View source for Walter Samuel

{{short description|Argentine footballer (born 1978)}}
{{for|the British peer|Walter Samuel, 2nd Viscount Bearsted}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Walter Samuel
| image = Walter Samuel FC Internazionale.jpg
| caption = Samuel with [[Inter Milan]] in 2011
| full_name = Walter Adrián Samuel<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce44/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=Squad List: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Argentina (ARG) |publisher=FIFA |page=1 |date=18 December 2022 |access-date=27 October 2024}}</ref>
| birth_name = Walter Adrián Luján
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1978|3|23}}
| birth_place = [[Unión Department|Laborde]], Argentina
| height = 1.83 m
| position = [[Centre-back]]
| currentclub = 
| years1 = 1996–1997
| clubs1 = [[Newell's Old Boys]]
| caps1 = 42
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1997–2000
| clubs2 = [[Boca Juniors]]
| caps2 = 77
| goals2 = 4
| years3 = 2000–2004
| clubs3 = [[AS Roma|Roma]]
| caps3 = 122
| goals3 = 9
| years4 = 2004–2005
| clubs4 = [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]]
| caps4 = 30
| goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2005–2014
| clubs5 = [[Inter Milan]]
| caps5 = 169
| goals5 = 14
| years6 = 2014–2016
| clubs6 = [[FC Basel|Basel]]
| caps6 = 29
| goals6 = 2
| totalcaps = 469
| totalgoals = 31
| nationalyears1 = 1997
| nationalteam1 = [[Argentina national under-20 football team|Argentina U20]]
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1999–2010
| nationalteam2 = [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]]
| nationalcaps2 = 56
| nationalgoals2 = 5
| manageryears1 = 2018–
| managerclubs1 = [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] (assistant)
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|ARG}} <small>(as player)</small>}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA U-20 World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[1997 FIFA World Youth Championship|1997]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA Confederations Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2005 FIFA Confederations Cup|2005]]|}}
{{medalCountry|{{fb|ARG}} <small>(as assistant manager)</small>}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2022 FIFA World Cup|2022]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Copa América]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2021 Copa América|2021]]|}}
{{Medal|W|[[2024 Copa América|2024]]|}}
{{Medal|3rd|[[2019 Copa América|2019]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2022 Finalissima|2022]]|}}
}}

'''Walter Adrián Samuel''' ({{IPA|es|ˈwalteɾ saˈmwel}};{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} born '''Walter Adrián Luján'''; 23 March 1978) is an Argentine former professional [[association football|footballer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teamtalk.com/news/7555/9392120/Transfer-news-Basel-sign-former-Inter-Milan-defender-Walter-Samuel|title=Basel secure Samuel signature|publisher=TEAMtalk|access-date=23 July 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812173049/http://www.teamtalk.com/news/7555/9392120/Transfer-news-Basel-sign-former-Inter-Milan-defender-Walter-Samuel|archive-date=12 August 2014}}</ref> Samuel has been regarded as one of the best [[Defender (association football)#Centre-back|centre-backs]] of his generation,<ref name=goal.com>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/it/news/173/champions-league/2015/02/18/9012602/walter-samuel-il-muro-si-%C3%A8-sgretolato-a-basilea|title=Walter Samuel, il Muro si è sgretolato a Basilea|website=Goal.com|author1=Joe Wright|language=it|date=18 February 2015|access-date=30 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thescore.com/seri/news/1151254|title=No Candreva rift, insists new Inter coach Pioli|work=The Score|date=10 November 2016|access-date=18 March 2017}}</ref> and as one of football's toughest defenders,<ref name="Inter, la tappa più importante">{{cite web|url=http://www.fcinternews.it/in-primo-piano/tutto-samuel-inter-la-tappa-piu-importante-gli-attaccanti-piu-forti-142996|title=Tutto Samuel: ''Inter, la tappa più importante! Gli attaccanti più forti...''|publisher=FC Inter News.it|author1=Christian Liotta|language=it|date=19 February 2014|access-date=30 December 2015}}</ref> with former international teammate and Inter captain [[Javier Zanetti]] referring to him as the "hardest player" he has played with.

Samuel began his club career with domestic club [[Newell's Old Boys]] in 1996, later moving to [[Boca Juniors]] the following year. This was soon followed by a move to Europe in 2000, and spells with Italian club [[AS Roma|Roma]], and Spanish club [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]]. In 2005, he returned to Italy, joining [[Inter Milan|Inter]], where he remained for nine seasons, winning five consecutive [[Serie A]] titles; he played a key role in the club's treble success in the [[2009–10 Inter Milan season|2009–10 season]], partnering with [[Lúcio]] in defence under [[José Mourinho]]. At an international level, he has accumulated over 50 caps for the [[Argentina national football team|Argentina national team]], representing his country at two [[FIFA World Cup]]s, the [[1999 Copa América]], and the [[2005 FIFA Confederations Cup]], where he won a runners-up medal.

==Early life and personal life==
He was born Walter Luján, making his professional debut for Newell's and playing the World Youth Cup under that name. He later took the last name of his stepfather, Óscar Samuel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elgrafico.com.ar/articulo/1088/33011/1998-walter-samuel-en-el-nombre-del-padre|title=En El Nombre Del Padre|access-date=11 December 2022|publisher=El Gráfico}}</ref>   He has two sisters.

Samuel is married to Cecilia. They have two sons and a daughter.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=30252&L=en|title=Congratulations to the Samuel family|date=15 November 2008|access-date=21 January 2009|publisher=Inter.it|archive-date=28 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928073917/http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=30252&L=en|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Club career==
[[File:Walter Samuel - Inter Mailand (1).jpg|thumb|150px|left|Walter Samuel with [[Inter Milan|Internazionale]].]]

