Big Five (Argentine football)
The Big Five refers to the traditional top five clubs in Argentine football: River Plate, Boca Juniors, Racing Club, Independiente, and San Lorenzo de Almagro.
Cover of Historia de los 5 Grandes del Fútbol Argentino, published in 1937, featuring the Big Five, fltr: Boca Juniors, River Plate, Racing, Independiente and San Lorenzo de Almagro.
Advertisement by "Cigarrillos Imparciales" featuring "the big seven", c. 1950
Association football is the most popular sport in Argentina and part of the culture in the country. It is the one with the most players and is the most popular recreational sport, played from childhood into old age. The percentage of Argentines that declare allegiance to an Argentine football club is about 90%.
The Estadio Ciudad de La Plata during a Primera División match in 2014
The first football match played in Argentina, as covered by The Standard, June 1867
Team of Southern Railway Athletic Club, with Alexander Watson Hutton as one of its players, 1888
Team of Alumni (in white shirt) before playing English club Southampton in Buenos Aires, 26 June 1904. Southampton was the first foreign club to tour Argentina, then followed by several British teams
