Oscar Alfredo Ustari (born 3 July 1986) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper.
After starting out at Independiente, he spent most of his professional career in Spain, mainly with Getafe where he had his spell marred by injuries. He also played several seasons in Liga MX, and won the MLS Cup 2025 with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
Ustari represented Argentina at the 2006 World Cup, and won a gold medal with the country at the Summer Olympics in 2008.
Club career
Born in América, Buenos Aires Province, Ustari arrived in Independiente's youth system at the age of 14. The untimely deaths of Emiliano Molina and Lucas Molina – both playing in his position – propelled him to the first team sooner than expected, and he made his Primera División debut on 5 October 2005 in a 2–0 win against Newell's Old Boys, remaining first choice with the Avellaneda side in the following tournaments, under both Jorge Burruchaga and Miguel Ángel Santoro (both former players with the club, the latter also a goalkeeper).
On 10 June 2007, Ustari scored from a penalty kick against Quilmes, also leaving the pitch injured and going on to miss the year's Copa América. One month later, he signed for Getafe in Spain for €4 million, teaming up with his compatriot and goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri. His official debut came on 26 September 2007, in a 2–1 La Liga loss at Valencia. He was first-choice in their runner-up run in the Copa del Rey, including in the 3–1 final defeat against the same opposition.
Ustari struggled during his spell in Madrid, due to inconsistent performances and several injury problems. On 17 July 2012, following a 14-month lay-off due to the latter, he terminated his contract which still had another year running.
On 25 July 2012, Ustari returned to his country and joined Boca Juniors. He moved back to Spain one year later, however, with Almería which had just returned to the top flight.
On 21 January 2014, after only four Copa del Rey matches to his credit, Ustari was released by the Andalusians and signed a six-month contract with Sunderland. He made his debut for his new team four days later, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 home win over Kidderminster Harriers in the fourth round of the FA Cup. He was also in goal in the following game in the tournament, and the result was the same against Southampton, and was an unused substitute on 2 March in the final loss to Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.
On 6 July 2014, Ustari returned to his homeland again to play for Newell's Old Boys, agreeing to a one-and-a-half-year deal. On 16 December of the following year, he switched to the Mexican Liga MX after signing for Atlas. On 2 November 2017, in the dying minutes of the 1–1 home draw with Tigres UANL while at the service of the latter club, he suffered an horrific injury to his left knee after kicking a long ball forward, going on to be sidelined for nearly two years.
Ustari took his game to the Uruguayan Primera División in July 2019, with the free agent signing with Liverpool Montevideo. He subsequently represented Pachuca in the Mexican top division, Audax Italiano of Chilean Primera División and Major League Soccer's Inter Miami.
Ustari was the undisputed starter for Pachuca throughout the vast majority of his spell, where he won the 2022 Apertura and was also awarded captaincy. At Inter, he became first-choice at the start of the 2025 season over Drake Callender.
In the opening match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Al Ahly, Ustari produced a number of saves, including a penalty from Trézéguet, in a goalless draw; manager Javier Mascherano praised his performance afterwards, saying: "Oscar kept us alive in the first half, not just on the penalty kick but two or three other great saves".
International career Ustari played all the matches for the Argentina under-20 team that won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. On 15 May 2006, he was named by senior side coach José Pekerman to the 2006 FIFA World Cup squad alongside his future Getafe teammate Abbondanzieri, being an unused member.
Ustari won his first full cap on 22 August 2007, featuring the entire 2–1 friendly loss in Norway. He also started the victorious campaign of the under-23 team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, but suffered a severe foot injury in the quarter-finals against the Netherlands, being sidelined for eight months.
Personal life Ustari's father-in-law, Ricardo Giusti, was also a footballer. He too represented Independiente, Newell's and Argentina.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsIndependiente2005–06Argentine Primera División2800000002802006–07Argentine Primera División351000000351Total631000000631Getafe2007–08La Liga408050001702008–09La Liga50000000502009–10La Liga1605000002102010–11La Liga160407000270Total41017012000700Boca Juniors2012–13Argentine Primera División120201010160Almería2013–14La Liga0040000040Sunderland2013–14Premier League0030000030Newell's Old Boys2014Argentine Primera División1900000001902015Argentine Primera División170000000170Total360000000360Atlas2015–16Liga MX1101000001202016–17Liga MX2400000002402017–18Liga MX7020000090Total420300000450Liverpool2019Uruguayan Primera División180000000180Pachuca2019–20Liga MX50100000602020–21Liga MX4000000004002021–22Liga MX3800000003802022–23Liga MX380002000400Total12101020001240Audax Italiano 2024Chilean Primera División130000000130Total130000000130Inter Miami2024Major League Soccer10000000102025Major League Soccer250008070400Total260008070410Career total3721300230804331
Honours Boca Juniors Copa Argentina: 2011–12
Getafe Copa del Rey runner-up: 2007–08
Sunderland Football League Cup runner-up: 2013–14
Pachuca Liga MX: Apertura 2022
Inter Miami MLS Cup: 2025 Supporters' Shield: 2024
Argentina Youth FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005 Summer Olympic Games: 2008
Individual Liga MX All-Star: 2022
References
External links