Nicolás Hernán Gonzalo Otamendi (born 12 February 1988) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for and captains Primeira Liga club Benfica.

After consecutive runner-up finishes in the latter tournament, Otamendi won the 2021 Copa América on his fourth attempt, and would then lift the 2022 World Cup the following year, playing every single minute of Argentina's campaign.

Born in Buenos Aires, Otamendi made his Primera División debut for Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield on 10 May 2008, in a 2–1 home win against Rosario Central for the Clausura tournament.

[5] During manager Hugo Tocalli's spell he was only fifth-choice stopper, behind Waldo Ponce, Fernando Tobio, Marco Torsiglieri and Mariano Uglessich.

[9] He netted in his first match, a 2–0 home victory over S.C. Olhanense,[10] finishing his first season with 15 appearances and five goals (notably both in a 2–0 away win against S.C. Braga)[11] as the northerners won the Primeira Liga championship.

[citation needed] Late into the 2015 pre-season, Otamendi refused to train or play with Valencia to avoid thwarting his chances of signing with another club.

[29] A month later, on 10 December, he scored the winning goal in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, helping City stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League to 11 points.

[31] On 18 April 2018, Otamendi was named in the PFA Team of the Year alongside Manchester City teammates Kyle Walker, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Agüero.

[43] After being cut from the squad that later appeared at the 2014 World Cup,[44] he was selected by coach Gerardo Martino for the 2015 Copa América,[45] playing the entirety of all but one match as they lost 1–4 to hosts Chile on a penalty shootout in the final; he was named in the Team of the Tournament.

[46] Otamendi started all the games in the Copa América Centenario in the United States, in which Argentina again both faced Chile in the tournament final and lost in a penalty shootout, 2–4.

On 1 June 2022, Otamendi played the entire match as Argentina won 3–0 against reigning European Champions Italy at Wembley Stadium in the 2022 Finalissima.

On 21 November 2023 he scored the decisive goal in a 1–0 victory over Brazil at the Maracanã stadium, in what would be the Canarinha's first defeat ever in home soil in world cup qualification tournaments.