Argentina's record marksman Gabriel Batistuta will return to the national team for a gala match next Wednesday to celebrate his country's first World Cup victory 25 years ago.

It is uncertain whether Diego Maradona, who captained Argentina to their second World Cup title in 1986, will also take part in the celebration of the 1978 victory at the River Plate stadium.

Two Argentina teams mixing current internationals with veterans of the 1978 World Cup like Mario Kempes, Osvaldo Ardiles and Daniel Passarella will play each other, an Argentine Football Association (AFA) spokesman said on Thursday.

Batistuta, who played in three World Cups between 1994 and 2002 but failed to win the trophy, holds the Argentine records of 56 goals in 78 internationals and 10 at the World Cup.

He retired from international football after last year's World Cup in Asia in which favourites Argentina were eliminated in the group stage after he scored his last goal in a 1-0 win over Nigeria.

"Batistuta will be presented with a plaque in recognition of his great career in the national team," AFA spokesman Raul Steimberg said.

Batistuta, who is on holiday in Argentina, has spent the better part of his career in Italy with Fiorentina, AS Roma and Inter Milan. The 34-year-old has been linked with a move to a club in Qatar next season. 

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