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{{short description|Argentine footballer (born 1984)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Maxi López
| image = Maxi Lopez.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = López with [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] in 2006
| full_name = Maximiliano Gastón López<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/maximiliano-gaston-lopez/3619/|title=Maxi López|publisher=soccerway.com|access-date=3 July 2022}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1984|4|3}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legaseriea.it/en/players/maxi-lopez/LPZMX |title=Player: Maxi López |publisher=Lega Serie A |access-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620194516/http://www.legaseriea.it/en/players/maxi-lopez/LPZMX |archive-date=20 June 2017}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina
| height = {{altura|m=1.89}}<ref>{{cite journal|access-date=14 January 2025 |periodical=Página 12 |title=Maxi López ya es estrella en el Barcelona |url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/deportes/8-46687-2005-01-28.html}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
| position = [[Striker (association football)|Striker]]
| currentclub = 
| clubnumber = 
| youthyears1 = 1997–2001
| youthclubs1 = [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]]
| years1 = 2001–2004
| clubs1 = [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]]
| caps1 = 70
| goals1 = 16
| years2 = 2005–2007
| clubs2 = [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
| caps2 = 14
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2006–2007
| clubs3 = → [[RCD Mallorca|Mallorca]] (loan)
| caps3 = 29
| goals3 = 3
| years4 = 2007–2009
| clubs4 = [[FC Moscow]]
| caps4 = 22
| goals4 = 9
| years5 = 2009
| clubs5 = → [[Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense|Grêmio]] (loan)
| caps5 = 25
| goals5 = 12
| years6 = 2010–2014
| clubs6 = [[Calcio Catania|Catania]]
| caps6 = 78
| goals6 = 23
| years7 = 2012
| clubs7 = → [[AC Milan|Milan]] (loan)
| caps7 = 8
| goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2012–2013
| clubs8 = → [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]] (loan)
| caps8 = 17
| goals8 = 4
| years9 = 2014
| clubs9 = → [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]] (loan)
| caps9 = 11
| goals9 = 1
| years10 = 2014–2015
| clubs10 = [[A.C. ChievoVerona|Chievo]]
| caps10 = 13
| goals10 = 1
| years11 = 2015–2017
| clubs11 = [[Torino F.C.|Torino]]
| caps11 = 60
| goals11 = 14
| years12 = 2017–2018
| clubs12 = [[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]]
| caps12 = 28
| goals12 = 2
| years13 = 2018–2019
| clubs13 = [[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]]
| caps13 = 32
| goals13 = 10
| years14 = 2019–2020
| clubs14 = [[F.C. Crotone|Crotone]]
| caps14 = 14
| goals14 = 1
| years15 = 2020–2021
| clubs15 = [[S.S. Sambenedettese Calcio|Sambenedettese]]
| caps15 = 23
| goals15 = 3
| totalcaps = 430
| totalgoals = 97
| nationalyears1 = 2001
| nationalteam1 = [[Argentina national under-17 football team|Argentina U17]]
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 3
| nationalyears2 = 2001–2004
| nationalteam2 = [[Argentina national under-20 football team|Argentina U20]]
| nationalcaps2 = 29
| nationalgoals2 = 8
}}

'''Maximiliano Gastón López''' (born 3 April 1984) is an Argentine former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Striker (association football)|striker]]. He holds both an [[Argentine passport|Argentine]] and an [[Italian passport]].<ref name=Catania>{{cite news|url=http://www.calciocatania.it/comunicati/comunicati.php?id=18561 |title=Maxi Lopez al Catania |date=20 January 2010 |access-date=20 January 2010 |publisher=Calcio Catania |language=it |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120525151601/http://www.calciocatania.it/comunicati/comunicati.php?id=18561 |archive-date=25 May 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Milito To Be Checked in Passport Scandal | url = http://www.goal.com/en/news/8/main/2008/07/15/777091/milito-to-be-checked-in-passport-scandal | publisher = goal.com | date = 15 July 2009 |access-date = 1 November 2009}}</ref> He is known as ''El Rubio'' ("The Blonde"), and ''La Gallina de Oro'' ("The Golden Hen").<ref name=Samp>{{cite web|title=LOPEZ, Maximilliano Gastón|url=http://www.sampdoria.it/squadra/rosa-2012-2013/lopez-maximiliano-gaston.html|publisher=[[U.C. Sampdoria]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718100147/http://www.sampdoria.it/squadra/rosa-2012-2013/lopez-maximiliano-gaston.html|archive-date=18 July 2012}}</ref>

