Thiago Ezequiel Almada was born on 26 April 2001 and is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Ligue 1 club Lyon, on loan from Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A club Botafogo, and the Argentina national team.
16 Facts About Thiago Almada
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Thiago 'Guayo' Ezequiel Almada was born on 26 April 2001, in Ciudadela, Buenos Aires in Argentina.
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Thiago Almada grew up in the neighbourhood of Fuerte Apache, which is known for high crime rates and prevalent drug use.
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Thiago Almada spent many of his early years selling fruit and vegetables door-to-door to earn extra money.
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At the age of four, Thiago Almada played football for a local club, Santa Clara.
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Thiago Almada was picked up by Velez Sarsfield at age five, where he made his way through the youth academy.
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Thiago Almada began his first-team career as a wing forward under manager Gabriel Heinze.
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Thiago Almada played alongside Matias Vargas, Nicolas Dominguez, Lucas Robertone, and Fernando Gago.
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Thiago Almada was unveiled in the club's kit the next day in a welcome ceremony that was held virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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Thiago Almada's signing was met with scrutiny by Atlanta fans due to the use of a racially insensitive gesture with his eyes during a recent goal celebration; Almada apologized shortly after being asked about the situation.
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On 6 July 2024, Thiago Almada officially joined Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A side Botafogo, signing a five-year contract with the club; The deal reportedly commanded a fee of $21 million plus $9 million in add-ons; in the process, it broke the transfer record both for the MLS, and the Brazilian league.
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Thiago Almada played for the Argentina under-20 squad in 2019, before featuring for the under-23 squad in 2021.
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In November 2022, Thiago Almada was officially called up to the Argentinian World Cup squad to replace injured Joaquin Correa, only five days before Argentina's first game of the tournament.
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Thiago Almada was a member of the squad that ultimately won the tournament, becoming the first active MLS player to win a World Cup.
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On 23 March 2023, Thiago Almada scored his first international goal for Argentina at the senior level during a friendly against Panama in his third appearance for the senior team, becoming the first-ever MLS-based player to score for the national team.
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In February 2021, Thiago Almada was identified as a person of interest by local authorities after a party in San Isidro, Buenos Aires on 4 December 2020.