Thiago Almada

Thiago Almada is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger. He is renowned for his close ball control, flair, and vision, often compared to Pablo Aimar and a younger Lionel Messi. Almada is celebrated for his role in Atlanta United's success, including being named MLS Young Player of the Year in 2023. He made history as the first active MLS player to win a FIFA World Cup with Argentina in 2022. After securing a historic double with Botafogo in 2024, winning the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian league title, he transferred to Atlético Madrid in 2025. Almada's playing style, influenced by street football, makes him a distinctive talent. As of 2026, he is competing for a regular starting spot under Diego Simeone and aiming for a place in Argentina's squad for the 2026 World Cup.[edit]

Thiago Ezequiel Almada was born on April 26, 2001, in Fuerte Apache, a low-income neighborhood within Ciudadela, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Growing up, his family faced financial scarcity, with his father working as a security guard and his mother as a homemaker. In this challenging environment, Almada's childhood was defined by football played on the concrete streets and dirt pitches of his hometown. He frequently played barefoot or with improvised balls made from rolled-up socks. These conditions were instrumental in shaping his distinctive playing style; he often credits them for developing his exceptional close ball control, flair, and vision, a classic *enganche* style rooted in the necessity of avoiding hard tackles on unforgiving surfaces. This street football upbringing would later draw comparisons to legendary players like Pablo Aimar and a younger Lionel Messi.

His earliest formal steps in football were taken at Club Atlético Laferrere. Showing immense promise, Almada was scouted by the prestigious Vélez Sarsfield at the age of 13 and subsequently joined their youth academy. His talent quickly became evident as he progressed through the ranks, demonstrating the same dazzling control and vision he had honed on the streets. By age 16, his performances earned him a promotion to Vélez Sarsfield's reserve team.

In the reserve squad, Almada continued to impress with his skill and maturity beyond his years. His consistently dazzling displays caught the attention of first-team manager Gabriel Heinze, who recognized his immense potential. Shortly after Almada's 18th birthday, Heinze called him up to the senior squad. Thiago Almada made his professional debut on August 17, 2019, stepping onto the field against San Lorenzo, marking the beginning of his senior career.[edit]

Almada scored his first professional goal for Vélez on September 29, 2019, against Godoy Cruz. His breakout came in 2021, when he recorded 7 goals and 6 assists in the Argentine Primera División, establishing himself as one of the league's most creative players. In February 2022, Atlanta United paid a club-record $16 million to bring him to MLS. He was named to the 2022 MLS All-Star Game. That November, he was a surprise inclusion in Argentina's 26-man World Cup squad. He made one substitute appearance in the group stage against Poland and became the first active MLS player to win a World Cup. In 2023, he exploded offensively with 11 goals and 19 assists, winning MLS Young Player of the Year and a place in the MLS Best XI. In July 2024, he moved to Brazilian club Botafogo for $21 million. He immediately became the team's creative hub, leading them to a historic double: the Copa Libertadores and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. He was named to the Copa Libertadores Team of the Tournament. In January 2025, Atlético Madrid paid approximately €50–55 million to bring him to La Liga. As of 2026, he is competing for a starting spot under Diego Simeone and vying for a place in Argentina's World Cup squad.[edit]

Almada is portrayed in the media as a street footballer who rose from poverty to the top of the game. His playing style is defined by flair: elasticos, nutmegs, and the occasional rabona. He is seen as a modern enganche, a creative playmaker in the Argentine tradition. Argentine fans refer to him as part of the "nueva camada" (new generation). His social media presence, primarily on Instagram, shows match highlights, training clips, and family photos. He posts mainly in Spanish. His fanbase is strongest in Argentina, Atlanta, and Brazil.[edit]