Formed at [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]], he spent most of his career in Italy, making 215 [[Serie A]] appearances and scoring 46 goals for [[Catania S.S.D.|Catania]], [[AC Milan]], [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]], [[A.C. ChievoVerona|Chievo]], [[Torino F.C.|Torino]] and [[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]]. He also played in Spain for [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] and [[RCD Mallorca|Mallorca]], winning the [[La Liga]] and [[UEFA Champions League]] [[Double (association football)|double]] with the former in [[2005–06 FC Barcelona season|2006]], and for [[Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense|Grêmio]] and [[CR Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]] in the [[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A]].

==Club career==

===River Plate===
López began his career in 1997 with [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]]. On 19 August 2001, at age 17, he made his senior debut, against [[Talleres de Córdoba]]. That same season, he was officially promoted to the senior squad following five years with the youth program. With River Plate, he was a standout striker and the club won the [[Primera División Argentina|Torneo Clausura]] in 2002, 2003 and 2004. With River Plate, he made 56 appearances, scoring 13 goals.

===Barcelona===
In January 2005, Barcelona signed López on a 4{{frac|1|2}}-year contract for [[Euro|€]]6.2&nbsp;million following an injury to striker [[Henrik Larsson]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Barcelona look to López |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/025a-0eaa1a70a470-11a375e4b590-1000--barcelona-look-to-lopez/ |access-date=2 January 2023 |publisher=UEFA |date=27 January 2005}}</ref> On his [[UEFA Champions League]] debut on 23 February, he came on as a second-half substitute for [[Ludovic Giuly]] and within four minutes beat [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] defender [[William Gallas]] to score an equaliser with his first shot for the club, an eventual 2–1 first-leg win.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hunter|first=Graham|title=Substitute López turns the tide|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2004/matches/round=1969/match=1081507/postmatch/report/index.html|newspaper=[[UEFA]]|date=24 February 2005}}</ref> His only other goal for the club came in a [[Copa del Rey]] tie against [[Zamora CF|Zamora]] on 11 January 2006.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://sports.ndtv.com/football/news/19373-barcelona-reaches-copa-del-rey-quarters
|title=Barcelona reaches Copa del Rey quarters
|publisher=sports.ndtv.com
|date=11 January 2006 |access-date=12 January 2016}}</ref> López failed to break into the club's first team; in his two seasons in [[La Liga]], he made just 14 league appearances.

===Mallorca, Moscow and Grêmio===
López transferred to [[RCD Mallorca|Mallorca]] on loan for the [[2006–07 La Liga|2006–07 season]], with the deal not including a purchasing option.<ref>{{cite news |title=Maxi out to make mark at Mallorca |url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/01b6-0f848ad8d0b0-5c5775378d8b-1000--maxi-out-to-make-mark-at-mallorca/ |access-date=2 January 2023 |publisher=UEFA |date=14 June 2006}}</ref> He scored 3 goals in 25 matches, and returned to Barcelona in the summer of 2007, only to be sold to [[FC Moscow]] on 16 August 2007 after a €2&nbsp;million transfer fee was agreed by the clubs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada07-08/08/n070816101494.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120525151601/http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada07-08/08/n070816101494.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 May 2012 |title=FCBarcelona.cat |work=fcbarcelona.com }}</ref> With Moscow, López made 22 league appearances and scored 9 goals.

On 13 February 2009, Brazilian club [[Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense|Grêmio]] signed López on a season-long loan.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gremio.net/news/view.aspx?id=7284|title=MAXI LOPÉZ IS OFFICIALLY PRESENTED|date=17 February 2009|access-date=20 January 2010|publisher=Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929174121/http://www.gremio.net/news/view.aspx?id=7284|archive-date=29 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> He made his debut the following month in a game against [[Futebol Clube Santa Cruz|Santa Cruz]]. His first goal for the club came against [[Esporte Clube São José|São José-PA]] on 18 March 2009. López scored four goals in the [[2009 Copa Libertadores]] and the winner in the centenary [[Gre-Nal]] [[local derby|derby]] match.

