelligent, and physically strong striker, with good technique. Known for his excellent attacking movement, positioning, an eye for goal, he mainly operates in central areas inside the penalty box; an accurate and efficient finisher with his head and either foot inside the area, he is known for his ability to score from few touches, although he can also hold up the ball in order to create space or chances for other players, and play off of his teammates.[220][221][222][223][224] Although he was once criticised for his limited creative and defensive contribution, as well as his lack of significant pace, stamina, power, and movement outside the box,[221][223] his work-rate has improved in recent seasons, and has seen him drift out to wide positions in order to create space or provide assists for teammates.[225][226] Long regarded as a talented and promising prospect,[221] in 2013,Don Balón listed him as one of the top 100 young players born after 1992.[227]
Speaking of Icardi, Inter coachStefano Pioli stated that Icardi "is an animal in the box", and "always finding the right position",[228] while the1982 FIFA World Cup winnerPaolo Rossi described Icardi as a "deadly striker", adding that "even in the most complicated games he can create the right opportunity and take advantage of it."[229] Inter manager Luciano Spalletti called him "a complete striker" adding that "for his age shoulders so much responsibility".[230] In an interview in January 2015, Icardi said his role model isGabriel Batistuta, but during his time at Barcelona, he added that the forward he mostly resembled wasSamuel Eto'o.[231]
Mauro Icardi has maintained a long-standing endorsement relationship with the American sportswear giantNike. He first signed with the brand in 2013, during his early years at Inter Milan. In December 2018, Icardi extended his partnership with Nike by signing a significant long-term deal reported to last nine years, securing the relationship until 2027. This renewal was seen as a strategic move by Nike to retain one of the top goal-scorers in European football, particularly at a time when Icardi was Inter's captain and a prominent figure in Serie A. As part of the sponsorship, Icardi has consistently worn Nike football boots and appeared in various promotional campaigns. The deal further solidified his position as one of Nike’s key football ambassadors, especially in the Latin American and European markets.[232]
In December 2023, Icardi and his wife, Wanda Nara, became ambassadors forZen Pırlanta [tr], a leading Turkish diamond jewelry brand.[233] They appeared together in high-profile advertising campaigns, gaining attention in Turkey and enhancing Icardi's presence in the luxury market.
Icardi married Argentine media personalityWanda Nara. Nara was married to Icardi's formerSampdoria teammateMaxi López, but the couple split after her relationship with Icardi was exposed. She and López began divorce proceedings in December 2013.[234] Nara and Icardi subsequently married on 27 May 2014, not long after the divorce was finalised, at a small ceremony inBuenos Aires.[235] They have two daughters, Francesca, born on 19 January 2015,[236] and Isabella, born on 27 October 2016. Both were born inMilan.[237]
The marriage to Wanda provoked animosity against Icardi in Argentina, making him a target of rumors and unsubstantiated claims by Argentinian tabloids. It has been argued that the generalized hatred against him has been an important factor against his being called to the national team, and even prospective calls have been heavily criticized by figures such as the lateDiego Maradona, who had entangled in bitter exchanges with Icardi on Twitter as a result of his marriage to Nara.[238] During an April 2014Serie A match between Sampdoria and Inter, López notably refused to shake Icardi's hand, leading the press to dub the game the "Wanda derby".[239] Two years later, López repeated the story by again refusing to shake Icardi's hand during a Serie A match againstTorino.[240]
He features on the cover of the Italian version ofEA Sports'FIFA 16, alongside global cover star and compatriotLionel Messi.[241] On 6 December 2015, Icardi was robbed of his £29,000Hublot watch after Inter's 1–0 win overGenoa.[242]
On 11 October 2016, Icardi released his autobiography calledSempre Avanti (Always Forward) published by Sperling & Kupfer. The book caused controversy as Icardi had described an incident which offended certain Inter fans, leading to a banner being displayed calling for Icardi to leave the club.[243] He was fined by the club and was forced to remove such content from the book.[244][245]
In October 2021, Icardi was publicly accused by his wife Nara of having an affair withMaría Eugenia Suárez (known as China Suárez), following her discovery of messages between the pair on his phone.[246][247] After years of anon-again, off-again relationship, Nara announced their separation on 10 July 2024.[248] In January 2025, Icardi went public with his relationship with China Suárez.[249] In the same month, he accused Nara of having had an affair with his former Inter Milan teammateKeita Baldé in January 2023.[250]
^ab"Chi è Mauro Icardi" [Who is Mauro Icardi] (in Italian). Il Post. 29 January 2013.Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved1 June 2015.
Paolo Fontanesi, Mauro Icardi,Sempre avanti. La mia storia segreta, Milan, Sperling & Kupfer, 2016,ISBN88-20060-92-2 (Always forward. My secret life).(in Italian)
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