===Early career===
Samuel started playing professionally in 1996 in Argentina for [[Newell's Old Boys]], and a year later moved to [[Boca Juniors]], where he played 103 matches and scored five goals in all competitions until 2000.<ref>{{cite web|title=Samuel, Walter Adrián|url=http://www.historiadeboca.com.ar/jugadores.asp?CodJug=751&AnioInicial=1905&AnioFinal=2010&OpTipoTorneos=6&Buscar=Buscar&CodRiv=0&CodCan=0&condicion=0|publisher=Historiadeboca.com.ar|access-date=1 November 2010|archive-date=18 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318062009/http://www.historiadeboca.com.ar/jugadores.asp?CodJug=751&AnioInicial=1905&AnioFinal=2010&OpTipoTorneos=6&Buscar=Buscar&CodRiv=0&CodCan=0&condicion=0|url-status=dead}}</ref> In that year, [[AS Roma|Roma]] bought his contract for 40.265 billion Italian lire (about €20 million).<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.borsaitaliana.it/bitApp/view.bit?lang=it&target=DocViewerDownload&filename=db%2Fpdf%2F1094.pdf| title = BILANCIO D'ESERCIZIO E CONSOLIDATO DI GRUPPO AL 30 GIUGNO 2000| date = 28 June 2001| language = it| access-date = 24 March 2015| work = AS Roma| publisher = Borsa Italiana Archive| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150402095808/http://www.borsaitaliana.it/bitApp/view.bit?lang=it&target=DocViewerDownload&filename=db%2Fpdf%2F1094.pdf| archive-date = 2 April 2015| url-status = dead| df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.asromacalcio.it/sito-ufficiale/news/articolo20.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020413092700/http://www.asromacalcio.it/sito-ufficiale/news/articolo20.html|title= Samuel a Roma! |date=4 April 2000|access-date=1 April 2010|archive-date=13 April 2002|work=AS Roma|language=it}}</ref> He gained fame as one of the best defenders in the Italian league and gained a nickname to match, winning the Serie A title with Roma in [[2000–01 Serie A|2001]].<ref name="=Samuel, l'addio di una leggenda">{{cite web|url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/calcio-estero/2016/05/26-11868132/samuel_laddio_di_una_leggenda_le_lacrime_con_aldair_e_burdisso/|title=Samuel, l'addio di una leggenda. Le lacrime con Aldair e Burdisso|publisher=Il Corriere dello Sport|language=it|author1=Tommaso Maggi|date=26 May 2016|access-date=30 May 2016}}</ref> His quality attracted interest from Spanish team [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]].

Real Madrid paid €25 million for his transfer in 2004.<ref>[http://www.asroma.it/UserFiles/357.pdf PERFEZIONATO IL CONTRATTO DI TRASFERIMENTO DEL CALCIATORE SAMUEL] {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Samuel failed to make an impact at Madrid.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}} He was one of the three non-EU players of the team, along with [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]] and [[Roberto Carlos (footballer)|Roberto Carlos]]; they all obtained Spanish passports, however, in 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2005/luglio/04/Ronaldo_Samuel_comunitari_come_Carlos_ga_10_0507043173.shtml|title=Ronaldo e Samuel comunitari come Carlos|date=4 July 2005|access-date=23 September 2011|work=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|format=require login}}</ref>

===Inter Milan===
In August 2005, he returned to the [[Serie A]] with a transfer to [[Inter Milan]] on a four-year contract for reported €16 million fee.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01ac-0e6ceba4ce49-2ef5593a95e0-1000--inter-complete-samuel-signing/|title=Inter complete Samuel signing|publisher=[[UEFA]]|date=1 August 2005|access-date=1 April 2010}}</ref> He began his Inter adventure by winning the [[2005 Supercoppa Italiana]] versus [[Juventus FC|Juventus]], entering in 63rd minute as ''Nerazzurri'' won at extra-time thanks to the winner of [[Juan Sebastián Verón|Verón]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Juventus/Primo_Piano/2005/08_Agosto/20/supercoppajuvint.shtml|title=Supercoppa, trionfo Inter|trans-title=Supercup, Inter triumph|work=Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=20 August 2005|access-date=23 April 2018}}</ref> Later on 21 September, he made his league debut for his new side by starting in the 1–0 away win over [[AC ChievoVerona|Chievo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2005/09/21/italy/serie-a/ac-chievo-verona/fc-internazionale-milano/312175/|title=Chievo vs. Internazionale 0 – 1|work=Soccerway|date=29 August 2015|access-date=5 February 2016}}</ref> On 24 November, during a Champions League [[2005–06 UEFA Champions League group stage#Group H|group stage]] match against [[FC Petržalka akadémia|Petržalka]], Samuel played in a line-up of 11 foreign players on the pitch, with [[Luís Figo]] being the only [[europe]]an.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2005/k/sezioni/sport/calcio/padainter/padainter/padainter.html|title=La Padania accusa l'Inter "11 stranieri in campo, vergogna"|trans-title=Padania accuses Inter "11 foreigners in the field, shame"|work=La Repubblica|language=it|date=24 November 2005|access-date=25 June 2018}}</ref> He finished his first season at Inter by making 42 appearances in all competitions, with the team winning the championship following the relegation of Juventus due to match-fixing,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Inter/Primo_Piano/2006/07_Luglio/26/scuinter.shtml|title=Lo scudetto 2006 è dell'Inter|trans-title=The 2006 Scudetto is of Inter|work=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|location=Rome|date=29 July 2006|access-date=24 April 2018}}</ref> and [[2005–06 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]] by defeating [[AS Roma|Roma]] 4–2 on aggregate, with Samuel playing on both finals,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2006/05/sezioni/sport/calcio/coppa-italia-inter-roma/coppa-italia-inter-roma/coppa-italia-inter-roma.html|title=Inter si consola con la Coppa Italia, la Roma con il buon rientro di Totti|trans-title=Inter consoles with the Italian Cup, Rome with the good return of Totti|work=La Repubblica|language=it|location=Rome|date=11 May 2006|access-date=25 June 2018}}</ref> thus completing an unforeseen domestic treble.