===Catania===
[[File:Maxi Lopez Catania.jpg|left|thumb|upright|López with Catania in 2011]]
On 20 January 2010, López transferred to Catania for a €3&nbsp;million transfer fee, signing a contract lasting until 30 June 2013.<ref name=Catania/> He made his [[Serie A]] debut on 31 January, [24] playing 55 minutes in the match against the [[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Catania/31-01-2010/biagianti-salva-catania-602836266579.shtml |author=Claudio Lenzi |title=Biagianti salva il Catania. Udinese pari e rimpianti |publisher=[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]] |language=it |date=31 January 2010 |access-date=24 January 2012}}</ref> In the next match, away to [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]] (0–1), he scored his first goal and the match-winner for the ''Rossazzurri''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.espnstar.com/football/serie-a/news/detail/item393362/Lazio-0-1-Catania-/ |publisher=ESPN Star |access-date=7 February 2010 |date=7 February 2010 |title=Lazio 0–1 Catania |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120525151624/http://www.espnstar.com/football/serie-a/news/detail/item393362/Lazio-0-1-Catania-/ |archive-date=25 May 2012 }}</ref> On 3 April, he scored his first brace in the Italian top flight during the [[Sicilian derby]] against [[U.S. Città di Palermo|Palermo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/news/2010/04/04/6084684.shtml |author=Franco Valdevies |title=Catania-Palermo: prima doppietta per Maxi Lopez |publisher=[[Sport Mediaset]] |language=it |date=4 April 2010 |access-date=23 January 2012}}</ref> He closed the season in double figures, scoring 11 goals in 17 appearances and contributed to the safety of the ''Etnei'' in Serie A.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Catania/16-05-2010/catania-604002871305.shtml |author=Emiliano Pozzoni |title=Maxi, regalo al Catania. E' record di punti in A |publisher=[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]] |language=it |date=16 May 2010 |access-date=24 January 2012}}</ref>

The [[2010–11 Serie A|following season]], López scored his first goal in a 2–0 home victory against [[A.C. Cesena|Cesena]] on 22 September 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Catania/22-09-2010/-maxi-catania-2-0-711219453521.shtml |author=Claudio Lenzi |title={{sic|E'|nolink=y}} un Maxi Catania: 2-0. Cesena, brusco risveglio |publisher=[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]] |language=it |date=22 September 2010 |access-date=24 January 2012}}</ref> At the end of the season, he had scored 8 goals in 35 appearances, finishing 12th in the Serie A table with Catania.

In the [[2011–12 Serie A|2011–12 season]], López scored his first goal on 18 September 2011, converting a [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty]] against Cesena.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/it/match/63867/catania-vs-cesena/report |author=Renato Maisani |title=Catania-Cesena 1-0: Maxi Lopez non fallisce dal dischetto, Montella inizia il volo |publisher=goal.com |language=it |date=18 September 2011 |access-date=24 January 2012}}</ref> On 18 December 2011, in the match won 2–0 by Catania against Palermo, he converted his second penalty of the season and was tearfully substituted by [[Gonzalo Bergessio]] for a possible farewell before the winter session of the [[transfer window]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://it.eurosport.yahoo.com/18122011/45/serie-lodi-lopez-derby-rossazzurro.html |author=Daniele Fantini |title=Serie A - Lodi più Lopez: il derby è rossazzurro |publisher=[[Eurosport]] |language=it |date=18 December 2011 |access-date=24 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2011/dicembre/19/Gol_lacrime_per_Maxi_Lopez_co_9_111219062.shtml |title=Gol e lacrime per Maxi Lopez e il Catania va |publisher=[[Corriere della Sera]] |page=45 |language=it |date=19 December 2011 |access-date=16 January 2012}}</ref>

====Loan to AC Milan====
On 27 January 2012, López was officially transferred to [[AC Milan]] in a €1.5&nbsp;million loan move, with a buying option set at €8&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.football-italia.net/node/15074|title='Tevez, Maxi want Milan at any cost'|publisher=Football Italia|date=26 January 2012}}</ref> He signed a contract with Milan until 30 June 2015 to receive €700,000 until the end of the 2011–12 season and €1.5&nbsp;million per year for the following three seasons. He chose the number 21 shirt.

