Mark Orton is an independent researcher with a PhD and MA in sports history from the International Centre for Sports History and Culture at De Montfort University in Leicester. His research interests focus on national identity and sport in Europe and Latin America.

He has written three books: La Nuestra: Football and National Identity in Twentieth Century Argentina which was shortlisted for the 2024 Lord Aberdare Literary Prize, El Más Grande: The Story of River Plate, Argentina’s Biggest Club and From Moore to Messi: A History of the Argentine National Football Team.