Thiago Ezequiel Almada (born 26 April 2001) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or left midfielder for Argentine Primera División club River Plate and the Argentina national team.
Almada was a member of the Argentina team that won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, making history by becoming the first active Major League Soccer player to win the tournament. He also won the 2024 Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian Série A with Botafogo.
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Early life
Thiago 'Guayo' Ezequiel Almada was born on 26 April 2001, in Ciudadela, Buenos Aires in Argentina. He grew up in the neighborhood Ejército de los Andes, also referred to as Fuerte Apache, which is known for high crime rates and prevalent drug use. Almada spent many of his early years selling fruit and vegetables door-to-door to earn extra money. Much time was spent with his grandparents while his parents worked.
Club career
Vélez Sarsfield
At the age of four, Almada played football for a local club, Santa Clara. He was picked up by Vélez Sarsfield at age five, where he made his way through the youth academy. On 10 August 2018, just four months after his 17th birthday, Almada made his professional debut against Newell's Old Boys in a 2–0 victory and scored his first two goals on 5 November in the 3–2 loss against Defensa y Justicia, both in the 2018 Argentine Primera División. In October 2018, he was included in The Guardian's "Next Generation 2018".
Atlanta United
On 4 December 2021, Vélez Sarsfield announced that it had reached an agreement with Major League Soccer club Atlanta United for the pre-transfer of Almada in February 2022. The transfer, reportedly worth a league-record $16 million, was officially announced by Atlanta on 9 February 2022. Almada was unveiled in the club's kit the next day in a welcome ceremony held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His 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.
On 14 February, Almada made his official debut for Atlanta wearing number eight against C.D. Guadalajara during the team's preseason tour of Mexico. Atlanta would end up losing the match 3–0. He made his MLS debut against expansion team Charlotte FC on 15 March as a substitute in Atlanta's 2–1 win. Almada scored his first goal for the club in a 3–3 draw with CF Montréal four days later. The goal won MLS Goal of the Week for Matchday 4.
On November, he was awarded 2022 MLS Newcomer of the Year after being chosen in the MLS Team of the Week five times, including back to back on 12 and 15 September, the second Atlanta United player ever to earn that prize.
On 25 February 2023, Almada scored two goals (one of which was a free kick) in the first game of the 2023 season, helping Atlanta gain a 2–1 win over San Jose Earthquakes. As a result, Almada was named MLS Player of the Week, as well as being featured in the league's Team of the Matchday.
Botafogo
On 6 July 2024, Almada officially joined Botafogo, of Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, signing a five-year contract. The deal reportedly commanded a fee of $21 million (€19,5 million) plus $9 million (€7,5 million) in add-ons; in the process, it broke the transfer record both for MLS and Brazilian football. He scored his first goal for Botafogo in a 2–1 win against Corinthians for the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. In this short stint at Botafogo, Almada conquered the 2024 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and 2024 Copa Libertadores as one of the key players on the team.
On 19 December 2024, Almada announced that he would join Ligue 1 side Lyon on 5 January 2025. Lyon announced his arrival on 15 January 2025 as loan deal until 30 June 2025.
Atlético Madrid
On 15 July 2025, La Liga club Atlético Madrid announced an agreement with Botafogo for the transfer of Almada. Later that year, on 18 October, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 win over Osasuna.
River Plate
On 8 August 2026, River Plate agreed to sign Almada for a €20 million fee, setting a new record as the most expensive signing in Argentine football history.
International career
Almada played for the Argentina under-20 squad in 2019, before featuring for the under-23 squad in 2021.
His debut in the Argentina national team came on 23 September 2022, in Miami, during a friendly match against Honduras.
In November 2022, Almada was officially called up to the Argentina World Cup squad to replace injured Joaquín Correa, only five days before Argentina's first game of the tournament. He was a member of the squad that ultimately won the tournament, becoming the first active MLS player to win a World Cup. In Argentina's final group stage game, he made his 2022 World Cup debut against Poland. He came on in the 83rd minute as a substitute of Alexis Mac Allister in which Argentina was victorious by 2–0.
On 23 March 2023, 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.
Almada competed for Argentina at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
On 27 May 2026, Almada was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On 29 July 2026, FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Almada for unsporting behaviour following the violent brawl after Argentina's defeat in the final.
Personal life
Almada was reported for a case of alleged sexual abuse after a party in San Isidro, Buenos Aires that occurred on 4 December 2020. A 28-year-old woman stated that she was sexually abused whilst unconscious by Almada, along with Vélez central defender Miguel Brizuela and the former Argentino de Quilmes coach Juan José Acuña Delbene in a house rented by Juan Martín Lucero.
According to the victim's account, which was corroborated by a witness, she went up to one of the rooms in order to have consensual sex with Almada, but drank something that began to make her ill. Then, Brizuela and another woman entered the room and started to do various unconsented sexual acts to her. The victim stated that she had never wanted to include Brizuela, and that the three people continued even though she was screaming that she did not want anything to do with it.
After the investigation became public, his club suspended both him and Miguel Brizuela. A week after Almada was suspended, he was reinstated with the club stating, "substantial modifications were generated by virtue of the incorporation of new evidence, expertise and testimonies."
In February 2021, Almada and Brizuela were charged with sexual abuse with the aggravating circumstances of carnal access and group abuse by prosecutor Laura Zyseskind. Acuña Delbene became a fleeing felon after being charged in December 2020, but was arrested at his home in Quilmes in July 2021, while Almada and Brizuela are still awaiting sentencing by the Argentine court.
Despite the charges, Almada was called up by Lionel Scaloni to play for the Argentine national team in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This decision sparked controversy in Argentina and led to widespread international criticism of AFA's decisions. The victim's attorney pointed out several irregularities in the case because, according to FIFA and AFA regulations, "a player is not allowed to be part of a national team if the team can certify that he has a pending criminal case."
Career statistics
Club
As of match played 19 August 2026
International
As of match played 11 July 2026
Argentina score listed first, score column indicates score after each Almada goal.
Honours
Botafogo
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2024
Copa Libertadores: 2024
Atlético Madrid
Copa del Rey runner-up: 2025–26
Argentina
FIFA World Cup: 2022; runner-up: 2026
Individual
MLS Newcomer of the Year: 2022
MLS All-Star: 2023
MLS Best XI: 2023
MLS Player of the Month: February/March 2023
MLS Young Player of the Year: 2023
Copa Libertadores Team of the Tournament: 2024
South American Team of the Year: 2024