[[File:Walter Samuel - Inter Mailand (2).jpg|thumb|200px|Walter Samuel with [[Inter Milan|Internazionale]] as a substitute.]]
In the [[Derby della Madonnina]] on 23 December 2007, Samuel hurt himself whilst marking the Brazilian international [[Kaká]], and a couple weeks later, he had reconstructive surgery on his anterior cruciate  ligament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01c8-0e6ee11f6761-c77216a8b354-1000--samuel-injury-blow-for-inter/|title=Samuel injury blow for Inter|publisher=UEFA|date=10 February 2014|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref> He was expected to be out until the end of the [[2007–08 Inter Milan season|2007–08 season]]. In actuality, he started training with the first team again in October of the [[2008–09 Inter Milan season|2008–09 season]] and promptly earned a first team place back under manager [[José Mourinho]]. He played his first match in more than nine months on 9 November by starting in the 1–0 home win over [[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calcioblog.it/post/7283/inter-udinese-1-0-cruz-allultimo-respiro|title=Inter-Udinese 1-0: Cruz all'ultimo respiro|trans-title=Inter-Udinese 1-0: Cruz in the last breath|publisher=Calcio Blog|language=it|date=9 November 2008|access-date=29 June 2018|archive-date=29 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629164734/http://www.calcioblog.it/post/7283/inter-udinese-1-0-cruz-allultimo-respiro|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Samuel was one of the most important players under Mourinho in the [[2009–10 Inter Milan season|2009–10 season]], partnering [[Lúcio]] in defence<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italian-football/2015/08/29/14855312/miranda-murillo-and-i-are-like-lucio-and-samuel|title=Miranda: Murillo and I are like Lucio and Samuel|website=Goal.com|author1=SW Lim|date=29 August 2015|access-date=5 February 2016}}</ref> as they won the Serie A title, the Coppa Italia, and the [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]], completing a historic treble.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0250-0c50f4b42c3a-0fbc1831ccbe-1000--inter-join-exclusive-treble-club/|title=Inter join exclusive treble club|publisher=UEFA|date=22 May 2010|access-date=7 June 2017}}</ref> He scored his first goal of the season on 20 October in the third Champions League [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League group stage#Group F|group stage]] match versus [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]] which prevented Inter from losing;<ref name="Dynamo Kyiv">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/inter-vs-dynamo-kiev/110643|title=Inter survive Dynamo scare|publisher=Sky Sports|author=Elliot Ball|date=20 October 2009|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref> he headed home a [[Wesley Sneijder]] cross to make it 2–2. This draw extended Inter winless run in the UEFA Champions League to eight matches.<ref name="Dynamo Kyiv"/>

Later on 9 January, Samuel scored a last-minute winner in the 4–3 win versus [[Robur Siena|Siena]] by beating goalkeeper [[Gianluca Curci]] with a left-footed shot.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italian-football/2010/01/09/1735489/inter-43-siena-late-samuel-strike-sinks-robur|title=Inter 4–3 Siena: Late Samuel Strike Sinks Robur|website=Goal.com|author=Stefano Federici|date=9 January 2010|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref> His goal later resulted decisive as Inter won the title two points ahead of Roma.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/7730828/Siena-0-Inter-Milan-1-match-report.html|title=Siena 0 Inter Milan 1: match report|work=The Telegraph|date=16 May 2010|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref> He played his 100th Serie A game for Inter later on 24 April in the 3–1 win over [[Atalanta B.C.|Atalanta]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} Samuel finished the season by making 42 appearances and scoring 4 goals; he was praised for his defensive performances against [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] and [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] on Inter's road to the Champions League title.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/champions-league/2010/05/23/1937522/player-ratings-bayern-munich-0-2-inter|title=Player Ratings: Bayern Munich 0-2 Inter|website=Goal.com|author=Carlo Garganese|date=23 May 2010|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2010/04/21/1886252/player-ratings-inter-3-1-barcelona|title=Player Ratings: Inter 3-1 Barcelona|website=Goal.com|author=Paul Macdonald|date=21 April 2010|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/7639773/Barcelona-Inter-Milan-match-report.html|title=Barcelona 1 Inter Milan 0; agg 2-3: match report|work=Telegraph.co.uk|author=Henry Winter|date=29 April 2010|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref>

Samuel suffered a severe knee injury - a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, this time on his other knee - on 7 November 2010 fixture against [[Brescia Calcio|Brescia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/samuel-injury-blow-for-inter-2128480.html|title=Samuel injury blow for Inter|work=The Independent|author=Saj Chowdhury|date=7 October 2012|access-date=25 June 2018}}</ref> This forced him to miss the [[2010 FIFA Club World Cup]] triumph in [[United Arab Emirates]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/matches/round=254488/match=300140542/match-report.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120112304/http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/matches/round=254488/match=300140542/match-report.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 November 2015|title=Internazionale on top of the world|publisher=FIFA|date=18 December 2010|access-date=1 May 2018}}</ref> He returned in action on 15 May of the following year by entering in the last minutes of a 1–1 away draw versus [[SSC Napoli|Napoli]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Napoli/15-05-2011/napoli-inter-giocano-un-ora-801214409228.shtml|title=Napoli e Inter giocano un'ora, Poi al San Paolo è solo festa|trans-title=Napoli and Inter play an hour, then at the San Paolo it's just a party|work=Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=15 May 2011|access-date=25 June 2018}}</ref> After the match Samuel expressed his delighting for playing his first match in almost six months, stating: "I'm feeling good and I'm delighted at having been able to play the last few minutes of this match. I would like to thank the medical staff for the work they did after my injury, my family who has always stood by me, and all the fans."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2011/05/16/2488639/im-delighted-to-be-back-from-injury-inters-walter-samuel|title=I'm delighted to be back from injury – Inter's Walter Samuel|website=Goal.com|author=Daniel Almond|date=16 May 2011|access-date=25 June 2018}}</ref> He finished the [[2010–11 Inter Milan season|2010–11 season]] by making 15 appearances in all competitions.

