Sergio Aguero: Argentina's son and heir

Argentine football's search for the "new Maradona" has gone on longer than English cricket's quest to find the "next Ian Botham". Tap "new Maradona" into a search engine and there are 332,000 page references, and that is just in English. The rollcall of new Maradonas include the occasionally sublime (Juan Roman Riquelme, Pablo Aimar and Lionel Messi) and the ridiculous (Diego Latorre, the original "new Maradona", who sank without trace, Carlos Marinelli, who disappeared at Middlesbrough, and Chelsea teenager Franco Di Santo, who may prove a great player but at 6ft 4in is no Maradona). Just as Andrew Flintoff is yet to emulate Botham by winning the Ashes in Australia, none of these players have come close to Maradona's achievement in winning the World Cup. Messi is currently favourite to prove he is worthy of the mantle but tonight Liverpool should face the man who many anticipate is just as likely to inherit the Hand of God's glory.

And why not? Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero has already won the heart of his daughter, Giannina Maradona, who will shortly deliver a child for Aguero, and a grandchild for Diego. Aguero's boots now bear the names "GIANI" and "KUN", the latter a reference to a nickname given by his grandparents because he resembled an anime (Japanese cartoon) character called Kum Kum.

Aguero has succeeded Maradona once, breaking his record as the youngest player to compete in the Argentine league when he made his debut for Independiente at just 15 years and 35 days in 2003. Like Maradona he grew up in a grim Buenos Aires barrio – Aguero has recalled dodging bullets as a youngster. He also has a pedigree at world level being one of only two players to lift the world junior championships twice, in 2005 alongside Messi, and 2007 when he won the Golden Ball as player of the tournament and Golden Boot as top scorer. With Messi and Carlos Tevez he also won Olympic gold in Bejing this autumn.

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All very nice, but these trophies pale beside the absence of a World Cup since Maradona, in as single-handed a triumph as can be achieved in a team game, inspired the Albicelestes to victory in Mexico. Even qualifying is becoming fraught. "We haven't had much luck in recent years," said Aguero in a recent interview. "We just need to take that final step. With the great players we have, we have reason to be hopeful in 2010."

With the continent's World Cup qualifying now in hibernation until March Aguero can concentrate on his club form. This began well enough with his Champions League debut hailed after scoring twice away to PSV Eindhoven. However, in recent weeks he has appeared jaded. With Atletico hit by injuries Aguero has had to keep playing despite an ongoing ankle problem further exacerbated by the trans-Atlantic travel for Argentina. Recently he was outshone by Messi as Barcelona thrashed Atletico 6-1. That was followed by defeat to Real in last week's Madrid derby. Thus there is talk of Aguero being rested tonight, but that was also the case before Saturday, and he played 90 minutes. Even if he starts on the bench Atletico's management may have to resort to bringing him on, as Arsène Wenger did after attempting to rest Theo Walcott last weekend.

Like Walcott, who is nine months younger, Aguero has so far has managed to keep his feet grounded. He insists he "does not feel pressure", adding, "football comes to me so naturally it's more like having fun than a job. For me having a kickabout with my friends is as important as playing in the final of the World Cup. The same emotions drive me whatever the setting."

He has certainly coped well with his meteoric rise. Building on his precocious debut he established himself in the Independiente team at the age of 16. European clubs soon took note but it was Atletico, a club with a long tradition of signing Argentine players, who took the plunge. In late May 2006, a few days short of Aguero's 18th birthday, they invested €20m in his talent. He had scored 23 goals in 53 games for Independiente including a spectacular one against rival Racing Club which had evoked memories of Maradona's goal against England in 1986 (the legitimate one with the mazy dribble).

Unsurprisingly, given his youth, he took time to settle in Spain. He has admitted the attention took him by surprise. "Before I even played in my first game, just when I had landed at the airport, there were fans, press and media everywhere," he said. "It took 15 minutes to get into the car. "

Then there was the diet issue. Argentines like their beef and Atletico's team nutritionist observed "he would only eat meat and wouldn't drink water." There were even suggestions that his stocky physique was a little too similar to Maradona's in the latter part of his career. In an interview with the BBC he added: "It was a bit difficult at first – I had to grow up a lot more quickly than most kids my age – but I have learned to adjust."

Being partnered with Fernando Torres was a mixed blessing. Torres took the focus, of press and opponents, but though Aguero speaks highly of Torres the pairing did not gel easily. Then Torres moved to Liverpool to be replaced by Diego Forlan. Aguero, now 19 and an equal partner, prospered. He scored 20 goals last season and finished runner-up to Raul as player of the year.

Maniche, Atletico's Portuguese midfielder purred, "I don't have the words to describe him. Aguero could be the best player in the world in two or three years."

Luis Garcia, previously of Liverpool, is just as complimentary: "Aguero makes life easier for us," he said. "When we have a problem we give the ball to him and everything is sorted out."

Which leads inexorably to the question, can Atletico keep him? Manchester City are the latest English club to be linked with Aguero following Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.

Aguero, who is under contract to 2012, has made the right noises about wishing to stay at Atletico. "All the signs are that I will stay here for a long time, and I'm really happy about that," he said. "I am comfortable here and I am happy. You can't ask for more than that, can you?"

Nevertheless, the success of players such as Torres in the Premier League, and English clubs' dominance of the Champions League, is bound to make him wonder.

What became of the likely lads? Five under-20 World Cup superstarlets

Sergio Aguero first came to international promenience when named as player of the tournament at the Under-20 World Cup last year. Great things were expected of the Argentina striker, but what happened to his predecessors?

2005 Lionel Messi (Argentina). Setting the world alight with Barcelona.

2003 Ismail Matar (UAE). Not a big name in Europe but led his country's senior side to the Gulf Cup last year.

2001 Javier Saviola (Argentina). Just as Maradona failed to live up to expectations at Barcelona, so did "The Little Rabbit". Rehabilitated at Seville and now at Real Madrid.

1999 Seydou Keita (Mali). Earned £9m move to Barca this summer after the all-action midfielder impressed at Lens and Seville.

1997 Andrés Nicolás Olivera (Uruguay). Shone at Seville up to 2002 but the playmaker rather lost his way and is now playing in Mexico.

1995 Caio (Uruguay). Snapped up and chewed up by Internazionale. Had a spell with obscure German outfit Rot-Weiss Oberhausen before going back to Brazil.