2023 Designated Players | Thiago Almada
Young, talented and World Champion. Can Thiago Almada bring the MLS Cup to Atlanta?
Thiago Almada, 21 years old, is MVP material for the MLS and certainly has the potential of attracting interest from top European clubs. The archetypal “trequartista”, gifted with vision, mobility and top-notch technique, Almada tops MLS rankings on various creation-centric advanced metrics, such as Expected Assists (xA) and Expected Threat (xT). If his chemistry with Giakoumakis proves effective, Atlanta United FC could definitely battle for the MLS Cup.
Beginnings
Thiago Ezequiel Almada was born on 26th April 2001 in Ciudadela, a city in Greater Buenos Aires (Argentina), very close to Estadio José Amalfitani, the stadium of Vélez Sarsfield. He was picked up by Vélez at age five, where he made his way through the youth academy. In August 2018, just four months shy of his 17th birthday, Almada made his professional debut with the club.
Nicknamed “Guayo”
Apparently, the nickname comes from a little Thiago not being able to perfectly pronounce “Eh, guacho” which was said by older kids.
From Vélez to Atlanta United
Almada played 65 matches in the Argentinian top flight for Vélez Sarsfield, a grand total of 4069 minutes, producing 14 goals and 7 assists.
Atlanta United FC announced to have reached an agreement with Vélez Sarsfield on 9th February 2022. The transfer fee has been reported to be a new league record of $16 million. In 2022, Almada’s guaranteed compensation was $2,332,000.
In his first MLS season, he played 29 games (2373 mins), collecting 6 goals and 7 assists.
World Cup Champion
Almada deputed in the “Selección” Argentina on 23 September 2022, in Miami, during a friendly match against Honduras.
In November 2022, Almada was officially called up to the Argentinian 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 (he played 7 minutes in total), becoming the first active MLS player to win a World Cup, on 18th December 2022.
Playing style and advanced metrics
Thiago Almada is certainly one of the most talented players in 2023 MLS. He combines a top-notch first touch, with vision and great shooting skills, making him the archetypal number 10.
Analyzing his stats from 2020 to 2023, we can identify trends and key aspects of his game that make him a vital asset to his team.
From his time at Vélez Sarsfield to his current tenure at Atlanta United, Almada's appearances and minutes played have increased, indicating a growing role in his teams. With a total of 15 goals and 14 assists in 59 appearances, Almada has demonstrated his ability to contribute both as a scorer and a playmaker.
One of Almada's strengths is his shooting ability. He has averaged 2.86 shots per 90 minutes in the past four seasons, with a peak of 4.33 shots per 90 minutes in the 2023 season. While his shot accuracy has fluctuated between 30.8% and 64.3%, he has maintained a consistent expected goals (xG) per 90 minutes of around 0.27.
His xG per shot has decreased from 0.20 in 2020 to 0.04 in 2023, indicating that he may be taking riskier shots or shooting from less favorable positions. However, his non-penalty Expected Goals (NPxG) per 90 minutes have remained relatively stable at around 0.23, suggesting a consistent threat in open play.
As a playmaker, Almada's Expected Assists (xA) per 90 minutes have risen from 0.18 in 2020 to 0.21 in 2023. His open-play expected assists (OPxA) per 90 minutes have also increased over time, with a peak of 0.26 in 2022. This growth in creative output highlights his development as a key creator for his team.
In terms of overall offensive contribution, Almada's Expected Offensive Value Added (xOVA) per 90 minutes has seen a gradual increase, reaching a high of 0.33 in 2022. This metric showcases his impact on the team's attacking play and his ability to influence matches in the final third.
Almada's Expected Threat (xT) per 90 minutes has grown over time, with an increase in xT from passes and a slight decrease in xT from carries. This shift indicates that Almada may be focusing more on his passing and playmaking abilities, rather than relying solely on his dribbling skills.
One area where Almada is limited due to his physical characteristics is his aerial game: his aerial success ratio is a low 13%.
SWOT Analysis
The following is a SWOT analysis for Thiago Almada from the point of view of Atlanta United’s head coach Gonzalo Pineda.
Thiago Almada is a young footballer who possesses impressive vision, technique, and shooting skills. These strengths make him an exciting prospect for any team looking to bolster their attacking options. However, his short stature, limited top speed, and lack of defensive discipline can pose a challenge, especially in a league as physically demanding as the MLS.
Nevertheless, Almada has opportunities to overcome these weaknesses. Adapting to the MLS could help him hone his skills and develop new ones that will benefit his team. Additionally, having won the World Cup with Argentina, he is likely to be more confident in his abilities, which could improve his performances on the pitch. Another opportunity for Almada is linking up with Giakoumakis, a fellow newcomer to Atlanta United. The two players could form a potent attacking partnership and help each other grow and develop. However, the biggest threat to Atlanta United's head coach is the interest from top European clubs. Almada's impressive performances could attract attention from big teams, making it difficult for Atlanta United to hold on to him.