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Uruguay

Striker Sebastián Abreu sets new world club signing record

Sebastián 'El Loco' Abreu has set a new world record, becoming the professional footballer to have signed for the most ever professional clubs

World record holder El Loco Abreu

The former Uruguayan international Sebastián 'El Loco' Abreu has signed for a world record 26th professional club. The 41-year-old striker joined the Chilean top-flight side Audax Italiano after leaving second-division Puerto Montt, having scored 11 goals from 13 matches for the side.

This transfer means that Abreu surpasses the retired German goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel, the previous world-record holder who played for 25 teams over the course of his career.

Abreu: 70 international appearances with Uruguay

Abreu made 70 international appearances with Uruguay. Perhaps, he is best remembered for scoring Uruguay’s winning penalty in their 2010 World Cup quarter-final match against Ghana.

(That's why they call him 'loco')

World Record number of clubs

Throughout his 23-year career, “El Loco” has enjoyed stints in 11 different countries and has scored more than 400 goals.

'The Uruguayan striker breaks the Guinness world record for the player who has played in the colours of the greatest number of clubs in the history of football,' his latest club said in a statement.

'El Loco'

'El Loco' Abreu, the most-well travelled professional footballer, has played for the following teams: -Defensor (Uruguay): 1995-1996 -San Lorenzo (Argentina): 1996-1998, 2000-2001 -Deportivo de la Coruña (Spain): 1998-2004 -Gremio (Brazil): 1998 -Tecos (Mexico):1998-2000, 2004 -Nacional (Uruguay): 2001, 2004-2005 -Cruz Azul (Mexico): 2002-2003 -América (Mexico): 2003 -Dorados de Sinaloa (Mexico): 2005-2006 -Monterrey (Mexico): 2006 -San Luis (Mexico): 2007 -Tigres UANL (Mexico): 2007-2008 -Beitar Jerusalem (Israel): 2008 -River Plate (Argentina): 2008-2009 -Real Sociedad (Spain): 2009 -Aris (Greece): 2009-2010 -Botafogo (Brazil): 2010-2012 -Figueirense (Brazil): 2012 -Rosario Central (Argentina): 2013-2014 -Aucas (Ecuador): 2015 -Sol de Ámerica (Paraguay): 2016 -Santa Tecla (El Salvador): 2016 -Bangu (Brazil): 2017 -Central Español (Uruguay): 2017 -Puerto Montt (Chile): 2017 -Audax Italiano (Chile): 2018-

'El Loco' stands only five goals short of the Uruguayan all-time goalscoring record, which is held by Hector Scarone with 31 goals.