The 2004/05 Argentina Clausura tournament was a football competition in the Argentine Primera Division. This tournament, part of the 2004-2005 season, saw several top Argentine football clubs compete for the title. Velez Sarsfield emerged as the champions of the Clausura tournament, securing the title with an impressive performance throughout the season.
Argentina always produces fantastic players, the Panini Clausura 2005 set should have some beauties!
Let’s get into the top 10!
The Panini Clausura 2005 Complete Album
10 – Mauro Zarate Rookie Sticker – #131

Mauro Zarate is an extremely talented forward renowned for his exceptional technical skills, agility, and creative flair on the field. He has outstanding dribbling ability, allowing him to to be a handfull for defenders. Zarate’s quick acceleration and change of pace make him a constant threat and he also possesses a keen eye for goal, capable of finishing with both power and precision. His versatility allows him to play in various attacking positions, whether as a central forward, a second striker, or on the wings.
In the 2004/05 Argentina Clausura tournament, Zarate showcased this talents for the title winning side. He was only 17 years old and featured only 4 times, but he demonstrated remarkable composure and skill, scoring once.
Zarate’s talent far exceeds what he has been able to achieve in his career and has been somewhat of a nomad. His best football came at Lazio, where he is still a fan favourite. He spent 3 seasons there and was electrifying up top. After Lazio, he struggled to settle in a team and bounced from club to club. Here is a list of the teams he has played for: Velez, Al Sadd (before Lazio), Birmingham City (Before Lazio), Inter Milan, West Ham, QPR, Fiorentina, Watford, Al Nasr, Boca Juniors, América Mineiro, Juventude, and Platense.
9 – German Denis Rookie Sticker – #335

German Denis is a striker that known for his physicality, strong aerial ability, and goal-scoring instincts. His play style was shaped around his ability to hold up the ball, win duels in the air, and his clinical finishing in front of goal. During his time in Argentina, he was given the nickname el tanque, which means the tank in Spanish, due to his physical strength.
During the 2004/05 Clausura tournament, Denis’s scored 5 goals for Arsenal in what was a successful campaign for the team as they finished 6th. The following year he signed for Independiente, following Serio Aguero’s exit, and after scoring 27 goals in 36 appearances in the 2007/08 season, he signed for Napoli.
He would spend 8 seasons in the Serie for Napoli, Udinese and Atalanta scoring 76 goals. After 5 seasons at Atalanta he moved back to Independiente and eventually finish his career at Lanus. A very solid striker who managed 5 caps for Argentina.
8 – Juan Manuel Vargas Rookie Sticker – #173

Juan Manuel Vargas, the Peruvian winger, wingback or midfielder, is renowned for his dynamic and physical playing style. Known for his powerful runs down the flank, Vargas had strength, pace, and technical ability. He excels in delivering accurate crosses from wide positions, and scoring bombs from distance.
During the 2004/05 Argentina Clausura tournament, Vargas was playing for Colon after signing from Peruvian club, Universitario de Deportes. His impressive displays on the wing, marked by his ability to create scoring opportunities and contribute defensively, made him a standout player as he scored 3 goals. He signed for Catania in the Serie A in 2006 and was a key player in the Serie A for 9 seasons.
He played his best football at Fiorentina as he became a crucial part of the Viola squad providing crucial assists, giving the squad great speed and acting almost as a third forward. He also played for Genoa for 1 season before moving back to Fiorentina for 2 seasons. He moved on to Real Betis once his Fiorentina spell come to an end and he finished his career soon after.
A really cool rookie sticker.
7 – Lisandro Lopez Rookie Sticker – #88

Lisandro Lopez was a clinical striker, know for his technical skill, and goal-scoring ability. His game is shaped by his agility, sharp finishing, and intelligent movement off the ball. His precise shooting and ability to find space in the penalty area make him a constant threat to opposing defences.
During the 2004/05 Argentina Clausura tournament, López played for Racing Club. He was a key player for his team, contributing 6 goals in 18 games as a very young striker. In the 2004/05 season, he scored 18 goals in 37 games and earned a move to Porto the following season. He had mega success at Porto, winning 4 Primeira Liga titles! The 2007/08 season saw a Lopez on fire, as he bagged 24 goals in 27.
In 2009, Lisandro signed for Lyon in the Ligue 1, and had a very impressive goal output in his time there. He scored a goal every 2 games and a total of 82. In 2013 he made the decision to cash in and move to Qatar, and spent a couple seasons there before moving back to South America. He spent another 6 seasons at boyhood club Racing Club before trying his luck in the MLS. Incredibly he has played 11 games in 2024 for Argentine team Sarmiento at the age of 41!
Maybe a retirement is impending soon which will mark the end of a very good career. 7 caps and 1 goal for Argentina is not bad at all, considering who he had to compete with.
6 – Fernando Gago Rookie Sticker – #36