López scored his first goal as a Milan player on 11 February 2012 in an away game against Udinese, equalising for Milan before going on to assist [[Stephan El Shaarawy]] to score the game-winning goal. However, at the end of the season, he returned to Catania after Milan opted not to exercise their buying option.

====Loan to Sampdoria====
On 11 July, López joined [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]] on a season-long loan deal from Catania.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130102185803/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1123927/sampdoria-snap-up-maxi-lopez-on-loan?cc=3888 Sampdoria snap up Lopez on loan]; ''[[ESPN Soccernet]]'', 11 July 2012. Retrieved on 12 July 2012.</ref>

López returned to Catania from a loan spell for the duration of the [[2013–14 Serie A|2013–14 season]] and on 28 January 2014, he rejoined Sampdoria on loan for the remainder of the Serie A campaign. He scored a winning goal in his first match back for Sampdoria against Genoa on 3 February 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sampdoria.it/en/news/it-is-a-maxi-samp-lopez-decides-the-derby-della-lanterna.html|title=It is a Maxi-Samp: López Decides the Derby Della Lanterna|publisher=UC Sampdoria|date=4 February 2014|access-date=10 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224145731/http://www.sampdoria.it/en/news/it-is-a-maxi-samp-lopez-decides-the-derby-della-lanterna.html|archive-date=24 February 2014}}</ref>

===Chievo===
On 30 June 2014, López signed a one-year deal with Chievo with an option to extend his contract for a further year after Catania relegation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chievoverona.it/en/node/15492 |publisher=AC ChievoVerona |language=it |title=Ufficiale: Maxi Lopez al ChievoVerona! |access-date=1 July 2014 |date=30 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714230804/http://www.chievoverona.it/en/node/15492 |archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref> He made his debut on the first day of the [[2014–15 Serie A]] season, 30 August, against [[Juventus FC|Juventus]], playing the full 90 minutes of a 1&ndash;0 home loss.<ref>{{cite news|title=Chievo 0-1 Juventus|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28989191|access-date=14 September 2014|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=30 August 2014}}</ref> In his second match, on 14 September, he scored the only goal as Chievo defeated [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Inter Milan 7-0 Sassuolo|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29198823|access-date=14 September 2014|work=BBC Sport|date=14 September 2014}}</ref>

===Torino===
On 13 January 2015, López joined [[Torino F.C.|Torino]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Official: Torino sign Maxi Lopez|url=http://www.football-italia.net/61129/official-torino-sign-maxi-lopez|access-date=14 September 2014|work=Football Italia|date=13 January 2015}}</ref> signing a six-month contract with an option for another year. He debuted the next day against Lazio in the second round of the [[Coppa Italia]]. On 18 January, he scored his first goal for Torino, against Cesena in a 3–2 Torino victory. On 19 February, he scored a brace during the [[2014–15 UEFA Europa League|UEFA Europa League]] [[2014–15 UEFA Europa League#Round of 32|round of 32]] against [[Athletic Bilbao]], therefore managing to score in five different leagues (Argentine, Spanish, Russian, Brazilian and Italian) and in all international competitions (Copa Libertadores, [[Copa Sudamericana]], Champions League and Europa League).<ref name="tuttomercatoweb.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/torino-in-gol-in-ogni-competizione-ecco-il-maxi-record-648694|title=Torino, in gol in ogni competizione: ecco il Maxi record|work=tuttomercatoweb.com}}</ref> He scored again in the victorious return leg in Spain seven days later,<ref name="tuttomercatoweb.com"/> then the 28th round of the league away at [[Parma Calcio 1913|Parma]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://torinofc.it/ultima-partita/tabellino/2014-2015/28%C2%AA-giornata/28|title=TORINO FC 1906 SITO UFFICIALE|work=torinofc.it}}</ref> On 17 May, he scored his first brace for Torino in Serie A in the 2–0 victory over his former club Chievo.

