Last year, both played for their new teams on an international stage for the first time. Gonzalo Peillat was 26 and Menini was just one year older when the last World Cup took place; both missed out on the possible three most fruitful years of their sporting careers.
In the last seconds of the Hockey World Cup quarterfinals versus England four years ago in Bhubaneswar, Gonzalo took a last-ditch shot from close to the halfway line. At the time, his team was down 2-3.
The English goalkeeper’s desperate outstretched foot prevented him from scoring a hat-trick and forcing a shootout after the thunderbolt from the drag flick specialist deflected. At the time, Peillat was the Olympic champion. The ball bobbled to safety just as the last siren sounded.
That long-range shot would be Peillat’s last action with Argentina, though he was unaware of it at the time. A few weeks later, Peillat, who had 176 goals in 153 international matches, would be kicked off the Argentina team due to a contentious team quarrel.
One of the key figures in Argentina’s historic victory at the Rio Games and one of the finest players to ever don the blue and white jersey, the top goal scorer at the 2016 Olympics was also one of the games’ key players. However, he would miss the next three years of the world hockey championships.
Peillat and Menini’s background
Peillat’s international career for Argentina came to an end after the 2018 Hockey World Cup, but he wasn’t the only member of that Olympic gold-winning team.
Joaquin Menini, an Argentine striker, also participated in his final of 110 matches for his country against England in Bhubaneswar. Menini also took three years off from playing hockey internationally.
Peillat and Menini are currently back in Odisha, where they will both be playing in the 2023 World Cup, four years after leaving. The colors of Argentina won’t be on them. While Menini is a member of the Spanish team, Peillat is currently representing Germany in competition.
Peillat and Menini are the first Olympic winners to do so, and it’s uncommon for hockey players to change their nationality internationally.
Here are more stories related to hockey.