*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:55, 19 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2024
An Argentina international since 2009, Otamendi has made over 120 appearances and represented his country at three FIFA World Cups and five Copas América. After consecutive runner-up finishes in the latter tournament, Otamendi won the 2021 Copa América on his fourth attempt, and would then lift the 2022 World Cup the following year, playing every single minute of Argentina's campaign. In 2024, Otamendi won a second consecutive Copa América title.
Otamendi scored his first professional goal during the 2009 Apertura, in a 3–1 victory over Arsenal de Sarandí. During that season he also made his debuts in an international club competition, appearing in the Copa Sudamericana; in recognition of his performances throughout the year he was chosen for the South American Team of the Year, in a traditional continent-wide journalists' poll conducted by the newspaper El País.[7]
Porto
On 23 August 2010, Otamendi was transferred to Portuguese side FC Porto on a €4 million fee, signing a five-year contract.[8] Vélez also retained 50% of his registration rights, with the player having a pre-set price of another €4 million to be met by Porto prior to September 2011.[9] He netted in his first match, a 2–0 home victory over S.C. Olhanense,[10] finishing his first season with 15 appearances and five goals (notably both in a 2–0 away win against S.C. Braga)[11] as the northerners won the Primeira Liga championship.
On 6 September 2011, Porto exercised the rights to sign the remainder of Otamendi's playing rights.[12][13] He played 30 official games during the season to help the club to another two major titles, notably the back-to-back domestic league.
Otamendi made his debut in the Spanish top level on 23 August 2014, starting in a 1–1 away draw against Sevilla FC.[18] He scored his first goal for his new club on 4 October, helping to a 3–1 home success over Atlético Madrid.[19]
On 4 January 2015, Otamendi headed Valencia's winner in a 2–1 home win over Real Madrid, ending their opponents' club record 22-match winning streak as a result.[20] After helping Los Chequalify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in four years, becoming the first club stopper to score six goals in the league in the process,[21] he was the only player from his team to be named in the La Liga Team of the Year.[citation needed]
In his final season at Manchester City, Otamendi made 39 appearances in total. He also helped his side retain the League Cup for the third season in a row in March 2020, his final trophy with City.[34]
Benfica
On 29 September 2020, Otamendi moved to former club Porto's rivals Benfica, signing a three-year contract for a €15 million fee, with Benfica defender Rúben Dias moving to Manchester City for a larger fee as part of the deal.[35] He made his league debut in a 3–2 win against Farense on 4 October.
International career
In April 2009, Otamendi was called up by Argentina national team coach Diego Maradona for a friendly with Panama.[36] At the time of his selection he had only played 11 professional games,[5] and eventually started the match on 20 May, in a 3–1 win.[37]
During the 2010 FIFA World Cupqualifying campaign, Otamendi played as a centre back alongside Martín Demichelis against Ecuador (0–2 away loss), partnered former Vélez teammate Domínguez against Brazil in a 1–3 home defeat and appeared as a right back in a 1–0 win in Uruguay which sealed the country's qualification to South Africa.[38] On 19 May 2010 he was confirmed as part of the 23-men squad for the final stages,[39] featuring in the starting eleven for the final group stage game against Greece; on the press conference after the match, Maradona said that, in his opinion, he was the best player on the field.[40]
Otamendi also played the 90 minutes of the round-of-16 game against Mexico, which Argentina won by 3–1. His final appearance in the tournament was the 0–4 quarter-final loss to Germany: this time his performance received criticism by the football press, as did his manager's decision to improvise him on the right-back position;[41] however, the player subsequently stated his desire to always play for his national team, even if not in his natural position.[42]
Otamendi scored his first goal for Argentina on 2 September 2011, in a 1–0 friendly win over Venezuela in Kolkata, after heading a corner taken by Lionel Messi.[43] After being cut from the squad that later appeared at the 2014 World Cup,[44] he was selected by coach Gerardo Martino for the 2015 Copa América,[45] playing the entirety of all but one match as they lost 1–4 to hosts Chile on a penalty shootout in the final; he was named in the Team of the Tournament.[46]
Otamendi started all the games in the Copa América Centenario in the United States, in which Argentina again both faced Chile in the tournament final and lost in a penalty shootout, 2–4.[47] In the second group match against Panama, on 10 June 2016, he scored the opening goal in a 5–0 win.[48]
In June 2021, he was included in Lionel Scaloni's final 28-man squad for the 2021 Copa América.[51] On 10 July, he played the entire match as Argentina defeated Brazil 1–0 in the final to win the Copa América.
He was included in the Argentina squad for the 2022 World Cup by Lionel Scaloni.[53] On 18 December 2022, in his 100th international cap,[54] he fouled Randal Kolo Muani to give away the penalty for France's opening goal in the final, where Argentina eventually won 4–2 in the penalty shoot-out after the match ended 3–3 at extra-time, to win the World Cup.[55] He played every single minute of the tournament.
In June 2024, Otamendi was included in Lionel Scaloni's final 26-man Argentina squad for the 2024 Copa América.[57] During the tournament Otamendi scored the decisive penalty against Ecuador in a 4-2 victory in the quarter-finals after a 1-1 draw.
Career statistics
Club
As of match played 19 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
^"Bem-vindo, Otamendi!" [Welcome, Otamendi!]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). 29 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
^Sottile, Marcelo (17 April 2009). "Bocación local" [Local bocation]. Olé (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 20 April 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2009.