After renewing for another year, on 24 November 2015 López signed a new contract with Torino lasting until 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://torinofc.it/news/24/11/2015/maxi-lopez-rinnova-sino-al-2018_10133|title=Maxi Lopez rinnova sino al 2018|work=torinofc.it|date=7 October 2023 }}</ref>

===Vasco de Gama===
On 14 July 2018, López joined [[Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama|Vasco da Gama]], signing an eighteen-month contract with an option for another year. He debuted against São Paulo. On 27 August, he scored his first goal for Vasco against Chapecoense in a 3–1 Vasco victory and also had two assists, winning man of the match honors. After 14 matches he had great displays, with 7 goals and 6 assists, being considered the best Vasco player in the second semester and becoming the supporters favorite.

===Return to Italy===
On 23 August 2019, López return to Italy in [[Serie B]] club [[F.C. Crotone|Crotone]] for free. He signed a one-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-b/ufficiale-crotone-colpo-maxi-lopez-per-l-attacco-contratto-annuale-1282981|access-date=23 August 2019|title=UFFICIALE: Crotone, colpo Maxi Lopez per l'attacco. Contratto annuale}}</ref>

On 10 August 2020, he signed a one-year contract with [[Serie C]] club [[S.S. Sambenedettese Calcio|Sambenedettese]].<ref>{{cite press release|publisher=[[S.S. Sambenedettese Calcio|Sambenedettese]]|url=https://sambenedettesecalcio.eu/2020/08/10/maxi-lopez-alla-samb/|title=Maxi Lopez alla Samb|date=10 August 2020|language=it}}</ref>

==International career==
López represented his birth nation of Argentina at under-15, under-17 and [[Argentina national under-20 football team|under-20]] levels, also taking part to the 2003 [[South American Youth Football Championship|South American Youth Championship]]. He was eligible for both [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] and [[Italy national football team|Italy]], as he holds both citizenships and has never represented any national team at senior level. In July 2010, he explicitly stated he might accept a call-up from the ''Azzurri''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/catania/?action=read&idnet=aXRhc3BvcnRwcmVzcy5pdC0zMDUxNA |publisher=TuttoMercatoWeb |language=it |title=Catania, Maxi Lopez: "Pronto a indossare la maglia della Nazionale italiana" |access-date=31 July 2010 |date=15 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718091655/http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/catania/?action=read&idnet=aXRhc3BvcnRwcmVzcy5pdC0zMDUxNA |archive-date=18 July 2010}}</ref>

==International goals==
===Argentina U17===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1. || 15 September 2001 || [[Couva]], [[Trinidad & Tobago]] || {{fbu|17|BFA}} || align=center|'''2'''–2 || align=center| 2–2 || rowspan=3| [[2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship]]
|-
| 2. || 17 September 2001 || [[Marabella]], Trinidad & Tobago || {{fbu|17|OMA}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 3–0
|-
| 3. || 20 September 2001 || Couva, Trinidad & Tobago || {{fbu|17|ESP}} || align=center|'''2'''–2 || align=center| 4–2
|}

==Personal life==
López was married to Argentine model [[Wanda Nara]] from 2008 to 2013. The couple have three sons, Valentino Gastón (born January 25, 2009 in [[Buenos Aires]]), Constantino (born December 19, 2010 in [[Catania]]) and Benedicto (born February 20, 2012 in [[Milan]]).<ref name=Samp/> Nara and López split after her affair with López's former Sampdoria teammate [[Mauro Icardi]], now with [[Galatasaray]], was exposed. López had previously been good friends with Icardi, inviting his countryman on vacations and opening his home to Icardi when he first moved to Italy. She and López began divorce proceedings in December 2013. Nara and Icardi subsequently married on 27 May 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Wanda-Icardi-Maxi: un triangolo bollente a colpi di tweet|url = http://www.tuttosport.com/news/gossip/2015/06/23-1905125/wanda-icardi-maxi_un_triangolo_bollente_a_colpi_di_tweet/|website = www.tuttosport.com|language = it|date = 23 June 2015|access-date = 14 January 2016}}</ref> During the April 2014 Serie A match between Sampdoria and Inter, López notably refused to shake Icardi's hand, leading the press to dub the game the "Wanda derby".<ref>{{cite news|title=Maxi López loses again in Sampdoria's 'Wanda Derby' against Inter|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/apr/14/maxi-lopez-sampdoria-wanda-derby-inter|work=The Guardian|first=Nicky|last=Bandini|date=14 April 2014}}</ref>

