Haitian-born teenager makes history with Argentina U-17 after surviving devastating earthquake

Stephen Ramos "Kiki", a Haitian-born footballer, has become a rare figure in Argentine football after making history as only the third Black player to represent Argentina in more than a century, following his appearance in a friendly match for the country's Under-17 team.

Argentine media reported that Kiki is the first Black player to represent Argentina at youth international level.

The first Black (Afro-Argentine) player to feature for Argentina's senior national team was Alejandro de los Santos, who helped the team win the 1925 South American Championship, now known as the Copa América. That tournament marked his final international appearance.

The second was goalkeeper Héctor Baley, who represented Argentina between 1977 and 1982. Baley was part of Argentina's 1978 FIFA World Cup-winning squad. He had partial African ancestry through his paternal grandfather and once said he was uncertain of his exact origins, believing his grandfather may have come from either an English colony in Africa or Senegal.

Another player of African descent was defender José Ramos Delgado, who represented Argentina between 1958 and 1965. His family roots trace back to Cape Verde.

Global attention

Kiki's debut has attracted worldwide attention. Spanish sports daily Marca reported that Argentina's 2-1 friendly victory over Ecuador in Buenos Aires, as part of preparations for the Under-17 teams of both countries, will be remembered as a historic moment for the Albiceleste because of Stephen Ramos' first appearance.

Born in Haiti on April 3, 2009, Ramos survived the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake, one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history. The disaster claimed an estimated 316,000 lives, according to official figures released by then Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive in January 2011.

An Argentine family later adopted Kiki when he was nine years old, giving him the opportunity to build a new life in Argentina.

After arriving in Argentina, Ramos developed into one of the standout talents in the youth ranks of Vélez Sarsfield. His performances caught the attention of Diego Placente, the former Argentina international who now coaches the country's Under-17 national team.

Ramos has impressed in Argentine Football Association youth competitions with his powerful physique, exceptional athleticism, ability to trouble defenders and natural goalscoring instinct. Those qualities earned him a place in the national setup, and he is now regarded as one of Argentina's brightest emerging prospects.