Fernando Gago was a deep lying midfielder known for his exceptional vision, passing accuracy, and composure on the ball. He could dictate the tempo of the game from the midfield, acting as a deep-lying playmaker who can distribute the ball effectively to all areas of the pitch. Furthermore, his positioning and anticipation make him a reliable defensive presence, while his ability to transition quickly from defence to attack adds an important dynamic to his team’s play.
In the 2004/05 Argentina Clausura tournament, while playing for Boca Juniors, Gago was only 18 years old. Despite his youth, he featured 7 times and became a first team regular the following season. By 2006, Real Madrid came knocking and Gago jetted off to La Liga for 20 million euros.
Gago had a solid start to his time at Madrid, being a first team regular until he went down with a knee injury. He struggled for gametime after this and moved to Roma in 2011 on loan. The move wasn’t made permanent despite featuring 30 times, and in 2013, Gago moved back to boyhood club Boca Juniors at 26 years old. He spent 7 seasons, at Boca but was plagued with injuries. During the 7 seasons, he only featured 119 times, and in 2019, he moved to Velez. He spent 2 seasons with Velez before retiring.
Fernando Gago is one of those “what if” players. Supremely talented but injuries got him. Nonetheless, he featured 60 times for Argentina and had quite a good career. A nice rookie sticker.
5 – Pablo Zabaleta Rookie Sticker – #106

Pablo Zabaleta, an Argentine right-back, is known for his defensive solidity, versatility, tireless work rate and professionalism. Zabaleta was a strong tackler, had excellent positioning, and the ability to support both defence and attack. Zabaleta’s defensive skills include well-timed tackles, interceptions, and an ability to read the game effectively. Offensively, Zabaleta contributes by making overlapping runs, delivering accurate crosses, and supporting the midfield with his passing and movement. His stamina and determination ensure he can cover a lot of ground, making him a consistent presence on the flank.
During the 2004/05 Argentina Clausura tournament, while playing for San Lorenzo, Zabaleta and San Lorenzo has a torrid time finishing 16th. Despite the poor season, Zabaleta impressed and earned a move to Espanyol the following year. After 3 seasons in Spain, Manchester City with their oil money came knocking, and Zabaleta would go onto be a club legend.
Zabaleta spent 9 seasons with City, featuring 333 times and winning 2 Premier League titles. In 2017 he moved onto West Ham, where he spent 2 seasons before retiring. A really top career and 58 caps for Argentina. Unfortunately for Zabaleta, he only has the 2 runners up medals for Argentina – 2014 World Cup and 2011 Copa America.
4 – Rodrigo Palacio Rookie Sticker – #43

Rodrigo Palacio is known for his technical skill, agility, goal-scoring ability, and his rattail! His play style is shaped by his quick footwork, sharp movement, and creativity. Palacio excels in tight spaces, using his dribbling skills and vision to create scoring opportunities. His versatility allows him to play effectively in various attacking roles, including as a winger, a second striker, or a striker.
In the 2004/05 Argentina Clausura tournament, Palacio played for Boca Juniors, scoring 3 goals in what was a poor campaign for the team. Palacio would go on to play 5 seasons at Boca, before singing for Genoa in the Serie A to replace legendary striker Diego Milito. Interestingly, Palacio would follow Milito’s footsteps by signing for Inter Milan in 2012 after bagging 19 league goals for Genoa in 2011.
Palacio was an important part of the Inter Squad, playing as a second striker, and featuring 169 times over 5 seasons. He wasn’t as prolific as Milito, but scored a goal about every 3 games. He would sign for Bologna in 2017 and spend 4 seasons there. In his final year he moved to Brescia at the age of 39!
Palacio retired with an impressive career, spending 12 seasons in the Italian top flight! He finished with only 27 caps for Argentina because the competition was too strong. He was behind the likes of Messi, Aguero, Higuain, Tevez, Milito and the next player in our list!
3 – Ezequiel Lavezzi Rookie Sticker – #108