Since February 14, 2014, he has been in a relationship with the [[Sweden|Swedish]] model; Daniela Christiansson. On May 26, 2021, they announced that they had become engaged; days before, on Christiansson's thirtieth birthday; in [[San Benedetto del Tronto]]. On September 26, 2022, they announced that they were expecting a baby. On November 3, they revealed that it would be a girl and on March 31, 2023, Elle was born; at [[St Mary's Hospital, London]].

López's change of luck from being a somewhat criticised forward at River Plate to being signed by Barcelona made him an [[internet meme]] in his native Argentina. Satirical blogs were created lobbying for his inclusion in the Argentinian squad for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]]. After Argentina's elimination from the World Cup, without López in the 23-man squad, the nature of the [[Internet meme|meme]] changed to a series of reasons explaining his lack of time play on Barcelona with hyperbolic claims which closely resembled [[Chuck Norris Facts]]. In interviews, López has stated that he is "okay" with this unexpected following.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edant.ole.com.ar/notas/2009/01/11/futbollocal/01837280.html |publisher=Ole |language=es |title=Conocer a Wanda fue mi mejor golazo|access-date=7 January 2011 |date=9 January 2009}}</ref>

López and fashion industry businessman Paul Richardson led a consortium interested in buying English [[EFL Championship|Championship]] club [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]. They pulled out of any prospective deal in December 2022, citing a lack of agreement on revised terms.<ref>{{cite news |title=Birmingham takeover: Maxi Lopez and Paul Richardson pull out of deal |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11694/12760533/birmingham-takeover-maxi-lopez-and-paul-richardson-pull-out-of-deal |access-date=2 January 2023 |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2 December 2022}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
<!-- WHEN UPDATING PLEASE ALSO UPDATE THE TOTALS -->
{{updated|20 May 2018.}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Copa del Rey]], [[Coppa Italia]]}}
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]]
|[[2001–02 Argentine Primera División|2001–02]]
|[[Argentine Primera División|Primera División]]
|17||1||colspan="2"|—||2||0||colspan="2"|—||19||1
|-
|[[2002–03 Argentine Primera División|2002–03]]
|Primera División
|6||1||colspan="2"|—||1||0||colspan="2"|—||7||1
|-
|[[2003–04 Argentine Primera División|2003–04]]
|Primera División
|17||6||colspan="2"|—||8||1||colspan="2"|—||25||7
|-
|[[2004–05 Argentine Primera División|2004–05]]
|Primera División
|16||5||colspan="2"|—||3||2||colspan="2"|—||19||7
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!56!!13!!colspan="2"|—!!14!!3!!colspan="2"|—!!70!!16
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
|[[2004–05 FC Barcelona season|2004–05]]
|[[La Liga]]
|8||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=UCL}}||1||colspan="2"|—||10||1
|-
|[[2005–06 FC Barcelona season|2005–06]]
|La Liga
|6||0||2||1||1{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||9||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!14!!0!!2!!1!!3!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!19!!2
|-
|[[RCD Mallorca|Mallorca]] (loan)
|[[2006–07 La Liga|2006–07]]
|La Liga
|29||3||2||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||31||5
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[FC Moscow]]
|[[2007 Russian Premier League|2007]]
|[[Russian Premier League]]
|9||6||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||9||6
|-
|[[2008 Russian Premier League|2008]]
|Russian Premier League
|13||3||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|Appearance in [[UEFA Cup]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||14||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!22!!9!!colspan="2"|—!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!23!!9
|-
|[[Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense|Grêmio]] (loan)
|[[2009 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|2009]]
|[[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|Série A]]
|25||12||colspan="2"|—||9{{efn|Appearances in [[Copa Libertadores]]}}||4||7{{efn|Appearances in [[Campeonato Gaúcho]]}}||1||41||17
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Calcio Catania|Catania]]
|[[2009–10 Serie A|2009–10]]
|[[Serie A]]
|17||11||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||17||11
|-
|[[2010–11 Serie A|2010–11]]
|Serie A
|35||8||2||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||37||10
|-
|[[2011–12 Calcio Catania season|2011–12]]
|Serie A
|14||3||2||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||16||5
|-
|[[2013–14 Calcio Catania season|2013–14]]
|Serie A
|12||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||13||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!78!!23!!5!!4!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!83!!27
|-
|[[AC Milan|Milan]] (loan)
|[[2011–12 AC Milan season|2011–12]]
|Serie A
|8||1||2||1||1{{efn|name=UCL|Appearance(s) in [[UEFA Champions League]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||11||2
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]] (loan)
|[[2012–13 U.C. Sampdoria season|2012–13]]
|Serie A
|17||4||1||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||18||5
|-
|[[2013–14 Serie A|2013–14]]
|Serie A
|11||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||11||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!28!!5!!1!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!29!!6
|-
|[[A.C. ChievoVerona|Chievo]]
|[[2014–15 A.C. ChievoVerona season|2014–15]]
|Serie A
|13||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||1
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Torino F.C.|Torino]]
|[[2014–15 Torino F.C. season|2014–15]]
|Serie A
|18||8||1||0||4{{efn|Appearances in [[UEFA Europa League]]}}||3||colspan="2"|—||23||11
|-
|[[2015–16 Torino F.C. season|2015–16]]
|Serie A
|26||4||3||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||29||6
|-
|[[2016–17 Torino F.C. season|2016–17]]
|Serie A
|16||2||2||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||18||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!60!!14!!6!!3!!4!!3!!colspan="2"|—!!70!!20
|-
|[[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]]
|[[2017–18 Udinese Calcio season|2017–18]]
|Serie A
|28||2||1||4||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||29||6
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!361!!83!!20!!16!!32!!11!!7!!1!!420!!111
|}
{{notelist}}

