Carlos Babington

A stylish Argentine attacking midfielder, Carlos Babington played with elegance, vision and the kind of left-footed calm that made possession feel more civilised. He was not an explosive dribbler or a chaotic match-winner, but a refined creator who understood rhythm, space and the value of the pass before the final pass. At Huracán, especially in César Luis Menotti’s brilliant 1973 side, he became one of the symbols of cultured Argentine football: technical, intelligent and beautifully associative. His game was built on pausa, clean distribution and graceful movement between midfield and attack. Perhaps lacking the ruthless edge of the very greatest number 10s, but rich in class and tactical sensitivity.