Greece is a team on the precipice of world men’s water polo, willing to jump in but not quite having the mythological impetus to take that vital step. The golden touch has eluded the team through the ages, but that could easily change as shown by this year’s performances where it came away with silver and bronze from the top two international events.
Stylianos Argyropoulos is just one of the many spearheads of the Greek team that has yet to take that final step up the dais.
The Olympics have come tantalisingly close with a lost opportunity in 2020’s gold-medal final in Tokyo, played in 2021 because of the Covid pandemic. This was the best chance for immortality.
In this year's World Championships, Greece came up against eventual champion Spain, losing 11-9 in the penalty shootout in the semifinals and then whipping Olympic champion Serbia 16-7 in the bronze-medal play-off.
World Cups have produced two silver medals — losing to European champion Spain 16-14 earlier this year in Podgorica, Montenegro, 28 years after losing to United States of America in Athens.
World Leagues have been equally frustrating, four times losing in the semifinals but heroically coming away with four bronze medals.
All these while the Greece women’s team is riding high after winning both the World Cup and World Championships for the first times in 2025.
Intensity And Calmness
Argyropoulos, who plays his club water polo with Ferencvaros in Hungary, is the type of player who can contribute in every position and do whatever is needed at a given moment for the team to win. This is something that drives him as an athlete.
“My playing style is based on intensity, combined with the calmness I try to maintain during the game. I can play in all positions, aggressively, and that helps me a lot during matches.
“I have always been inspired by people who give 100 per cent in whatever they do, regardless of whether it’s in sports or not,” he told Scoring Goals.
Impressive Career
Argyropoulos came to prominence in 2013 when he played his first junior internationals.
He began with Ethnikos in the Greek league in 2014-2016 and then for the legendary Greek super club Olympiacos in 2016-21, winning the 2017-18 LEN Champions League.
“I won five Greek championships with Olympiacos ,four Greek Cups and three Greek Super Cups, as well, of course, the Champions League 2018.”
With Jug Dubrovnik he claimed the Croatian championship in 2021-22.
It is with Ferencvaros that he has shown true promise, winning the Hungarian championships of 2023, 2024 and 2025. The Hungarian Cups were secured in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 and the last two LEN Champions Leagues — 2024 and 2025.
His last accolade came as late as Wednesday this week, winning the second successive LEN Super Cup.
His ability in the water has not gone unnoticed, being named to the Media All Star teams of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and this year’s World Aquatics Championships.
Toughest Opponent Ourselves
When asked who his toughest opponent was, he said: “I don’t have one specific toughest opponent — I enjoy competing against athletes who focus strongly on defence and play aggressively in attack.”
With the state of the national team, Argyropoulos said: “For the Greek national team, our toughest opponent so far has proven to be ourselves. We often come very close to winning a gold medal, but some how we haven’t managed to achieve it yet. However, I am convinced that we are constantly improving, and this will change!”
The proof will come in 2026 when Greece lines up for the European Championships in January and then tackles the World Cup mid-year.
New Rules
Checking out the new rules introduced this year, Argyropoulos said: “The new rules bring more shots and faster attacks. In theory, it is more interesting for the spectator, but I think it makes the referees’ jobs much harder, as many things happen at the same time and only two referees must monitor them — which is quite difficult.
“I believe we adapted very quickly and we like the new rules, as they fit our playing style well.”
Life is not all champagne and caviar as a player, he said.
“The life of a water polo player in Greece involves double training sessions, gym work and usually a lot of time on the road due to traffic, plus matches every Saturday.
“Unfortunately, there are no real facilities or accommodations for athletes who study, and many are also forced to work because of the amateur nature of the sport in our country.”
And still, Greece manages to post some amazing results at the elite level!
“Greece has success in water polo because I believe swimming is in our culture — at every Greek beach you’ll see people playing with balls and shooting in the water. The paradox, however, is that many people don’t even know water polo as a sport,” he said.
“The national team’s goal is always to reach the top, and we work with that in mind only. We know very well that we must constantly improve, and that is our purpose!”
Looking Forward
Argyropoulos knows that his playing career will end someday, but at having just turned 29, there is plenty of time to reflect and plan for the future.
“Water polo is something I have loved with all my heart since I was a child, so in the future, after the end of my athletic career, I would like to stay involved in the sport in some other role.”
Editor’s Note
Argyropoulos topped his team’s scoring at the recent Singapore World Aquatics Championships with 14 goals, but he was just one of many on the leaderboard with Efstathia Kalogeropoulos and Nikolaos Gkillas netting 13 each; and Konstantinos Genidounias making 10. On top of that, Panagiotis Tzortzatos has proved himself to be a brilliant last line of defence in goal.
For the record, Argyropoulos currently has in his possession one Olympic silver medal, one silver and two bronzes at World Championships, a 2020 World League bronze and 2018 Mediterranean Games silver in his vast trophy cabinet.