Thiago Almada and Facundo Farías, MLS stars who are leading Argentina’s Olympic dream

The Argentina U-23 National Team won their last match of the year against Ecuador and have, as a result, closed out 2023 with two victories that motivate Javier Mascherano ahead of the Olympic Games to be held next year, where La Albiceleste will look for a ticket to Paris.

In a squad full of names both known and new, two figures stand out above the rest: Thiago Almada and Facundo Farías. Both attackers have opted for the MLS pathway to develop their talents, something that certainly seems to have been a good decision, given how things look.

Almada to lead Argentina charge for gold

In fact, the Atlanta United player is now the captain and main playmaker of the Argentina midfield. Almada is without a doubt the team’s star and he clearly showed his range of attacking talents the match against Ecuador with a fantastic free kick goal that not many players at his age could pull off.

On the other hand, Facundo Farías showed the great drive and determination he has when it comes to attacking, something that caught the attention of those at Inter Miami a few months ago. The 21-year-old striker started the game against their South American opponents, occupying the left wing in the system put out by Mascherano.

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Who is Ramiro Enrique?

The positive news does not stop there as there is another Argentine player who is starting to make a name for himself in MLS, putting in performances that have earned him the reward of being part of the Argentina U-23 National Team: Ramiro Enrique, Orlando City’s 22-year-old.

Enrique came up through the youth ranks at Banfield: a versatile attacker, he can occupy almost any space in the middle or top end of the pitch, although he usually put on his best show in the wide spaces. Despite not consistently getting his name on the scoresheet, the player has plenty of other qualities that make him a huge asset for his club - and now his country, too.