Ezequiel Lavezzi was a fantastic forward known for his explosive pace, dribbling ability, and creativity on the field. He possessed impressive dribbling skills, allowing him to make quick changes of directions. Lavezzi’s attacking flair is complemented by his excellent ball control, technical skills, and sharp vision, which enable him to create and convert scoring opportunities.
During the 2004/05 Argentina Clausura tournament, Lavezzi played for San Lorenzo and scored 2 goals in 11 games at the age of 19. He showed glimpses of his ability and became a key player for San Lorenzo in the coming seasons. In 2007 he signed for Napoli and lit up the Serie A with his dynamic performances.
He spent 5 seasons at Napoli, and socred 48 goals from the wing. In 2012, money bags PSG came knocking and he signed for 26 million euro – the following season his Napoli teammate Edinson Cavani would follow. Lavezzi spent 4 seasons at PSG and won 3 league titles. He would finish off his career with a mega salary in China at Hebei China Fortune.
51 caps for Argentina should not be overlooked when you consider the attacking options Argentina had during Lavezzi’s time! A really top rookie sticker!
2 – Javier Mascherano Rookie Sticker – #15

Javier Mascherano is renowned for his exceptional tackling, interception skills, and ability to break up opposition attacks. He has an aggressive and tenacious approach to defence, combined with a high level of tactical awareness and positional discipline. Mascherano’s work rate, stamina, and leadership qualities also stand out, as he often serves as the backbone of his team’s midfield. Later in his career he would convert into a center back for Barcelona
In the 2004/05 Argentina Clausura tournament, Mascherano played for River Plate and following his performances, signed for Corinthians in Brazil. It wasn’t long before Europe took notice and he was off to West Ham in 2006 in what was a double transfer for Mascherano and Tevez. The deal would turn out to be very controversial, but after only 5 appearances, Javier signed for Liverpool.
He spent 4 seasons at Liverpool as their midfield enforcer. He was so effective Barcelona came knocking, and being at that time the best team in the world, Mascherano didn’t think twice. It was a good decision on his part as he won 5 La Liga titles and 2 Champions League titles in 8 seasons with the club. Like Lavezzi, he moved to Hebei China Fortune in China for a couple seasons, and then he moved to Estudiantes in Argentina before retiring aged 36.
An absolutely legendary player, and with 147 caps for Argentina, this is a monster rookie sticker! If you ever come across this one, grab it if possible!
1 – Sergio Aguero Rookie Sticker – #62

Sergio Aguero is celebrated for his exceptional goal-scoring ability, quickness, and technical skills. Aguero is known for his ability to make intelligent runs, exploit spaces in the defenxce, and score goals from various positions on the field. His low center of gravity, strength in balance combined with his dribbling and close control allow him to navigate tight spaces and hold off defenders. To make it even more difficult for defenders, his right foot is an absolute rocket, capable of blasting the ball into the net with a short back lift.
During the 2004/05 Argentina Clausura tournament, Aguero played for Independiente and was only 16 years old! Despite being only 16 years old, his performances were impressive, as he scored 1 goal in 4 matches. Aguero’s ability to impact games with his skill and composure made him one of the most exciting young talents in Argentine football, and the world! The following season, at 17 years old, he would score 18 goals in 36 matches, prompting Atletico Madrid to splash the cash to get his signature the next season.
After lighting up La Liga, and scoring over 100 goals in 5 seasons, Oil Rig FC came waving the cash and secured his signature. Aguero probably is now considered Manchester City’s greatest ever player and was unbelievable in the Premier League! he spent 10 seasons with City, and scored a whopping 260 goals! He won 5 league titlesat Manchester before moving to Barcelona in 2021. Unfortunately for Aguero and us, he only featured 4 times before being forced into an early retirement because of a heart condition.
101 caps and 41 goals for Argentina, combined with his insane club record, this is a really really big rookie sticker. Already a very expensive sticker – good luck getting your hands on it!
Unlucky Omissions
Ignacio Scocco Rookie Sticker – #149
Mariano Pavone Rookie Sticker – #215
Dario Cvitanich Rookie Sticker – #314



Jonás Gutiérrez Rookie Sticker – #127
José Sosa Rookie Sticker – #217
Diego Valeri Rookie Sticker – #295



Final Word
What an epic set this is! Absolutely stacked with rookie stickers and even has legends such as Marcelo Gallardo, Martin Palermo, Diego Simone and Marcelo Salas. The concentration of rookie led me to leave out these legends in the top 10, and I think I have made the right choice.
Let me know what you think by commenting below or message me on my instagram.
Thanks for reading!