Marco Gastón Ruben Rodríguez (born 26 October 1986) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Rosario Central as a striker.
He spent the better part of his 18-year career with Rosario Central, scoring 105 goals in all competitions. He also played in Spain, Ukraine, France, Mexico and Brazil.
Ruben won one cap for the Argentina national team, in 2011.
Club career Born in Capitán Bermúdez, Santa Fe Province, Ruben started his career with Rosario Central in 2004. In the 2006 Apertura tournament he scored seven goals in 17 matches to be the team's top scorer, and this brought him to the attention of several major clubs in Argentina and Europe, with Club Atlético River Plate eventually winning the battle and paying US$7.5 million for his signature, alongside teammates Juan Ojeda and Cristian Villagra.
After a short spell, Manuel Pellegrini's Villarreal CF purchased Ruben for $7 million in January 2008, immediately loaning him to fellow La Liga side Recreativo de Huelva until 30 June. He made his league debut in Spain on the 27th, appearing as a substitute and being booked in the 3–1 home loss against Getafe CF.
The loan was renewed for the 2008–09 season, but Ruben scored just three times as the Andalusians were relegated. After returning to Villarreal, he spent the vast majority of the year with the reserves, which were having their first experience in the Segunda División.
In mid-January 2010, Villarreal agreed to sell Ruben to Wigan Athletic of the Premier League after the player had helped the reserves to the fourth place with nine league goals, good enough for joint-third. Although the player agreed personal terms with Wigan, the clubs could not reach an agreement and the deal fell through.
Ruben played his first league game with Villarreal's main squad on 7 February 2010, more than two years after his purchase, appearing six minutes at RCD Mallorca (1–0 loss). On 9 January of the following year, while starting in the place of injured Nilmar, he scored against Real Madrid to make it 2–1 for the Valencians (his first goal for the first team), who were eventually defeated at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (4–2).
On 13 July 2012, Ruben signed a five-year contract with Ukrainian club FC Dynamo Kyiv for a €14 million fee. He scored his first goal for his new team on 3 November, opening a 2–0 home win over SC Tavriya Simferopol.
After a spell in the French Ligue 1 with Thonon Évian F.C. where he failed to meet expectations as that particular type of football did not suit his style, Ruben joined Liga MX side Tigres UANL on 18 June 2014 on a one-year loan from Dynamo. He made his competitive debut on 9 July, playing the whole of a 4–1 defeat to Monarcas Morelia in the Supercopa MX.
Ruben returned to Rosario Central on 24 December 2014, initially on a temporary deal. He scored a career-best 21 goals in his first year (24 in all competitions) and was named team captain.
On 11 January 2019, Ruben joined Brazil's Club Athletico Paranaense on a year-long loan. He retired on 7 May 2022 at the age of 35 after scoring for Rosario in the 3–1 win over Estudiantes de La Plata at Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, as the club's third all-time scorer with 105 goals.
Ruben came out of retirement in November 2023, moving to Deportivo Maldonado of the Uruguayan Primera División. The following 26 May, he again returned to Rosario Central. On his return, he scored a 94th-minute equaliser in a 1–1 draw against Club Atlético Lanús.
Ruben retired for a second time on 14 December 2024, having helped the hosts defeat Club Atlético Belgrano 2–1. In February 2026, however, he returned to Rosario again.
International career Ruben made his debut for Argentina in an unofficial pre-Olympic preparation match against Guatemala in February 2008, scoring once in a 5–0 win. His only official appearance took place on 5 June 2011 in a friendly with Poland, and he netted the 1–1 equaliser in an eventual 2–1 loss.
Career statistics Club +Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsRosario Central2005–06Argentine Primera División291100000029112006–07Argentine Primera División167000000167Total45180000004518River Plate2006–07Argentine Primera División83000000832007–08Argentine Primera División204000000204Total287000000287Villarreal2007–08La Liga00000000002008–09La Liga00000000002009–10La Liga40001100512010–11La Liga305421340047112011–12La Liga319105000379Total651452195008921Recreativo (loan)2007–08La Liga1440000001442008–09La Liga293000000293Total437000000437Villarreal B2009–10Segunda División31180000003118Dynamo Kyiv2012–13Ukrainian Premier League1110040001512013–14Ukrainian Premier League0000000000Total111004000151Évian (loan)2013–14Ligue 1251400000291Tigres (loan)2014–15Liga MX100210020141Rosario Central (loan)2015Argentine Primera División302153000035242016Argentine Primera División1175488002419Total412810788005943Rosario Central2016–17Argentine Primera División2160000002162017–18Argentine Primera División1734020002332018–19Argentine Primera División904100001312019–20Argentine Primera División74000011852021Argentine Primera División1915008211338202022Argentine Primera División000000114114Total73288110223811439Athletico Paranaense (loan)2019Série A2348286314213Deportivo Maldonado2023Uruguayan Primera División20000000202024Uruguayan Primera División113000000113Total133000000133Rosario Central2024Argentine Primera División171102000201Career total42513038135121289542173
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsArgentina201111Total11
Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ruben goal. + List of international goals scored by Marco RubenNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 5 June 2011 Polish Army Stadium, Warsaw, Poland 1–1 1–2 Friendly
Honours Rosario Central Copa Argentina: 2017–18 Supercopa Internacional: 2026
Athletico Paranaense Copa do Brasil: 2019 J.League Cup / Copa Sudamericana Championship: 2019
References
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