You’ve probably seen the face. It’s hard to miss. Chiseled jaw, wind-swept hair, usually leaning against a horse or looking stoic in a Ralph Lauren ad. That’s Ignacio "Nacho" Figueras. Most people know him as the "David Beckham of Polo," a nickname he’s carried for nearly two decades. But if you think he’s just a model who happens to own a mallet, you’re missing the actual story of the nacho argentina polo player who basically single-handedly tried to make a niche sport mainstream.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a weird position to be in. To the fashion world, he’s a superstar. To the hardcore polo community in Buenos Aires, he’s a 6-goal handicap player. That’s a respectable number—it puts him in the top 5% of players globally—but it isn't the "10-goal" god-tier status held by guys like Adolfo Cambiaso.
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He knows this. He’s fine with it.
His real value isn't just in the goals he scores; it’s in the fact that he’s the only reason millions of people even know what a "chukker" is.
From 25 de Mayo to the Hamptons
Nacho wasn't born into a billionaire polo dynasty. He grew up in Veinticinco de Mayo, a small town in the Buenos Aires Province. His dad wasn't a pro player, just a guy who liked horses. But his dad’s best friend was Lucas Monteverde.
For those who don't follow the sport, the Monteverde name is royalty.
Nacho started playing at nine. By fourteen, he was living at the Monteverde estate, riding every single day. He turned pro at seventeen. Back then, he wasn't exactly flying private. He was his own groom, hauling gear and scrubbing horses in Paris just to get some field time. It was a grind.
Everything changed in the late '90s. He was at a dinner party in the Hamptons—as one does—and met photographer Bruce Weber. Weber saw the face, the vibe, and the athleticism. Suddenly, the kid from Argentina was the face of Ralph Lauren’s Black Label.
The 6-Goal Reality of Nacho Figueras
There’s a lot of snobbery in polo. Because the nacho argentina polo player spends so much time on red carpets and in fragrance ads, some purists dismiss him. But let’s look at the actual stats.
A 6-goal handicap is elite. In the world of polo, handicaps go from -2 to 10. Most players never get past 2. To hit 6, you have to be fast, tactically smart, and have a "string" of horses that cost more than a suburban house.
Why the Handicap Matters
- Tactical Awareness: He usually plays the "2" or "3" position, which requires a mix of offensive aggression and defensive pivoting.
- The Horse Factor: He breeds his own horses at his farm, Cría Yatay. If you don't have the "engine" (the horse), you can't compete, no matter how good your swing is.
- Global Reach: He’s captain of the Black Watch Polo Team. He doesn't just play; he manages the brand, the horses, and the logistics.
He’s won the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic multiple times and was recently named MVP at the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship in late 2025. He was playing alongside his sons, Hilario and Artemio. That’s the real Nacho—a guy who wants to turn polo into a family legacy, not just a modeling gig.
The Prince Harry Connection
You can't talk about Nacho without talking about the Duke of Sussex. They’ve been "polo brothers" since roughly 2007. It’s a genuine friendship, the kind where they fly halfway across the world to play charity matches for Sentebale.
They’re competitive.
In a match in Singapore a while back, they played on opposing teams. It ended in a 7-7 tie, which is probably the most "diplomatic" result possible for two best friends. Nacho is one of the few people in Harry’s inner circle who hasn't sold him out to the tabloids. He’s fiercely protective. When people criticize Harry’s move to the States, Nacho is usually the first one on a talk show or Instagram defending him.
It’s about loyalty. In the high-stakes world of international polo, your teammates are everything. That mindset carries over into his personal life.
Why Polo Still Struggles (And How He’s Fixing It)
Polo has a massive PR problem. It feels inaccessible. It feels like something for people who own yachts.
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Nacho knows this. He’s admitted that his goal isn't just to win the Argentine Open—though he’d love to—but to make polo as recognizable as tennis or golf. He’s used his Ralph Lauren contract as a Trojan horse. He gets his face on a billboard, and suddenly, people are curious about the mallet he’s holding.
He’s also leaned into the tech and lifestyle side of things. His architecture firm, Figueras Design Group, creates stables that look like modern art museums. He’s making the "polo lifestyle" something people want to consume, even if they never sit on a horse.
The Family Business
Nacho has been married to Delfina Blaquier since 2004. She’s not just a "polo wife." She’s a photographer, an athlete, and basically the co-CEO of their brand. They have four kids: Hilario, Aurora, Artemio, and Alba.
If you watch them at a match, it’s a chaotic, beautiful scene. The kids are usually running around the pony lines, and the older boys are now playing at a professional level alongside their dad.
It's actually pretty rare to see a pro athlete compete at a high level with their children in the same match. In late 2025, seeing the three Figueras men take the trophy in Aspen was a bit of a passing-of-the-torch moment. Nacho is nearly 50 now. He’s still fit, still fast, but he’s clearly building the foundation for the next generation.
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What You Can Learn from the "Nacho" Method
Whether you care about polo or not, the nacho argentina polo player is a masterclass in personal branding. He didn't just play a sport; he became the sport.
If you're looking to follow his lead—maybe not on a horse, but in your own career—here are the takeaways:
- Leverage your "other" talents. Nacho used modeling to fund his polo team and buy better horses. He didn't see it as "selling out"; he saw it as an investment.
- Loyalty pays off. His 20-year relationship with Ralph Lauren and his decade-plus friendship with Prince Harry aren't accidents. He stays consistent.
- Specialization is key. He isn't the best player in the world, but he is the most famous. He found a niche (the ambassador role) and owned it.
- Family integration. He’s turned his lifestyle into a family business, which gives him a longevity that most pro athletes lack.
Nacho Figueras is basically the bridge between the old-world Argentine estancias and the modern, Instagrammable sports world. He’s managed to stay relevant in a sport that most people find confusing, and he’s done it without losing his 6-goal edge.
If you ever get the chance to watch a match at the Campo Argentino de Polo in Palermo, go. Even if you don't know the rules, you'll see why guys like Nacho are so obsessed with it. The speed, the sound of the hooves, and the sheer physicality of it—it’s a lot more intense than a perfume ad suggests.
To keep up with his current season or see his latest breeding projects, check out the official Black Watch Polo social channels or look for the next Sentebale charity cup dates.