Goal efficiency
How clinical and direct the player was in front of goal — volume, accuracy, and conversion.
River Plate · CONMEBOL - Pre-Olympic Tournament · Midfielder · #23 · Argentina · 24 yrs
Thiago Almada plays as a midfielder for River Plate. Thiago Almada is a Argentine international, 24 years old, midfielder, currently at River Plate. Thiago Almada wears shirt number 23 for River Plate. Thiago Almada was born in Ciudadela, Argentina on 2001-04-26. Thiago Almada is 171 cm tall and weighs 63 kg. Thiago Almada's Sportra profile tracks season statistics across CONMEBOL - Pre-Olympic Tournament, CONMEBOL Sudamericana, Copa de la Superliga, Olympics Men, and other leagues. Thiago Almada's page brings together career clubs, trophies, injury history, multi-competition stats, and related news headlines. On Sportra you can explore Thiago Almada season statistics, transfer history, trophies, injury updates, and related news across every competition tracked in the profile.
| Season | Team |
|---|---|
| 2026 |  Argentina ARG |
| 2025 | Argentina ARG |
| 2025 |  Atletico Madrid ATM |
| 2024 |  Argentina U23 |
| 2024 |  Botafogo BOT |
| Date | Type | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-07 | Transfer | Atletico Madrid ATM |  River Plate RIV |
| 2025-07-17 | Transfer | Botafogo BOT | Atletico Madrid ATM |
| 2025-07-16 | Transfer | — | Atletico Madrid ATM |
Season intelligence
Profile as Midfielder: defensive work. Archetype: Ball-winning midfielder. Season rating 6.7.
Scaled 0–99 from season output — map to fantasy, comparisons, or scouting cards.
Per-90 rates, efficiency ratios, and Sportra indices from season totals.
How clinical and direct the player was in front of goal — volume, accuracy, and conversion.
Playmaking output: assists, key passes, and custom chance-creation signals.
How often they draw fouls and stay out of trouble with cards.
Tackles, duels, and off-ball defensive contribution.
Shot-stopping, goals conceded, and penalty saves.
Minutes, availability, and how central they were to the team.
Every tracked category for this league and season, grouped by Sportra.
The first friendlies of the post-Lionel Messi era in Argentina are set to be announced next Wednesday, with reports revealing the potential rivals. The Argentina national team are about to navigate their first slate of matches in the post-Lionel Messi era after the 39-year-old forward announced his retirement from international soccer. With the official schedule release pushed to Wednesday, reporting has begun to reveal potential opponents for the Albiceleste. Following Argentina’s defeat in the 2026 World Cup final, Messi formally stepped away from international duty, meaning the upcoming fixtures in late September and early October will mark the national team’s first squad in 21 years without Messi available as an active selection option. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) released a statement on X confirming that the federation “will announce the friendly matches that Lionel Scaloni’s team will play during the September/October FIFA window” on Wednesday, shifting back their original timeline as part of a calculated administrative strategy. According to Argentina insider and Diario Ole journalist Hernan Claus, AFA are delaying the official schedule release while seeking formal FIFA certification to ensure the matches taking place between September 21 and October 6 receive official “Class A” friendly status. #SelecciónMayor El próximo lunes, la @afa, dará a conocer los partidos amistosos que disputará el equipo Lionel Scaloni en la fecha FIFA de septiembre/octubre. pic.twitter.com/eGuCG9Lvth— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) September 4, 2026 While seemingly a administrative technicality, the designation remains a high priority for Argentina’s roster management. Under official “Class A” status, suspensions handed out to Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina, Thiago Almada, and assistant coach Roberto Ayala following post-match incidents at the 2026 World Cup final can be served during these autumn friendlies. FIFA recently granted AFA’s appeal permitting the sanctioned individuals to serve their suspensions during either official “Class A” friendlies or competitive fixtures, whichever occur first. However, FIFA guidelines typically restrict domestic friendlies played on home soil from receiving “Class A” status, leaving AFA working to clear the hurdle to keep the matches in Argentina without altering their venue plans. Potential rivals for Argentina begin to emerge With UEFA nations locked into 2026-27 UEFA Nations League group stage commitments across the autumn international calendar, options for high-profile European opponents remain severely limited for South American federations. According to reporting from Argentine journalist Veronica Brunatti, AFA are finalizing agreements for two friendlies, targeting Burkina Faso on October 3 and Benin on October 6. Current plans call for both matches to take place on Argentine soil, though specific venues and kickoff times remain unconfirmed. Following the 2026 World Cup, the FIFA World Rankings underwent a shift at the top, with Spain claiming the No. 1 ranking with 1,995.88 points and Argentina dropping to No. 2 with 1,970.37 points. Regarding Argentina’s prospective opponents, Burkina Faso currently occupy the 62nd spot globally, while Benin sit at 93rd, offering modest competitive resistance for the world’s second-ranked side.
