Cristante began to play professionally in Argentina in 1990 with Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata.
In 1995, he returned to Toluca for one year, then in 1996, he joined another Argentine team Newell's Old Boys of Rosario.
In 2002, Cristante completed his training to become a professional coach, and in 2004 he opened the Centro de Formación Deportivo Hernán Cristante (Sports Training Center) with the goal of developing young soccer talent.
[citation needed] Cristante set a record of not conceding a goal for 772 consecutive minutes on 4 December 2008, during a 0–0 draw against Santos Laguna.
Hernán Cristante was part of Argentina's Seleccion Nacional on three occasions, in 1989, 1992, and again in 1995, and was a member of his nation's squad for the 1995 Copa América; in total he made six appearances for the national side.