The Millonarios rank among South America's most powerful teams, having boasted some of the best players in Argentine football history in their ranks
River Plate are one of South America's big guns for a reason.
They are not just one of the most successful teams on the continent, but they have also had absolute phenomenons wearing their iconic jersey.
Even the youngest football fans will have heard of Alfredo Di Stefano, Enzo Francescoli was one of the best of his generation, and more recent stars such as Hernan Crespo, Marcelo Gallardo, and Pablo Aimar all made a big impact on the game.
So picking an all-time greatest XI from that impressive list of players is not particularly straightforward.
There's simply not enough room to squeeze in all the stars to have represented River.
Yet we gave it a go after all; this is our ultimate River Plate dream team!
InternetGoalkeeper: Ubaldo Fillol
Fillol is considered, along with fellow Millo idol Amadeos Carrizo, as one of the greatest goalkeepers in Argentine history and just beats out the legend of La Maquina for the number one jersey.
Fillol helped end River’s 18-year wait for a title in 1975 and would add six more to the trophy cabinet in his Monumental stay as well as lifting Argentina's first World Cup in 1978.
AdvertisementALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP/Getty ImagesCentre-back: Jonathan Maidana
Maidana, still going strong in the River defence at 36, has marked an entire era at the club.
The ex-Boca youngster suffered the pain of relegation at the end of his first season at the club in 2011 but stayed put in their darkest hour and led them throughout the subsequent glory days.
His record at the Monumental includes over 300 games played, two Copa Libertadores titles, a Sudamericana, and the 2021 Liga Profesional. Maidana is a worthy addition to this illustrious team, a modern-day hero on a par with the greats who came before him.
Centre-back: Daniel Passarella
‘El Kaiser’, ‘El Gran Capitan’: no praise was too high for this true River legend. Despite only standing 1.73m tall Passarella was a talisman in defence for River and Argentina. As a coach the star would add three more titles to the six he won as a player in the Monumental – while he also holds the distinction of being the only Argentine to have lifted the World Cup twice, in 1978 as captain, and eight years later in Mexico.
While his presidency last decade ended in relegation and disaster, tainting somewhat his standing among the RIver faithful, he remains one of the greatest defenders Argentina has ever produced.
Centre-back: Roberto Perfumo
A product of the Nunez club’s youth system, Perfumo went on to become a legend at bitter rivals Racing Club, winning the National championship, Copa Libertadores and Copa Intercontinental in 1967 as Racing became the first Argentine club to be crowned world champions.
Already in his thirties when he returned to his first club, nevertheless the player whom dubbed “one of the best defenders in Argentine history” still had time to lead the Millo to three titles in as many years, playing over 100 games before finally retiring at the age of 36.