AFA will reveal Argentina's first post-Messi friendly schedule Monday, though Lionel Scaloni's future beyond December remains uncertain. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed via social media that it will reveal the matches, venues and dates for Argentina’s upcoming friendlies on Monday, marking the national team’s first announcement since Lionel Messi‘s retirement from international duty. While official confirmation is still pending, the plan is for all three friendlies to be played in Argentina during the FIFA window running from September 20 to October 6, giving fans a chance to reconnect with the team after the World Cup final loss to Spain. The matches are expected to be held in Buenos Aires, likely at El Monumental, along with stops in Rosario and either Cordoba or Santiago del Estero. The AFA is also reportedly hoping to convince Messi to attend at least one of the matches, whether as a player in a farewell game or as a special guest. Argentina also won’t be able to call on several players and staff members currently serving FIFA suspensions stemming from incidents after the World Cup final against Spain: Leandro Paredes faces the longest ban at 10 matches, followed by Nahuel Molina (7), assistant coach Roberto Ayala (3), and Thiago Almada (1). #SelecciónMayor El próximo lunes, la @afa, dará a conocer los partidos amistosos que disputará el equipo Lionel Scaloni en la fecha FIFA de septiembre/octubre. pic.twitter.com/eGuCG9Lvth— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) September 4, 2026 While FIFA had approved a request allowing those sanctions to be served in friendlies rather than exclusively in official competitions, that relief comes with a catch — if the matches are played on Argentine soil, FIFA reportedly wouldn’t classify them as Class A friendlies, meaning none of those serving bans would be able to start clearing their suspensions, or even complete them, through these games. Scaloni’s future remains uncertain Beyond the matches themselves, the window arrives amid growing uncertainty over Scaloni’s own future. Asked whether the World Cup final carried the feel of a farewell despite his wish to continue, the coach didn’t rule out an exit. “I have a contract until December and after that I’ll probably step away, contrary to what you’d think. I still have to talk with the president about it. This job is a dream, but it demands a lot of time, there’s a lot to do. We’ll see, I’ll be here until December,” Scaloni said, putting his continuation beyond the end of the year seriously in doubt. AFA president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia pushed back on that uncertainty in an interview with TyC Sports, making clear the federation has no interest in looking beyond its current coach. “I don’t have a Plan B. My Plan A, my Plan B and my Plan C is Scaloni,” Tapia said. Whether that support is enough to convince Scaloni to extend his stay should become clear by the end of the year, once his contract officially expires.
With Lionel Messi's retirement from the Argentina national team, several players could be in line to inherit the iconic No. 10 shirt. With Lionel Messi’s retirement from the Argentina national team now confirmed, one of the more symbolic questions is who takes over the iconic No. 10 shirt. There is no official word yet on how the decision will be made, and it remains largely speculative at this point, but a handful of names stand out as logical candidates given their standing within the squad. Unlike the captaincy, which typically falls to the most senior or respected figure in the dressing room and now looks set to go to Cristian Romero, the No. 10 carries a different kind of weight in Argentine football, tied directly to the legacies of Diego Maradona and now Messi himself. Whoever wears it next won’t just be filling a number on the roster, they’ll be stepping into a symbol that carries decades of history and expectation. Several established figures within the current squad could realistically be handed the shirt. Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister both carry significant weight in the dressing room and have been core pieces of this Argentina cycle, while Thiago Almada has continued to develop into an increasingly important creative option for Scaloni. Nico Paz, still just breaking into the senior squad, rounds out the list as a longer-term bet given his familiarity with the number at club level with Como. There’s also the possibility that Scaloni opts to hold off entirely, letting the number sit without a clear owner for a stretch while the new-look Argentina finds its footing in the post-Messi era. Franco Mastantuono is the last player other than Lionel Messi to wear the No. 10 jersey for Argentina. (Getty Images) Who wore the 10 when Messi wasn’t there The most direct precedent dates back to September 2025, when Franco Mastantuono wore the No. 10 shirt in Argentina’s World Cup qualifier defeat to Ecuador, with Messi left out of that squad entirely. Going back more than a decade, several others have worn the No. 10 for Argentina whenever Messi wasn’t available: PlayerLast time wearing No. 10Lionel MessiJuly 2026Franco MastantuonoSeptember 2025Angel CorreaMarch 2025Paulo DybalaSeptember 2024Sergio AgueroOctober 2016Ever BanegaSeptember 2016Angel Di MariaNovember 2015Javier PastoreOctober 2015Erik LamelaJune 2015Walter MontilloNovember 2012