On 5 February 2012, Samuel played his 500th match as a professional in the 4–0 defeat at [[AS Roma|Roma]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/roma-vs-inter/247657|title=Roma 4-0 Inter – Match report & highlights|publisher=Sky Sports|date=5 February 2012|access-date=25 June 2018}}</ref> At the end of the season, he signed a new one-year contract with the club, lengthening his Inter career up to eight seasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/755/europe/2012/05/11/3096026/samuel-signs-new-inter-contract-until-2013|title=Samuel signs new Inter contract until 2013|website=Goal.com|author=Luis Mira|date=11 May 2012|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref> Later on 7 October, he scored inside three minutes in the [[Derby della Madonnina|derby]] versus [[AC Milan|Milan]] which resulted the winning goal, meaning that Samuel has won all 10 derbies that he has played.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/19849106|title=AC Milan 0-1 Inter Milan|publisher=BBC Sport|author=Saj Chowdhury|date=7 October 2012|access-date=25 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcinter1908.it/ultimora/walter-samuel-e-i-derby-che-numeri/|title=Walter Samuel e i derby: che numeri!|trans-title=Walter Samuel and the derby: What numbers!|publisher=fcinter1908.it|language=it|date=11 January 2012|access-date=12 October 2018}}</ref> In June 2013, Samuel extended his contract for another [[2013–14 Inter Milan season|season]], in what would be his final season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11860/8776171/walter-samuel-signs-a-new-one-year-deal-at-inter-milan|title=Walter Samuel signs a new one-year deal at Inter Milan|publisher=Sky Sports|date=13 June 2014|access-date=25 June 2018}}</ref> He scored his first goal of the season on 9 February 2014, a header which resulted the winner in the match against [[US Sassuolo Calcio|Sassuolo]] for the first win of 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/sports/walter-samuel-header-gives-inter-milan-a-1-0-win-over-sassuolo-667401.html|title=Walter Samuel header gives Inter Milan a 1-0 win over Sassuolo|publisher=news18.com|date=10 February 2014|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref>

Samuel wore the [[Captain (association football)|captain]] armband for the first time on 15 February 2014 in the 2–1 win at [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]] due to [[Javier Zanetti]] and [[Esteban Cambiasso]] being on bench.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/119351/fiorentina-vs-inter|title=Fiorentina 1-2 Inter: Icardi hands Nerazzurri vital win|website=Goal.com|date=15 February 2014|access-date=25 June 2018}}</ref> His final goal for the club came in the 4–0 win at [[UC Sampdoria|Sampdoria]] in April 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/sampdoria-vs-inter/302432|title=Inter Milan win big|publisher=Sky Sports|date=13 April 2014|access-date=25 June 2018}}</ref> Samuel left the club at the end of [[2013–14 Inter Milan season|2013–14 season]], having made 236 appearances and winning 13 trophies in nine years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-my/news/3956/transfer-zone/2014/01/24/4567185/milito-and-samuel-to-lead-inter-exodus-in-june-zanetti-and|title=Milito and Samuel to lead Inter exodus in June, Zanetti and Cambiasso could follow|website=Goal.com|date=24 January 2014|access-date=25 June 2018}}</ref> His last appearance for the club occurred on 10 May 2014 in the 4–1 home win over [[SS Lazio|Lazio]] which gave the team a spot in [[UEFA Europa League]] [[2014–15 UEFA Europa League|next season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2014/5/10/5704142/inter-milan-lazio-serie-a-2014-final-score-result|title=Inter Milan vs Lazio, final score 4-1: Inter end Lazio's European hopes|publisher=SBNation.com|author=Shaun Best|date=10 May 2014|access-date=25 June 2018}}</ref>

===Basel===
After nine seasons with Inter, on 23 July 2014, Samuel signed a one-year contract with [[FC Basel|Basel]] in the [[Swiss Super League]].<ref name="fcb 2014-07-23">{{cite web | last = FC Basel 1893 | year = 2014 | url = http://www.fcb.ch/de-CH/News/2014/07/23/Walter-Samuel-zum-FC-Basel | title = Walter Samuel zum FC Basel | publisher = FC Basel 1893 | access-date = 23 July 2014 | language = de | archive-date = 10 June 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150610051121/http://www.fcb.ch/de-CH/News/2014/07/23/Walter-Samuel-zum-FC-Basel | url-status = dead }}</ref> He joined the team for their [[2014–15 FC Basel season|2014–15 season]] under head coach [[Paulo Sousa]]. After playing in one test game Samuel played his debut for his new club in the [[Swiss Cup]] away game on 23 August 2014 as Basel won 4–0 against CS Italien ([[Canton of Geneva|GE]]).<ref name="fcb-achiv-2014/15-Cup-CS Italien-FCB">{{cite web | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | author-link = | date = 23 August 2014 | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=30168 | title = CS Italien GE - FC Basel 0:4 (0:2) | format = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | access-date = 16 November 2022}}</ref> He played his [[Swiss Super League|domestic league]] debut for the club in the home game in the [[St. Jakob-Park]] on 31 August as Basel won 3–1 against [[BSC Young Boys|Young Boys]].<ref name="fcb-achiv-2014/15-FCB-YB">{{cite web | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | author-link = | date = 31 August 2014 | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=30131 | title = FC Basel - BSC Young Boys 3:1 (2:1) | format = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | access-date = 16 November 2022}}</ref><ref name="fcb-aktuell-">{{cite web | last = Marti | first = Caspar | author-link = | date = 31 August 2014 | url = https://www.fcb.ch/aktuell/news/1-mannschaft/2014/08/fcb-yb-31-dank-effizienz-zum-sieg-gegen-die-berner | title = FCB-YB 3–1: Dank Effizienz zum Sieg gegen die Berner | format = | work = FCB-YB 3-1: Thanks to the efficiency a victory against Bernese | publisher = FC Basel 1893 AG | language = de | access-date = 16 November 2022}}</ref>

