Ezequiel Lavezzi
A whippet-fast Argentine winger whose electrifying runs and relentless work rate fueled Napoli's rise and his national team's run to a World Cup final.
Born 1985 (age 41)·Argentine footballer·Birthday: May 3·Millennials
Biography
Ezequiel 'Pocho' Lavezzi's career was defined by explosive acceleration and a gritty, joyful approach to the game. Emerging from Estudiantes in Argentina, he became a cult hero at Napoli, where his partnership with Edinson Cavani and Marek Hamšík propelled the club back into Serie A prominence and the Champions League. His tireless tracking back and sudden, darting attacks made him a modern winger prototype. A key component of the Argentine national team's 'Golden Generation,' his selfless running created space for Lionel Messi and others, culminating in a starting role in the 2014 World Cup final. A lucrative move to China with Hebei China Fortune signaled the twilight of his playing days, but his legacy remains that of a player whose effort and spark defined teams that punched above their weight.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ezequiel was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ezequiel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Ezequiel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won three trophies with Paris Saint-Germain, including two Ligue 1 titles, after a high-profile transfer from Napoli.
- Was a pivotal part of the Napoli team that won the Coppa Italia in 2012, their first major trophy in over two decades.
- Started for Argentina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final against Germany.
- Earned over 50 caps for the Argentine national team, playing in two Copa América finals.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Pocho' is a common Argentine term for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.
He suffered a serious arm injury in 2016 after falling off a quad bike while on vacation in Uruguay.
After retiring, he launched a cannabis company in Uruguay called 'Pocho Lavezzi.'
He famously celebrated a goal for Napoli by pretending to smoke a cigar on the pitch.
“You have to play with joy, as if you were still a kid in the street.”
