Martín Palermo
An Argentine striker whose career was defined by a superhuman tolerance for pain and a flair for the impossibly dramatic goal.
Born 1973 (age 53)·Argentine footballer·Birthday: November 7·Generation X
Biography
Martín Palermo's story is one of extreme resilience and theatrical flair. Emerging from Estudiantes de La Plata, the tall, powerful striker became a folk hero at Boca Juniors, where his name is sung with reverence. His career was punctuated by a bizarre and nearly career-ending injury in 1999, when a celebration gone wrong saw him break his leg after a wall collapsed. He not only returned but thrived, scoring goals of every variety, from last-minute bicycle kicks to a rain-soaked, sliding winner against River Plate. Palermo's legend was cemented internationally with a hat-trick for Argentina in a 2010 World Cup qualifier, a fitting capstone for a player whose will to score matched his physical presence. After retiring, he transitioned into management, bringing the same intense, unyielding character to the touchline.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Martín was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Martín Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Martín's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
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
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored 236 goals for Boca Juniors, becoming one of the club's all-time top scorers.
- Won multiple Copa Libertadores titles and an Intercontinental Cup with Boca Juniors in 2000.
- Scored a famous hat-trick for Argentina against Peru in 2010 to secure World Cup qualification.
- Holds the record for most penalties scored in the history of the Argentine Primera División.
Did You Know?
He once missed three penalties in a single match for Argentina against Colombia, a world record.
The injury that broke his leg occurred when a concrete wall gave way as he celebrated a goal.
He played for Spanish club Villarreal, where he suffered a serious knee injury that required a lengthy recovery.
His nickname is 'El Loco' (The Madman), reflecting his unpredictable and passionate style.
“I always said that I would retire at Boca, because this is my home.”
