Argentine citizens love soccer. Argentina's national game is fútbol (soccer), which was introduced in the 1860s by British soldiers The Argentine national team won two World Cups, in 1978 and 1986 respectively, and came runner-up in 1930 and 1990. The Argentinean national team has become one of the best in the world and won World Cup titles in 1978 and 1986. In the streets, you may hear "Boca or River?" on the day of a fútbol game between the Boca Juniors and the River Plate team. Some Porteños ask this to strangers because they assume everybody is interested in fútbol.
Argentina has some renowned racing-car drivers, like Juan Manuel Fangio and Carlos Reutemann. Fangio was world champion five times in the 1950's. Rugby union is popular and the national team, the Pumas, regularly visits Australia and New Zealand.
Basketball, Volleyball, Hockey, Boxing, Polo and Tennis are also popular. Significant names in the international tennis circuit include Guillermo Vilas in the 1970's and early 1980's, Sabatini in the 90's and Guillermo Coria and David Nalbandian at present. Water sports are enjoyed by many people, and skiing is popular on the slopes of the central and southern Andes.
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Horse racing is another popular spectator sport. Races are held throughout the year. The two most main events are the Argentine Republic Prize, held in April, and the Grand National in November.
Argentineans have dominated the Polo. Argentinean team won the first Olympic gold medal in polo in 1924, Polo ponies are small thoroughbreds that are specially taught for the sport. Both Argentinean ponies and Argentinean polo players are sought by polo teams in other countries. The polo player Gonzalo Pieres is one of the best in the world.
Pato is a special Argentinean sport, first played by the Gauchos. Pato means "duck." Pato was originally played by two teams on horseback using a duck in a leather pouch with handles. Two players would grab the handles and pull until one let go. The winning team would ride away, while the opposing team tried to stop them and grab the pato. The sport became unsafe and it was banned in 1882. In the late 1930s, the sport was revived with new rules. Now two teams of four men on horseback attempt to throw the modern pato, a leather ball with six handles, into one of two baskets at either end of a large field.
Tennis was once a sport reserved for the rich until the Argentinian Guillermo Vilas did well in international competitions. Now it is played by young people all over the country. Gabriela Sabatini was ranked as one of the top women tennis players during her teenage years.
Families often go to the Atlantic coast in summer. Mar del Plata, southeast of Buenos Aires, is a accepted destination for summer holidays. In winter, many Argentineans enjoy Andinismo, which means hiking, mountain-climbing or alpine or cross-country skiing in the Andes Mountains.