Basel entered the [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] in the [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League group stage|group stage]]. They reached the [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League knockout phase|knockout phase]] on 9 December 2014, as they managed a 1–1 draw at [[Anfield]] against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]].<ref name="BBC-2014/15-UCL-Liverpool-FCB">{{cite news | first = Phil | last = McNulty | author-link = | date = 9 December 2014 | url = https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/29363537 | title = Liverpool 1-1 Basel | work = BBC Sport | format = | publisher = | language = en | access-date = 16 November 2022}}</ref> But they were knocked out of the competition by [[FC Porto|Porto]] in the [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League#Round of 16|round of 16]]. Samuel scored his first goal for his club in the last match of that season on 25 May 2015. It was a home game in the [[St. Jakob-Park]] and Basel won 4–3 against [[FC St. Gallen|St. Gallen]].<ref name="fcb-achiv-2014/15-FCB-FCSG">{{cite web | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | author-link = | date = 25 May 2015 | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=30274 | title = FC Basel - FC St. Gallen 4:3 (1:2) | format = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | access-date = 16 November 2022}}</ref> At the end of the [[2014–15 Swiss Super League|2014–15 season]], Basel won the championship for the sixth time in a row.<ref name="fcb-aktuell-2014/15-Championship">{{cite web | last = FC Basel 1893 | author-link = | date = 29 May 2015 | url = https://www.fcb.ch/aktuell/news/1-mannschaft/2015/05/der-meisterfreitag-im-bunten-zeitraffer | title = Der Meisterfreitag im bunten Zeitraffer | format = | work = The championship Friday in a colorful time lapse | publisher = FC Basel 1893 AG | language = de | access-date = 16 November 2022}}</ref> In the [[2014–15 Swiss Cup]] Basel reached the final. However, for the third time in a row they finished as runners-up. Basel played a total of 65 matches (36 Swiss League fixtures, 6 Swiss Cup, 8 Champions League and 15 test matches). Under manager [[Paulo Sousa]], Samuel totaled 26 appearances, 13 League, 1 Cup, 4 Champions League, as well 8 in test games. He scored 2 goals in these matches.<ref name="Rotblau Jahrbuch">{{Cite book | last1 = Zindel | first1 = Josef | title = Rotblau: Jahrbuch Saison 2015/2016 | publisher = FC Basel Marketing AG | year = 2015 | isbn = 978-3-7245-2050-4}}</ref>

In June 2015, Samuel prolonged his contract with Basel for another year.<ref name="fcb-aktuell-2015-Samuel-Vertrag">{{cite web | last = FC Basel 1893 | author-link = | date = 18 June 2015 | url = https://www.fcb.ch/aktuell/news/alle-news/2015/06/fcb-ein-weiteres-jahr-mit-walter-samuel | title = FCB ein weiteres Jahr mit Walter Samuel | format = | work = FCB another year with Walter Samuel | publisher = | language = de | access-date = 16 November 2022}}</ref> However, on 16 October he communicated his intention to retire at the end of the 2015–16 season, due to physical difficulties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/74413/samuel-announces-retirement|title=Samuel announces retirement|work=Football Italia|date=16 October 2015|access-date=30 May 2016}}</ref> He made his 100th UEFA club competition appearance playing in the closing match of the [[2015–16 UEFA Europa League group stage]] during the 1–0 away win in the [[City Stadium (Poznań)|INEA Stadion]] against [[KKS Lech Poznań|Lech Poznań]] on 10 December 2015.<ref name="UEFA-2015/16-UEL-Lech-FCB-">{{cite web | last = UEFA.com | author-link = | date = 10 December 2015 | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0228-0e92eef94aa8-bc6a5339790b-1000--samuel-reaches-century-as-basel-beat-lech/ | title = Samuel reaches century as Basel beat Lech | format = | publisher = | language = en | access-date = 16 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/mercato/mercato/basilea-samuel-rinnova-il-contratto_1068830-201502a.shtml|title=BASILEA: SAMUEL RINNOVA IL CONTRATTO|publisher=Mediaset|language=it|date=18 June 2015|access-date=30 May 2016}}</ref> Samuel played the final match of his career in a 1–0 home defeat against [[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]], on 25 May 2016, at the age of 38.<ref name="=Samuel, l'addio di una leggenda"/><ref name="Si ritira Samuel">{{cite web|url=http://www.calciomercato.com/news/il-muro-del-triplete-samuel-si-ritira-621909|title=Si ritira Samuel, il muro del Triplete|publisher=CalcioMercato.com|language=it|author1=Matteo Serra|date=25 May 2016|access-date=30 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/match?gameId=448790|title=FC Basel bs. Grasshoppers|publisher=ESPN FC|date=25 May 2016|access-date=30 May 2016}}</ref> At the end of the [[2015–16 Swiss Super League|2015–16 Super League season]], under new head coach [[Urs Fischer (footballer)|Urs Fischer]], Samuel won the championship for the second time.<ref name="fcb-aktuell-2015/16-championship">{{cite web | first = Casper | last = Marti | author-link = | date = 30 April 2016 | url = https://www.fcb.ch/aktuell/news/1-mannschaft/2016/04/es-ist-vollbracht-der-fcb-ist-zum-19-mal-meister | title = Es ist vollbracht der FCB ist zum 19 mal Meister | format = | work = It's done, FCB is champion for the 19th time | publisher = FC Basel 1893 AG | language = de | access-date = 16 November 2022}}</ref>