Leandro Paredes questioned FIFA's 10-match ban following the World Cup final incident, pointing out that Gavi received a far lighter punishment for the same clash. Leandro Paredes broke his silence on the 10-match ban handed down by FIFA following the incidents in Argentina’s World Cup final win over Spain, calling the sanction excessive during his first public comments on the matter. “For me the sanction is excessive, and I hope it can be reduced,” Paredes said. The Boca Juniors midfielder didn’t shy away from comparing his punishment to that of Gavi, who was involved in the same clash but received just a single-match suspension and a $30,000 fine from FIFA. Speaking to reporters at La Bombonera following Boca’s 1-0 win over Lanús, Paredes addressed the topic directly. “It seems exaggerated,” Paredes said of his own sanction, adding: “The strange thing is that Gavi got one match, and he’s the one who hit me in the chest”. Paredes stopped short of elaborating further on the incident itself, instead pointing to the ongoing appeals process as his best hope for relief. “There’s still the appeal, and we’ll see if the sanction can be reduced,” he said, expressing confidence that a resolution could still come his way. LEANDRO PAREDES VS ERIC Y GAVI. 🤬🇦🇷🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/N9beL52Ec2 https://t.co/wyWxa1LmoA— Sudanalytics (@sudanalytics_) July 19, 2026 Argentina could use next friendlies to serve suspensions The comments come after FIFA confirmed that Paredes, along with teammates Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada, would be permitted to serve their World Cup-related suspensions during international friendlies rather than competitive fixtures, easing the impact on Argentina’s schedule. Argentina can schedule up to four friendlies during the extended September-October window, plus two more in November, giving Almada and Molina more than enough matches to clear their suspensions in the short term. Paredes, given his longer 10-match ban, is the one most likely to still be serving time once competitive qualifiers roll around, though the exact timeline depends on how many friendlies the AFA lines up in the coming international windows. The federation has said it will continue pushing to reduce the bans on appeal once FIFA releases the full grounds for its rulings, with the case ultimately eligible to reach the Court of Arbitration for Sport if needed.
After the confirmation of the suspensions, Lionel Messi's Argentina received a great piece of news from FIFA as Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada can serve their suspension received from the World Cup in friendlies. Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team received a significant boost on Thursday following FIFA‘s confirmation of individual suspensions stemming from the 2026 World Cup final. In a pivotal ruling, FIFA granted a request allowing Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina, and Thiago Almada to serve their match suspensions during international friendlies rather than exclusively in official competitive fixtures. Following the heated altercations after the final whistle in the 2026 World Cup, several Argentina players and coaching staff members faced severe disciplinary action from the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. While the Argentine Football Association (AFA) was hit with a $321,000 overall fine for multiple organizational violations, the post-match brawl led to lengthy bans for key squad members. In terms of individual penalties, Leandro Paredes received a 10-match suspension and a $90,000 fine for grabbing Spain’s Eric Garcia by the neck during the post-match brawl. Nahuel Molina was issued a seven-match ban and a $90,000 fine following a clash with Rodri, while Thiago Almada received a one-match ban and a $30,000 fine, and assistant coach Roberto Ayala received a three-match touchline ban accompanied by a $30,000 fine. A major strategic victory for Argentina These suspensions threatened a major operational hurdle for Lionel Messi and Argentina, potentially sidelining key starters across entire international windows given the limited fixture schedule for national teams each year. While the AFA appealed the severity of the bans, FIFA provided immediate relief by approving a procedural modification. Leandro Paredes #5 of Argentina and Eric Garcia #4 of Spain have words after the World Cup 2026 Final. On Thursday, August 27, the AFA confirmed it submitted a formal petition asking FIFA to permit the suspensions to be served across upcoming Class “A” international friendlies or official CONMEBOL fixtures, whichever occur first. An official statement from the federation confirmed that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee granted the request in full. Rather than waiting for the 2030 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers or the 2028 Copa America to burn off match bans, Paredes, Molina, and Almada can fulfill their suspensions during upcoming exhibition matches on the national team calendar. Despite the favorable ruling on venue eligibility, the AFA noted it will continue pursuing legal avenues to reduce the overall length of the bans once FIFA releases its full written justification: “Notwithstanding this, the Argentine Football Association, in defense of its rights and those of its players, is awaiting the grounds of the decisions in order to file the corresponding appeals before the FIFA Appeal Committee, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) eventually serving as the final instance.“ When could Argentina’s stars return from suspension? The procedural modification completely reshapes Argentina’s roster availability, enabling Messi to rejoin his suspended teammates much sooner than originally anticipated. However, the timeline hinges on how many exhibition matches the federation schedules during upcoming FIFA windows. During the extended September-October international window, Argentina can schedule up to four friendlies, alongside two potential fixtures in the November 2026 window. With standard double-header windows scheduled for March, June, September, October, and November 2027 before World Cup qualifying begins, Almada, Molina, and Ayala should clear their suspensions before official competitive play starts, leaving only Paredes facing a brief remaining absence.