==Honours==
'''River Plate'''
*[[Primera División Argentina|Torneo Clausura]]: [[2001–02 Argentine Primera División|2001–02]], [[2002–03 Argentine Primera División|2002–03]], [[2003–04 Argentine Primera División|2003–04]]

'''Barcelona'''
* [[UEFA Champions League]]: [[2005–06 UEFA Champions League|2005–06]]
* [[La Liga]]: [[2004–05 La Liga|2004–05]], [[2005–06 La Liga|2005–06]]
* [[Supercopa de España]]: [[2005 Supercopa de España|2005]]

'''Vasco da Gama'''
* [[Taça Guanabara]]: [[2019 Campeonato Carioca#Taça Guanabara|2019]]

'''Argentina U20'''
* [[Pan American Games]]: [[2003 Pan American Games|2003]]

'''Individual'''
*[[Coppa Italia]] top scorer: [[2017–18 Coppa Italia|2017–18]] (4 goals)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.rsssf.org/players/ec1winningsquads.html European Champions Cup/UEFA Champions League Winning Squads]
*{{FIFA player|182383}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071115120858/http://www.footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=6287&pn=Maximiliano_Gast%C3%B3n_L%C3%B3pez Profile and statistics] at FootballDatabase 
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120911203053/http://guardian.touch-line.com/StatsCentre.asp?Lang=0&CTID=28&CPID=74&pStr=Player&PLID=62132&TEID=6549 Guardian statistics]
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120616181535/http://www.futbolxxi.com/Futbolista.aspx?ID=12538&SEOFutbolista=Lopez+Maximiliano+Gaston Maxi López – Argentine Primera statistics]}} at Fútbol XXI {{in lang|es}}

{{Coppa Italia top scorers}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lopez, Maxi}}
[[Category:1984 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Argentine sportspeople of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Footballers from Buenos Aires]]
[[Category:Argentine men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
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[[Category:Internet memes]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2003 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:21st-century Argentine sportsmen]]