During his two seasons with the club, Samuel played a total of 61 games for Basel scoring a total of four goals. 21 of these games were in the [[Swiss Super League]], five in the [[Swiss Cup]], 11 in the UEFA competitions (Champions League and Europa League) and 16 were friendly games. He scored two goals in the domestic league, one in the [[2015–16 UEFA Europa League]] against [[AS Saint-Étienne|Saint-Étienne]] and the other was scored during the test games.<ref name="fcb-achiv-Walter Samuel">{{cite web | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | authorlink = | year = 2016 | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/spieler?command=detail&id=9528 | title = Walter Samuel - FCB statistics | format = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | accessdate = 16 November 2022}}</ref>

==International career==
Samuel was part of [[Argentina national under-20 football team|Argentina U20]] which emerged victorious in the [[1997 FIFA World Youth Championship|1997 edition]] of [[FIFA U-20 World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/06/14/how-a-star-studded-argentina-lifted-the-under-20-world-cup-in-1997/|title=How a star-studded Argentina lifted the under-20 World Cup in 1997|work=These Football Times|author=Sivan John|date=14 June 2017|access-date=25 June 2018|archive-date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625161329/https://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/06/14/how-a-star-studded-argentina-lifted-the-under-20-world-cup-in-1997/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He made his debut in the tournament in the opening [[1997 FIFA World Youth Championship#Group E|Group E]] match versus [[Hungary national under-20 football team|Hungary]] which was won 3–0,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=191277/match=30981/index.html#nosticky|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625185133/https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=191277/match=30981/index.html#nosticky|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 June 2018|title=Hungary 0-3 Argentina|publisher=FIFA|date=18 June 1997|access-date=25 June 2018}}</ref> and went on to play in the remaining two matches as Argentina topped their group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=191277/match=30994/index.html#overview#nosticky|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625161138/https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=191277/match=30994/index.html#overview#nosticky|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 June 2018|title=Argentina 2-1 Canada|publisher=FIFA|date=20 June 1997|access-date=25 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=191277/match=31006/index.html#overview#nosticky|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625185138/https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=191277/match=31006/index.html#overview#nosticky|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 June 2018|title=Argentina 3-4 Australia|publisher=FIFA|date=23 June 1997|access-date=25 June 2018}}</ref>

Samuel has played 56 matches for [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] between 1999 and 2010, scoring five goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/025a-0ea7a20cd035-a2acd801e0a5-1000--basel-snap-up-experienced-defender-samuel/|title=Basel snap up experienced defender Samuel|publisher=UEFA|date=23 July 2014|access-date=30 December 2015}}</ref> He played for his country in the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]] and the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2011/m=3/news=happy-birthday-you-1402031.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911002731/http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2011/m=3/news=happy-birthday-you-1402031.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 September 2015|title=Happy birthday to you!|publisher=FIFA|date=20 March 2011|access-date=30 December 2015}}</ref><ref name=fifa.com>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=3076/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120032245/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=3076/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 November 2015|title=Walter SAMUEL|publisher=FIFA|access-date=30 December 2015}}</ref> as well as in the [[1999 Copa América]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/intldetails/1999sa.html|title=1999 INTERNATIONAL MATCHES|author1=Neil Morrison|date=2 February 2005|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=30 December 2015}}</ref> and in the [[2005 FIFA Confederations Cup]],<ref name=fifa.com/> in which Argentina won a runners-up medal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/2517/goalcom-teams-of-the-decade/2009/07/21/1369247/argentina-team-of-the-decade-2000–2010|title=Argentina Team Of The Decade 2000-2010|website=Goal.com|date=21 July 2009|access-date=30 December 2015}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=December 2015}}

==Style of play==
Regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation,<ref name=goal.com/> Samuel was a large, quick, powerful, and aggressive [[centre-back]], who excelled in the air, both defensively, and as a goal threat on set pieces. His defensive skills, which included an excellent positional sense, an ability to read the game, as well as tough, tight marking, and hard tackling, made him extremely effective at anticipating opponents. His strong, consistent, and uncompromising style of play earned him the nickname ''Il Muro'' ("The Wall").<ref name="Inter, la tappa più importante"/><ref name="Si ritira Samuel"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calciomercato.it/news/149610/Campioni-ai-Raggi-X-Walter-Samuel-il-muro-nerazzurro.html|title=Campioni ai Raggi X – Walter Samuel: Il Muro Nerazzurro|publisher=Calcio Mercato.it|language=it|access-date=14 November 2014|archive-date=25 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125163230/http://www.calciomercato.it/news/149610/Campioni-ai-Raggi-X-Walter-Samuel-il-muro-nerazzurro.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.espn.com/soccer/story?storyId=257738&lang=EN&wjb=&pg=1|title=Roma – Squad profiles|publisher=ESPN|date=13 February 2003|access-date=22 February 2017|archive-date=23 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223044746/http://m.espn.com/soccer/story?storyId=257738&lang=EN&wjb=&pg=1|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite his ability as a defender, his career was also marked by several injuries that affected his fitness.<ref name="Si ritira Samuel"/>

==After football==
[[File:Walter Samuel 2022 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Samuel as assistant manager of Argentina, 2022]]
In August 2019, Samuel enrolled in the [[UEFA Pro Licence]] courses at [[Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano|Coverciano]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.football-italia.net/143280/pirlo-toni-begin-pro-courses |title=Pirlo & Toni begin Pro courses |publisher=Football Italia |date=23 August 2019 |access-date=30 October 2019 }}</ref>
He is the assistant coach for [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] and has held the position since 2019.

He was recently part of the Argentina managerial team who won the [[2022 FIFA World Cup|2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar]].

