Marcos Rojo · Biography

Faustino Marcos Alberto Rojo was born on 20 March 1990 in La Plata, Argentina, and came through the youth system at Estudiantes de La Plata, which he joined as a boy in 2000. He is a left-footed centre-back who has also played at left-back. His career took him to clubs in Argentina, Russia, Portugal and England, and he won 61 caps for Argentina between 2011 and 2019, finishing as a World Cup runner-up in Brazil in 2014.

Youth career and debut at Estudiantes

Rojo went through every youth level at the La Plata club and made his Argentine top-flight debut in December 2008. In 2009 he was a squad player when Estudiantes won the Copa Libertadores. That December he came on in extra time of the Club World Cup final in Dubai, which Estudiantes lost 2-1 to Barcelona. He played a bigger part in 2010 as a member of the side that won the 2010 Apertura, the last trophy of his first spell at the club.

Spartak Moscow and Sporting CP

In early 2011 he joined Spartak Moscow, his first move abroad. His time in Russia was short: 17 competitive appearances and one goal. In the summer of 2012 he signed for Sporting CP and became a regular in the Portuguese league. Over two seasons he made 61 appearances, playing both at centre-back and at left-back, the role he had already filled for Argentina at the 2011 Copa América.

Manchester United

In August 2014, shortly after the World Cup, Manchester United paid around €20 million to sign him. At Old Trafford he played under Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær. He won the 2016 FA Cup under Van Gaal. Under Mourinho he added the 2016 Community Shield and then, in 2017, the League Cup and the Europa League. In January 2020 he went back to Estudiantes on a six-month loan before returning to England. He left United with 122 appearances and two goals.

Boca Juniors and Racing Club

In February 2021 he left United and signed for Boca Juniors. At Boca he won the 2019-20 Copa Argentina, the 2022 Copa de la Liga Profesional and the 2022 Argentine league title. He also played in the 2023 Copa Libertadores, where Boca lost the final to Fluminense. In August 2025 he ended his Boca contract by mutual agreement and joined Racing Club. His debut came in a 1-0 home defeat to Peñarol in the first leg of the Libertadores round of 16.

Argentina national team

He made his senior debut for Argentina on 9 February 2011, in a 2-1 friendly win over Portugal in Geneva. Later that year he played at the Copa América. His best tournament was the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He arrived under criticism but started at left-back, scored with his knee in a 3-2 win over Nigeria and was named in the team of the tournament. Argentina lost the final to Germany. He was also a Copa América runner-up in 2015, scoring against Paraguay in the 6-1 semi-final win, and at the 2016 Copa América Centenario. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia he scored the goal that beat Nigeria 2-1 and sent Argentina into the round of 16, where France won 4-3. His international career ended in 2019 with 61 caps and three goals.

Playing style and return to La Plata

Rojo is a left-footed centre-back who is strong in the air and in physical duels. His left foot meant he could play at full-back in Lisbon and for Argentina. From the 2014 World Cup, he is remembered for a rabona clearance against Bosnia and Herzegovina and for nutmegging Arjen Robben in the semi-final against the Netherlands. In October 2026, after Boca knocked Racing out of the Copa Argentina, he asked to leave the Avellaneda club and returned to Estudiantes. It was his third spell at the club where he had made his debut in 2008.