Thiago Almada commands a devoted following rooted in his status as a local hero and a global football icon. His support base is organized primarily through the intense passions of River Plate ultras, known as the Millonarios, and the broader Argentine national team, La Albiceleste. Unlike figures with formalized fan clubs bearing unique names or specific rituals, Almada's audience mobilizes organically across social media platforms, where he maintains over 3.3 million followers on Instagram. This digital presence reflects the collective adoration typical of Argentine football culture rather than structured, player-exclusive campaigns. His return to River Plate in August 2026 generated immediate public celebration, uniting fans in the Monumental Stadium without the need for distinct unofficial groups. While folklore surrounds his technical brilliance, such as the widely retold story of his "art of the dummy" in June 2026 or his clutch late goal that sealed a victory for Argentina, these moments reinforce his legacy within existing team traditions rather than spawning new subcultures. There are no documented reports of supernatural viral incidents or crowds fainting; instead, his influence is defined by verified historical achievements like becoming the first active MLS player to win the FIFA World Cup in 2022. As of August 2026, Thiago Almada is currently evaluated by the iFANN Global Fame Engine but does not hold a placement in the published rankings (Global Top 1,000 or a Top-100 scope list). Consequently, he is not ranked among the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list.[edit]

Thiago Almada carries the nickname "El Güiño" (The Wink), a moniker derived from a playing style that appears to wink past defenders. He has stated that training barefoot as a child due to a lack of affordable boots significantly improved his ball control. Among his tattoos is a World Cup trophy on his arm, inked following Argentina's 2022 victory. Known for attempting the rabona, he often crosses or shoots with his legs crossed during matches. A fan favorite in Atlanta, he once nutmegged a defender during a pre-game warm-up, drawing cheers from the crowd before kickoff. Beyond established facts, folklore recounts a disciplinary event involving a red card against Elche in July 2026. The story of his "art of the dummy" in June 2026 is frequently cited as a display of magical playmaking that drew comparisons to Lionel Messi. Another milestone cemented his legend when he scored a late goal to seal a 3-0 victory for the Argentine national team later that same month. These events, alongside his emotional homecoming to River Plate in August 2026, form the core of his modern narrative.[edit]

Almada's parents are Norma and José Almada. His father worked as a security guard, and his mother was a homemaker. He has not publicly named any siblings. He remains very close to his mother and frequently returns to Fuerte Apache for charity events. As of 2026, he lives in Madrid and owns a property in Buenos Aires. He has no children.[edit]

Almada has shared the pitch with Lionel Messi on the Argentina national team. At Botafogo, he formed a strong partnership with Luiz Henrique. His coaches include Gabriel Milito at Botafogo, Gonzalo Pineda at Atlanta United, and Diego Simeone at Atlético Madrid.[edit]

Almada has kept his romantic life largely private. He dated a woman named Agustina from around 2020 to 2023; the couple were seen together in Buenos Aires and later in Atlanta. The relationship ended amicably around the time of his transfer to Brazil. In 2023, he had a short-term relationship with a woman named Carolina during his time in Atlanta, but few details are known. As of 2026, Almada is reportedly single, focusing on his career at Atlético Madrid and the national team.[edit]

Updated for 2026, iFANN's editorial analysis places Thiago Almada's net worth at $18 Million. His primary income source remains his salary at Atlético Madrid, reported at €4–5 million per year after tax. Cumulative transfer fees from his moves, including Atlanta United to Botafogo ($21 million) and Botafogo to Atlético Madrid (€50–55 million), total over $70 million; his signing bonuses and agent fees from these transfers are estimated at $5–8 million. He holds endorsement deals with Adidas and EA Sports, worth an estimated $1–2 million annually. Almada owns a property in Buenos Aires and purchased a home in Madrid after joining Atlético. His net worth has grown steadily since his 2022 World Cup win, which raised his international profile and marketability.[edit]

Almada won the FIFA World Cup with Argentina in 2022. At club level, he won the Copa Libertadores and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A with Botafogo in 2024. Individually, he was named MLS Young Player of the Year in 2023, selected to the MLS Best XI, and earned a spot in the Copa Libertadores Team of the Tournament. He also received the Trofeo EFE for Best Ibero-American Player in MLS in 2023.[edit]