Luis de la Fuente slammed Lionel Scaloni's Argentina following the altercations in the World Cup final and after the sanctions were confirmed, claiming that the Spain "players were the victims." The 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain produced massive global fallout following a chaotic post-match melee after the final whistle. With FIFA confirming official disciplinary sanctions for all parties involved, La Roja head coach Luis de la Fuente strongly criticized the behavior of Lionel Scaloni’s squad, insisting that Spain’s players were entirely innocent targets during the altercation. Moments after Spain secured the world title, several altercations broke out as multiple Argentine players and assistant coach Roberto Ayala confronted and physically shoved Spanish players across the pitch. Following a full review by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, the Argentine Football Association was fined $321,000 for systemic misconduct, accompanied by individual player suspensions. Beyond the organizational fine, midfielder Leandro Paredes received a 10-match suspension, defender Nahuel Molina was handed a seven-match ban, forward Thiago Almada received a one-match suspension, and assistant coach Roberto Ayala was suspended for three matches. The sole Spain player sanctioned was Gavi, who received a one-match ban alongside a $30,000 fine. De la Fuente addresses the disciplinary measures Speaking to Spanish national radio network RNE, De la Fuente made his stance clear regarding the incident: “Football is a fundamental pillar of society, of unity, peace, and harmony. There are other ugly parts which are the ones usually highlighted. They need to be brought to light so that they do not happen again. It is intolerable and unacceptable.“ "No se puede dar una imagen tan fea de una final ante más de 2.000 millones de personas"Luis de la Fuente, DT de España, dijo que la final del Mundial fue "inadmisible", señaló que "hay que visibilizar para que no se produzca más" y afirmó: "Nuestros jugadores fueron víctimas". pic.twitter.com/58ozj17lnS— Corta (@somoscorta) August 25, 2026 When asked about the severe penalties assessed to the Argentine players, particularly the 10-match ban given to Paredes, De la Fuente defended the governing body’s decision. “There are governing bodies and each one makes the decision it believes it has to make. What cannot happen is projecting that image, in front of over two billion people, of such an ugly ending,” De La Fuente addressed. The Spanish manager concluded by firmly defending his squad while placing full responsibility on the opposition: “But the most important thing is that our players were the victims. None of them had anything to do with any of those clashes: they were victims and, truly, the ones harmed by all those situations.“ Scaloni and De la Fuente navigate personal history amid controversy Both Lionel Scaloni and Luis de la Fuente share a longstanding personal connection, having forged a friendship while Scaloni was earning his UEFA coaching badges with De La Fuente serving as one of his instructors. Fate ultimately brought them together on soccer’s grandest stage, though the final whistle produced an outcome neither manager desired. De la Fuente confirmed he received personal messages of apology from Scaloni and several Argentine players, reiterating that such scenes must be eradicated for the integrity of the sport. “I have a tremendous relationship with him and he is a friend; he is a person with values and principles, and I know he did not like that behavior,” De la Fuente said regarding Scaloni.
