Facundo Pieres is an Argentine polo player born May 19, 1986, rated 10-goal and formerly ranked world number one, with Argentine Open, Hurlingham Open, Tortugas Open, Queen’s Cup, and U.S. Open titles spanning three continents. He is the man who kept the rivalry alive: for years, while La Dolfina dominated Argentine polo, it was Pieres and Ellerstina who consistently rose to challenge them. His title collection spans three continents, the three most important polo nations in the world, and in late 2022 he was briefly ranked world number one.
What makes Pieres dangerous is his willingness to attack. His stick skills at full gallop are among the best in the sport, and his instinct for one-on-one situations, taking on a defender with a combination of speed, balance, and precision, generates the kind of momentum that can swing a match in a single play. Where some players build carefully, Pieres creates. That aggressive style, electric to watch and punishing for opponents, has made him one of the most compelling players of his generation.
Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu is Pieres’ organisation and his identity. For the 2026 Argentine Triple Crown, he plays at a 36-goal total handicap alongside his brother Gonzalito Pieres (9-goal), Antonio Heguy (9-goal), and Cruz Heguy (9-goal). The 4-goal gap between Ellerstina’s 36 and La Natividad La Dolfina’s maximum 40 is significant on paper, but Pieres has overcome handicap deficits before through sheer quality of play. The Ellerstina-La Dolfina rivalry, which has produced some of the most intense matches in Triple Crown history, continues to define the Argentine season.
They compete in the Hurlingham Open, the Tortugas Open, and the Argentine Open at the Campo Argentino de Polo in Buenos Aires. Every time Ellerstina faces La Natividad La Dolfina, the stakes extend beyond the match itself. It is a rivalry that has shaped modern polo, and Pieres has been at its centre for over a decade.
Pieres’ international career includes wins at Guards Polo Club in the Cartier Queen’s Cup and in the U.S. Open at the National Polo Center in Wellington. At 39 in 2026, he remains a 10-goal player with the experience of having competed in every significant tournament in the sport. The combination of talent, temperament, and competitive fire makes Pieres the player opponents least want to face when the stakes are highest.