Thiago Almada recalls his time with the Argentine National Team and discusses the current season with Atlanta United
Coming from Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield in his native Argentina, 21-year-old Argentine midfielder Thiago Almada arrived at Atlanta United last season with the goal of contributing to the club with his on-field presence. In 2022, Almada was named the 2022 MLS Newcomer of the Year after an excellent debut season with Atlanta United. Thanks to his standout performance in MLS play, Almada was selected by head coach Lionel Scaloni as part of the Argentina National Team for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. On December 18, Almada became the first active MLS player to become a World Cup champion.
During his career in Atlanta, Almada has appeared in 35 matches in MLS and become the focal point of the club’s attack, recording 10 goals and 17 assists. He opened the 2023 MLS season with a bang and was selected as the Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchdays 1 and 4 in addition to being named MLS Player of the Month for February/March 2023.
Atlanta United, with the help of Almada as a force in the attack, is currently in third place in the Eastern Conference, having accumulated 15 points through Matchday 8 and will seek to maintain their momentum under head coach Gonzalo Pineda when they host the Chicago Fire at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this Sunday, April 23.
- Atlanta United vs. Chicago Fire FC (Sunday, April 23, 4:30 p.m. ET / Free on MLS Season Pass / FS1 / FOX Deportes)
Hablando Con Series...
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You were called up to the Argentine National Team that competed in the 2022 World Cup in the month of December, literally at the last minute. How did you hear about your selection? Was it a person-to-person phone call, or a chat with your agent? How was it?
I was at the dentist when [Lionel] Scaloni called me, and he asked if I wanted to go. I said yes, I'm literally running there and then he told me to go with Angel [Correa], who was traveling at dawn to reach camp. I was very happy. The first thing I did was call my family as tears were falling.
Tell us a little more about the day before. Maybe that day before your mind was thinking about something else, weren't you?
Yes, obviously, he had already finished the call-ups and I had already been left out and had already stopped training. We were training on our own or we were on vacation and just the next day, they called us. The coincidence of life.
A few weeks ago, the celebration of the World Cup win in Argentina took place with a friendly match against Panama at Estadio Monumental. You scored your first goal with the senior team. Tell us a little about your feelings on that trip.
Well, the truth is, I was very happy along with the people of Argentina. People were crazy, filling all the stadiums we played in. I was very happy to score my first goal with the national team and also happy that I could see my family on the pitch. It was a very nice few days.
You are in your second season in MLS. After what you achieved individually as the 2022 MLS Newcomer of the Year, how have you adapted from one season to another?
Not bad. I think last year's adaptation was quick because I came in and started playing. Although we did not have a great year, I think that personally I felt good. This year, I think we started in the best way. We try to win games and show another image of ourselves, one that we didn't last year.
What do you want to achieve during your time at Atlanta United? Is it enough to have been chosen twice in the first 30 days of MLS play as the Player of the Matchday and Player of the Month? How do you feel about that?
I’m trying to give Atlanta a title and showcase every match what I can give. The other thing is also that the team helps me. But I hope the team can continue like this and so can I.
How do you feel that head coach, Gonzalo Pineda, has motivated you match after match to play at a high level?
I think he has a very good system, a good coaching staff, and good players. I think that shows on the pitch. And well, Gonzalo also does his job, but we are the ones who play. As long as there is that ambition, the team will perform.
Please tell us about Fuerte Apache and the help your family generates in your neighborhood for people without resources. How many children are you able to help with that initiative?
Yes, well, we started during the pandemic when all stopped. I came to Argentina, and we made food for people twice a week who came from work and didn't have enough to eat. But for a while, we left it and now, recently, we started again. We try to get kids who don't have enough resources to eat before going to sleep to eat a plate of food and go to rest.
People are grateful. They’re happy that they can have a plate of food. And that fills me a lot with joy.
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