Antoine Griezmann has now joined Lionel Messi and Thomas Muller as the eight World Cup winner to ever win a MLS Player of the Matchday award. Antoine Griezmann has enjoyed a seamless transition to Major League Soccer, capturing his first Player of the Matchday award following a standout performance against Real Salt Lake. With the honor, the Orlando City star joins Lionel Messi and Thomas Muller as the eighth World Cup winner in league history to claim the accolade. Facing Real Salt Lake on Saturday, Orlando City fell behind at Inter&Co Stadium when Dominik Marczuk opened the scoring for the visitors in the 36th minute. However, Griezmann spearheaded the comeback for Orlando, first tapping home a loose ball in the box in the 53rd minute before redirecting a right-footed winner in the 81st minute to secure all three points. By completing the 2-1 comeback and logging his first MLS brace, Griezmann was officially named MLS Player of the Matchday for Matchday 22. During the 2026 campaign, he becomes the second Orlando City player to earn the award, following Martin Ojeda’s selection in Matchday 11. Since arriving in Orlando in July, the French star has made six MLS appearances, tallying three goals, one in his debut alongside his brace against Real Salt Lake, and adding an assist against the New York Red Bulls. He also featured in three Leagues Cup matches, recording a goal and an assist. Grizi GREATNESS. 🦁Antoine Griezmann of @OrlandoCitySC is your @MichelobULTRA Player of the Matchday for Matchday 22! pic.twitter.com/AsELApZh9T— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 24, 2026 The MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 22 features: Goalkeeper: James Pantemis (Portlant Timbers).Defenders: Andy Najar (Nashville SC), Dante Polvora (St. Louis City) and Edier Ocampo (Vancouver Whitecaps).Midfielders: Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United), Joaquin Pereyra (Minnesota United), Hani Mukhtar (Nashville SC), and Pep Biel (Charlotte FC).Forwards: Antoine Griezmann (Orlando City), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps), and Kelvin Yeboah (Minnesota United). Griezmann, another world champion building an MLS legacy The rapid trajectory of MLS over recent years has enabled clubs to attract marquee global stars. Griezmann represents the latest prominent example, proving that even in the later stages of his career, his elite technical quality can reshape matches, reflecting his pedigree as a 2018 World Cup winner with France. With his latest honor, Griezmann becomes the eighth World Cup champion to capture an MLS Player of the Matchday award. The most recent addition prior to Griezmann was Thomas Muller, who earned the honor with the Vancouver Whitecaps after netting a hat trick against the Philadelphia Union in Matchday 33 in September 2025. Atop the list of World Cup champions, Lionel Messi holds the record for the most Player of the Matchday awards in MLS history, having secured 14 during his time with Inter Miami. The complete list of World Cup winners to earn MLS Player of the Matchday honors includes: Lionel Messi (14)Thierry Henry (6)David Villa (4)Thiago Almada (3)Youri Djorkaeff (2)Kaka (1)Thomas Muller (1)Antoine Griezmann (1)
Angel Di Maria weighed in on FIFA's sanctions against several Argentina players stemming from the chaotic ending of the 2026 World Cup final, calling the punishments excessive. Speaking in the mixed zone following Rosario Central's draw against Talleres at Argentina’s Liga Profesional de Fútbol, Di Maria was asked about the suspensions handed down to his […] Angel Di Maria weighed in on FIFA’s sanctions against several Argentina players stemming from the chaotic ending of the 2026 World Cup final, calling the punishments excessive. Speaking in the mixed zone following Rosario Central’s draw against Talleres at Argentina’s Liga Profesional de Fútbol, Di Maria was asked about the suspensions handed down to his former national team teammates. “I talk to Paredes every day. I think it’s exaggerated, it will surely end up being a lot less for all the guys, not just for him, but for Nahuel too,” the winger said, referencing Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina. Di Maria went on to suggest the incident that triggered the sanctions was understandable given the circumstances, even if the scale of the punishment surprised him. “It’s something that could happen because they got into it at the end, but it’s all pretty exaggerated,” he added. Leandro Paredes and Eric Garcia have words after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final. (Getty Images) FIFA’s ruling included a 10-match suspension and a $90,000 fine for Paredes, a seven-match ban and the same fine for Molina, a one-match suspension and $30,000 fine for Thiago Almada, and a three-match ban with a $30,000 fine for assistant coach Roberto Ayala. AFA set to appeal FIFA’s sanctions The AFA, led by president Claudio Tapia, has already confirmed plans to appeal FIFA’s ruling, arguing the punishments were disproportionate to what took place after the final whistle in the World Cup final. The federation is hoping the appeal process trims down the suspensions for Paredes, Molina, and Almada, a sentiment Di Maria’s comments echo directly, though there’s no official timeline yet for when FIFA will rule on the appeal. Until then, the uncertainty leaves a cloud over Argentina‘s squad planning, with Paredes and Molina both facing lengthy absences that could stretch across multiple upcoming fixtures if the original sanctions are upheld. For now, Di Maria’s remarks reflect the mood inside the squad’s inner circle: cautious optimism that FIFA’s disciplinary committee will ultimately soften its stance once AFA’s case is heard.
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