# El Gen Argentino

El Gen Argentino (Spanish for "The Argentine Gene") is an Argentine television programme aired on Telefe to determine who the public considered "the greatest Argentine in history". Premiered on 27 August 2007, it was a spin-off of the 2002 100 Greatest Britons series produced by the BBC. The Top 10 were announced on launch night, with almost 350,000 votes cast. In subsequent episodes, two candidates were chosen via an Internet vote for each of the five categories: sports, popular culture and journalism, 19th century politics, 20th century politics, and arts, sciences and humanities. On the last airing of the show, one personality among them was declared the winner.

## Complete list

| Personality | Personality | Notability | Category | Rank |
| | José de San Martín | General, national hero of Argentina, first President of Peru, and prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire. | 19th century politics | 1 |
| | René Favaloro | Cardiac surgeon known for his pioneering work on coronary artery bypass surgery. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 2 |
| | Juan Manuel Fangio | Racing car driver and winner of five Formula One World Drivers' Championships. | Sports | 3 |
| | Alberto Olmedo | Comedian and actor. | Popular culture and journalism | 4 |
| | Che Guevara | Revolutionary, guerrilla leader, and a major figure of the Cuban Revolution. | 20th century politics | 5 |
| | Diego Maradona | Association football icon considered by many experts and critics to be the greatest player of all time. | Sports | 6–10 |
| | Eva Perón | First Lady of Argentina and founder of the Eva Perón Foundation. | 20th century politics | 6–10 |
| | Jorge Luis Borges | Writer, essayist, poet, and translator. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 6–10 |
| | Manuel Belgrano | Military leader and creator of the flag of Argentina. | 19th century politics | 6–10 |
| | Roberto Fontanarrosa | Cartoonist and writer. | Popular culture and journalism | 6–10 |
| | Adolfo Bioy Casares | Fiction writer, journalist, translator, and Miguel de Cervantes Prize recipient. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |
| | Adolfo Pérez Esquivel | Human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Alfonsina Storni | Poet. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |
| | Alfredo Alcón | Theatre and film actor. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| | Alfredo Di Stéfano | Association football icon widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. | Sports | 11–100 |
| | Alfredo Palacios | Politician and author of a number of laws relating to child and female labour, working hours, and Sunday rest. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Alicia Moreau de Justo | Physician, politician, pacifist, and human rights activist. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Ángel Vicente Peñaloza | Military officer and ruler of La Rioja Province. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Antonio Berni | Figurative artist. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |
| | Arturo Frondizi | President of Argentina. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Arturo Umberto Illia | President of Argentina. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Ástor Piazzolla | Argentine tango composer and bandoneón virtuoso. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| | Atahualpa Yupanqui | Folk musician. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| | Bartolomé Mitre | President of Argentina. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Benito Quinquela Martín | Painter. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |
| | Bernardino Rivadavia | President of Argentina. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Bernardo Houssay | Physiologist and the first Latin American Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine laureate. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |
| — | Calfucurá | Mapuche lonko. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Carlos Bilardo | Coach of the Argentine national side that won the 1986 FIFA World Cup. | Sports | 11–100 |
| | Carlos Gardel | Singer, songwriter, composer, actor, and perhaps the most prominent figure in the history of the tango. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| | Carlos Menem | President of Argentina. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Carlos Monzón | Professional boxer who held the undisputed world middleweight championship for 7 years. | Sports | 11–100 |
| | Carlos Mugica | Roman Catholic priest, human rights activist, and member of the Movement of Priests for the Third World. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Carlos Reutemann | Formula One racing car driver. | Sports | 11–100 |
| — | Charly García | Singer, songwriter, pianist, keyboardist, guitarist, and bassist. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| — | César Luis Menotti | Coach of the Argentine national side that won the 1978 FIFA World Cup. | Sports | 11–100 |
| | César Milstein | Biochemist and Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine laureate. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |
| — | Daniel Passarella | Captain of the Argentine national side that won the 1978 FIFA World Cup. | Sports | 11–100 |
| | Domingo Faustino Sarmiento | President of Argentina. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Enrique Angelelli | Roman Catholic bishop and human rights activist. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Enrique Santos Discépolo | Argentine tango and milonga musician and composer. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| | Ernesto Sabato | Writer and Miguel de Cervantes Prize recipient. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |
| | Esteban Echeverría | Poet and fiction writer. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |
| | Estela Barnes de Carlotto | Human rights activist and leader of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Facundo Quiroga | Caudillo and subject of the book Facundo, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento's most prominent work. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Florentino Ameghino | Naturalist, paleontologist, anthropologist, and zoologist. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |
| | Francisco Moreno | Academic and explorer. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Gabriel Batistuta | Association football player and Argentina's all-time leading goalscorer. | Sports | 11–100 |
| | Gabriela Sabatini | Tennis player, US Open singles champion, and Wimbledon doubles champion. | Sports | 11–100 |
| | Guillermo Vilas | Tennis player and winner of four Grand Slam titles in singles. | Sports | 11–100 |
| | Gustavo Santaolalla | Musician, film composer, and winner of two Academy Awards for Best Original Score. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| | Hebe de Bonafini | Human rights activist and one of the founders of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Hipólito Yrigoyen | President of Argentina. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Hugo Porta | Rugby union player and inductee of both the International Rugby Hall of Fame and IRB Hall of Fame. | Sports | 11–100 |
| | Jorge Newbery | Aviator, civil servant, engineer, scientist, and one of the first Latin American aircraft pilots. | Sports | 11–100 |
| | José Hernández | Journalist, politician, poet, and creator of Argentina's national epic, the Martín Fierro. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |
| | José María Gatica | Professional boxer. | Sports | 11–100 |
| | Juan Bautista Alberdi | Political theorist and diplomat. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Juan José Castelli | Lawyer and one of the leaders of the May Revolution. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Juan Manuel de Rosas | Caudillo and Governor of Buenos Aires Province. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Juan Domingo Perón | President of Argentina. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Juana Azurduy de Padilla | Military leader. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Julio Argentino Roca | President of Argentina. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Julio Bocca | One of the most important ballet dancers of the later part of the 20th century. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |
| | Julio Cortázar | Novelist, short story writer, and essayist. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |
| | Justo José de Urquiza | President of Argentina. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Leandro Nicéforo Alem | Politician. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| | León Gieco | Argentine rock composer and interpreter. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| | Lisandro de la Torre | Politician and senator. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Lola Mora | Sculptor. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |
| | Luciana Aymar | Field hockey player, two-time world champion, and winner of the FIH Player of the Year Award a record eight times. | Sports | 11–100 |
| | Luis Federico Leloir | Biochemist, physician, and the first Spanish-speaking Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |
| | Luis Sandrini | Film actor and producer. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| | Manu Ginóbili | Basketball player, Olympic gold medalist, and four-time NBA champion. | Sports | 11–100 |
| | Manuel Dorrego | Military officer and Governor of Buenos Aires Province. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Mariano Moreno | Lawyer, journalist, politician, and member of the First Assembly. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| — | Mariano Mores | Argentine tango composer, pianist and conductor. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| | Mario Kempes | Association football player and winner of the 1978 FIFA World Cup. | Sports | 11–100 |
| | Mariquita Sánchez de Thompson | Patriot. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Martín Miguel de Güemes | Military leader known for his defence of northwestern Argentina during the War of Independence. | 19th century politics | 11–100 |
| | María Elena Walsh | Poet, novelist, musician, dramaturge, writer, and composer. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| | Mercedes Sosa | Folk musician. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| | Nicolino Locche | Boxer. | Sports | 11–100 |
| | Niní Marshall | Humorist, comic actress, and screenwriter. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| | Norma Aleandro | Actress, screenwriter, and theatre director. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| | Néstor Kirchner | President of Argentina. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Oscar Bonavena | Boxer. | Sports | 11–100 |
| | Quino | Cartoonist. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| | Ramón Carrillo | Neurosurgeon, neurobiologist, and public health physician. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |
| | Raúl Alfonsín | President of Argentina. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Ricardo Balbín | Lawyer and politician. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Roberto Arlt | Novelist, playwright, journalist, and inventor. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |
| | Roberto De Vicenzo | Professional golfer, The Open Championship winner, and champion of more than 230 tournaments worldwide. | Sports | 11–100 |
| — | Rodolfo Walsh | Writer considered the founder of Argentine investigative journalism. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Roque Sáenz Peña | President of Argentina. | 20th century politics | 11–100 |
| | Salvador Mazza | Physician and epidemiologist known for his strides in helping control American trypanosomiasis. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |
| | Sandro de América | Singer, actor, and the first Latin American artist to sing at Madison Square Garden. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| | Tato Bores | Film, theatre, and television comedian. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| | Tita Merello | Film actress, tango dancer, and singer. | Popular culture and journalism | 11–100 |
| | Xul Solar | Painter, sculptor, writer, and inventor of imaginary languages. | Arts, sciences and humanities | 11–100 |

## Facts

* Nominees by area:
** Political figures: 25.
** Sports: 19.
** Presidents: 13.
** Music: 10.
** Literature: 8.
** Science: 7.
** Television, cinema and radio: 7.
** Painters and sculptors: 5.
** Military figures: 4.
** Religion: 2.
** First Ladies: 1.
** Aviators: 1.
** Business and industry: 0.