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{{updated|25 May 2016}}<ref name=SW>{{cite news|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/walter-adrian-samuel/3978/|title=Argentina – W. Samuel – Profile with news, career statistics and history|work=Soccerway|date=16 October 2015|access-date=16 October 2015}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Newell's Old Boys]]
|[[1995–96 Argentine Primera División|1995–96]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Argentine Primera División]]
|5||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||5||0
|-
|[[1996–97 Argentine Primera División|1996–97]]
|35||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||35||0
|-
|[[1997–98 Argentine Primera División|1997–98]]
|2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!42!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!42!!0
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Boca Juniors]]
|[[1997–98 Argentine Primera División|1997–98]]
|rowspan="3"|Argentine Primera División
|12||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||12||0
|-
|[[1998–99 Argentine Primera División|1998–99]]
|34||2||colspan="2"|—||7||0||colspan="2"|—||41||2
|-
|[[1999–2000 Argentine Primera División|1999–2000]]
|31||2||colspan="2"|—||19||1||colspan="2"|—||50||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!77!!4!!colspan="2"|—!!26!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!103!!5
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[AS Roma|Roma]]
|[[2000–01 AS Roma season|2000–01]]
|rowspan="4"|[[Serie A]]
|31||1||2||0||8||3||colspan="2"|—||41||4
|-
|[[2001–02 AS Roma season|2001–02]]
|30||5||2||0||12||0||1{{efn|name=SCI|Appearance in [[Supercoppa Italiana]]}}||0||45||5
|-
|[[2002–03 AS Roma season|2002–03]]
|31||2||6||0||10||0||colspan="2"|—||47||2
|-
|[[2003–04 AS Roma season|2003–04]]
|30||1||2||0||8||0||colspan="2"|—||40||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!122!!9!!12!!0!!38!!3!!1!!0!!173!!12
|-
|[[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]]
|[[2004–05 Real Madrid CF season|2004–05]]
|[[La Liga]]
|30||2||2||0||8||0||colspan="2"|—||40||2
|-
|rowspan="10"|[[FC Internazionale Milano|Internazionale]]
|[[2005–06 Inter Milan season|2005–06]]
|rowspan="9"|Serie A
|27||2||5||0||9||0||1{{efn|name=SCI}}||0||42||2
|-
|[[2006–07 Inter Milan season|2006–07]]
|18||3||5||0||3||0||1{{efn|name=SCI}}||0||27||3
|-
|[[2007–08 Inter Milan season|2007–08]]
|12||0||1||0||5||1||0||0||18||1
|-
|[[2008–09 Inter Milan season|2008–09]]
|17||1||2||0||1||0||0||0||20||1
|-
|[[2009–10 Inter Milan season|2009–10]]
|28||3||1||0||13||1||0||0||42||4
|-
|[[2010–11 Inter Milan season|2010–11]]
|10||0||0||0||3||0||2{{efn|One appearance in Supercoppa Italiana, one appearances in [[UEFA Super Cup]]}}||0||13||0
|-
|[[2011–12 Inter Milan season|2011–12]]
|27||2||1||0||6||1||1{{efn|name=SCI}}||0||35||3
|-
|[[2012–13 Inter Milan season|2012–13]]
|16||1||1||0||5||0||colspan="2"|—||22||1
|-
|[[2013–14 Inter Milan season|2013–14]]
|14||2||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||15||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!169!!14!!17!!0!!45!!3!!5!!0!!236!!17
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[FC Basel|Basel]]
|[[2014–15 FC Basel season|2014–15]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Swiss Super League]]
|12||1||2||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||18||1
|-
|[[2015–16 FC Basel season|2015–16]]
|17||1||3||0||7||1||colspan="2"|—||27||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!29!!2!!5!!0!!11!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!47!!3
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!469!!31!!36!!0!!128!!8!!colspan="2"|—!!641!!39
|}

{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="NFT">{{NFT player|297|name=Wálter Samuel|access-date=15 October 2011}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="12"|[[Argentina national football team|Argentina]]
|1999||10||1
|-
|2000||10||0
|-
|2001||8||2
|-
|2002||6||0
|-
|2003||5||1
|-
|2004||6||0
|-
|2005||5||1
|-
|2006||2||0
|-
|2007||0||0
|-
|2008||0||0
|-
|2009||0||0
|-
|2010||4||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!56!!5
|}

:''Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Samuel goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Walter Samuel<ref name="NFT"/>
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| style="text-align:center"|1
| 3 February 1999 || [[Estadio José Pachencho Romero]], [[Maracaibo]], Venezuela || {{fb|VEN}} || style="text-align:center"|1–0 || style="text-align:center"|2–0 || [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| style="text-align:center"|2
| 28 March 2001 || [[Estadio Monumental (Buenos Aires)|El Monumental]], [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina || {{fb|VEN}} || style="text-align:center"|5–0 || style="text-align:center"|5–0 || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| style="text-align:center"|3
| 8 November 2001 || El Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina || {{fb|PER}} || style="text-align:center"|1–0 || style="text-align:center"|2–0 || 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| style="text-align:center"|4
| 20 August 2003 || [[Stadio Artemio Franchi]], [[Florence]], Italy || {{fb|URU}} || style="text-align:center"|2–2 || style="text-align:center"|3–2 || [[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|-
| style="text-align:center"|5
| 11 November 2005 || [[Stade de Genève]], [[Geneva]], Switzerland || {{fb|ENG}} || style="text-align:center"|2–1 || style="text-align:center"|2–3 || Friendly
|}

==Honours==
'''Boca Juniors'''<ref name=UEFA>{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=56199/profile/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327084557/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=56199/profile/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 March 2010|title=Walter Samuel – UEFA.com|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|date=24 January 2011|access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref>
* [[Argentine Primera División|Primera División]]: [[1998–99 Argentine Primera División#Torneo Apertura|1998 Apertura]], [[1998–99 Argentine Primera División#Torneo Clausura|1999 Clausura]]
* [[Copa Libertadores]]: [[2000 Copa Libertadores|2000]]

