Javier Pedro Saviola (born December 11, 1981 in Buenos Aires, Argentina) is an Argentine football player. He made his debut for Argentine side River Plate at the age of 16, and went on to be a prolific goalscorer and develop a reputation as a phenomenal prospect. Saviola starred in the 2001 edition of the World Youth Cup earning the distinction of being the player of the tournament. That summer, he moved on to FC Barcelona where he had two irregular seasons, as coaches (Louis Van Gaal and later Frank Rijkaard) were not impressed with his abilities, and did not allow Saviola to become a staple of the team. In the summer of 2004, Saviola was transferred, on loan, to AS Monaco FC of the French league. Javier Saviola played in the 2004 Olympic Games.