'''AS Roma'''<ref name=UEFA/>
* [[Serie A]]: [[2000–01 Serie A|2000–01]]
* [[Supercoppa Italiana]]: [[2001 Supercoppa Italiana|2001]]

'''Inter Milan'''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.inter.it/en/archivio_giocatore/G0790|title=WALTER ADRIAN SAMUEL – CAREER AND HONOURS|access-date=8 March 2015}}</ref>
* Serie A: [[2005–06 Serie A|2005–06]], [[2006–07 Serie A|2006–07]], [[2007–08 Serie A|2007–08]], [[2008–09 Serie A|2008–09]], [[2009–10 Serie A|2009–10]]
* [[Coppa Italia]]: [[2005–06 Coppa Italia|2005–06]], [[2009–10 Coppa Italia|2009–10]], [[2010–11 Coppa Italia|2010–11]]
* Supercoppa Italiana: [[2005 Supercoppa Italiana|2005]], [[2006 Supercoppa Italiana|2006]], [[2008 Supercoppa Italiana|2008]], [[2010 Supercoppa Italiana|2010]]
* [[UEFA Champions League]]: [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League|2009–10]]

'''FC Basel'''<ref name=SW/>
* [[Swiss Super League]]: [[2014–15 Swiss Super League|2014–15]], [[2015–16 Swiss Super League|2015–16]]
'''Argentina U20'''
* [[FIFA U-20 World Cup]]: [[1997 FIFA World Youth Championship|1997]]
* [[Toulon Tournament]]: [[1998 Toulon Tournament|1998]]

'''Argentina'''<ref name=SW/>
* [[FIFA Confederations Cup]] runner-up: [[2005 FIFA Confederations Cup|2005]]
'''Individual'''
*South American Team of the Year: 1999<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/sam-toy.html|title=South American Team of the Year|date=16 January 2009|access-date=10 March 2015}}</ref>
* [[ESM Team of the Year]]: 2001–02, 2003–04<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/esm-xi.html|title=ESM XI|author1=Karel Stokkermans|date=14 March 2007|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=29 November 2015}}</ref>
* [[Serie A Defender of the Year]]: 2010<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.inter.it/en/news/35637|title=INTER TRIUMPH AT AIC 2010 'FOOTBALL OSCARS'|date=25 January 2011|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924063506/http://www.inter.it/en/news/35637|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[FIFPro World XI|FIFA FIFPro World XI]] Nominee 2005, 2009, 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifpro.org/en/events/world-xi/players?sortname2=2010|publisher=FIFPro World Players' Union|url-status=dead|title=News & Media - FIFPro World Players' Union|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-date=19 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319070019/https://fifpro.org/en/events/world-xi/players?sortname2=2010}}</ref>
* [[International Federation of Football History & Statistics|IFFHS]] Argentina All Times Dream Team (Team C): 2021<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iffhs.com/posts/1239|title=IFFHS ALL TIME ARGENTINA MEN'S DREAM TEAM|date=26 August 2021}}</ref>

=== Managerial ===
'''Argentina''' (as assistant manager)

* [[FIFA World Cup]]: [[2022 FIFA World Cup|2022]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=Scott |date=18 December 2022 |title=2022 World Cup final: Argentina 3-3 France (aet, 4-2 on pens) – as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2022/dec/18/argentina-france-world-cup-2022-final-live |access-date=28 June 2024 |work=the Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
* [[Copa América]]: [[2021 Copa América|2021]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 July 2021 |title=Lionel Messi wins first Copa America as Argentina beat Brazil in final |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57776158 |access-date=28 June 2024 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[2024 Copa América|2024]]; third place: [[2019 Copa América|2019]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 July 2019 |title=Argentina 2-1 Chile: Messi gets first red card in 14 years as Argentina win |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48890323 |access-date=28 June 2024 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* [[CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions]]: [[2022 Finalissima|2022]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 May 2022 |title=Italy 0-3 Argentina: Messi and Di Maria shine in impressive Finalissima win |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61653337 |access-date=28 June 2024 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.sfl.ch/superleague/klubs/fc-basel-1893/player/walter-samuel/season/201516/ Profile on the Swiss Football League homepage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731232104/http://www.sfl.ch/superleague/klubs/fc-basel-1893/player/walter-samuel/season/201516/ |date=31 July 2017 }}
*{{NFT player|297}}
*[http://www.footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=919&b=true&pn=W%C3%A1lter_Adri%C3%A1n_Samuel Samuel's profile at footballdatabase.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120828031219/http://guardian.touch-line.com/StatsCentre.asp?Lang=0&CTID=13&CPID=19&pStr=Player&PLID=48019&TEID=41 Guardian statistics]

{{Navboxes
|title= Argentina squads
|bg= #75aadb
|fg= white
|bordercolor= silver
|list1=
{{Argentina squad 1999 Copa América}}
{{Argentina squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Argentina squad 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Argentina squad 2010 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards
|bg= gold
|fg= navy
|bordercolor = blue
|list=
{{1999 South American Team of the Year}}
{{Serie A Defender of the Year}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Samuel, Walter}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Córdoba Province, Argentina]]
[[Category:Argentine men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football central defenders]]
[[Category:Newell's Old Boys footballers]]
[[Category:Boca Juniors footballers]]
[[Category:AS Roma players]]
[[Category:Real Madrid CF players]]
[[Category:Inter Milan players]]
[[Category:FC Basel players]]
[[Category:Argentine Primera División players]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:Swiss Super League players]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players]]
[[Category:Argentina men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:Argentina men's under-20 international footballers]]
[[Category:Argentina men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1999 Copa América players]]
[[Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2005 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Argentine expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Copa Libertadores–winning players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Argentine emigrants to Spain]]
[[Category:Naturalised citizens of Spain]]
[[Category:21st-century Argentine sportsmen]]