Thiago Almada is one of the newest MLS players on this list, and for good reason. His pure talent is at a level very few players in the history of the league have possessed. In December of 2021, it was confirmed by Almada's former club, Vélez Sarsfield, that he would join Atlanta United. It took until February for the official Atlanta announcement of the $16m signing. Almada's price tag holds up as the MLS record for the most expensive incoming transfer. On March 13th, 2022, Thiago Almada made his highly anticipated debut in a 34 minute cameo against Charlotte. One week later, he made his first start for the club, and did not disappoint. Just about out of nowhere, in minute 85, Almada screamed a shot into the top right corner whilst slipping on the turf. Atlanta came back from a 3-1 deficit to earn a point in the match. It would definitely not be the last long range goal the Argentine attacking midfielder would score.
Almada was fairly quiet after that until the month of May. Eleven minutes into a home match against New England, Almada thought he had scored a free kick, but was denied by a stretching Matt Turner. Less than four minutes later, Almada brought the ball down, took a touch, then smashed it past Turner from outside the box. Just to highlight his proficiency in scoring from distance, we'll keep a counter, that's 2/2 from outside the box. He scored his first goal from inside the box in the following match, after Joe Willis gift-wrapped a goal for Atlanta. In August, he returned to bangers only against Cincinnati, picking out the top corner, where the spiders live. He scored his fourth goal from range against Toronto FC, picking out the same top right corner in the same Mercedes-Benz Stadium net. The next time out, Almada put on a dribbling display to defeat Orlando City. He finished the season with 6 goals and 12 assists. Atlanta went through a rare struggle season, failing to qualify for the playoffs. Almada was named the 2022 MLS Newcomer of the Year.
After the 2022 MLS season, Almada has somewhere important to be. He was named to the 2022 World Cup squad for Argentina. He subbed into the Argentina vs. Poland match and played six minutes in the 2-0 victory. Argentina, of course, went on to win the World Cup. Thiago Almada became the first active MLS player to hoist the World Cup.
In his second MLS campaign, Almada has performed even better in every category. In his first competitive match since being named a world champion, it took him some time to show up. But once he did, it was absolute magic. Down 1-0 against San Jose at home in the season opener, with the clock reading 92:24, Almada teed up a strike and stuck it in off the crossbar and in. It seemed like that would be enough, but of course there was another twist to come. With the clock ticking past the 98' mark, Almada stepped up to a deep free kick, lofting it into the top corner to double his stoppage time contributions. Checking the counter, six out of his first eight MLS goals came from outside the area.
Atlanta played Portland in mid-March, just a few weeks later. Almada did it again. In first half stoppage time, he hit just about the most perfect free kick you could dream up, curling it in from over 30 yards out. To cap it off, he finished another brace with an easy pass into the bottom right corner. During the next week, Almada scored his first goal for his country, scoring a rebound after Lionel Messi hit the upright on a free kick. His next goal was another free kick, in a 4-0 win versus Colorado. Then, a little toe poke from just outside the 18 made its way to the back of the net against New England. His next goal was almost off a free kick, but his set piece was initially blocked, so it was the rebound that he volleyed home instead. Almada was named a 2023 MLS All-Star.
Almada's most recent goal took place just yesterday at the time of writing, on Saturday, September 23rd. Atlanta's new star signing, Xande Silva, danced into the box, rounded Jonathan Sirois, then set up Almada for a rare easy tap in. Thiago Almada has scored 10 goals this season, meaning 16 total in MLS thus far. A total of 10/16 have come from outside the 18 yard box. Almada is all alone as the league-leader in assists in 2023, with 16 helpers. His stats in not even two seasons speak for themselves. Unfortunately for fans of Major League Soccer, he's likely closing in on the end of his Atlanta United and MLS career. It seems that he's destined for a move to one of the world's biggest clubs in the winter. Napoli and Ajax have been two teams in the rumor mill. Regardless, we will get to see Almada in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, for perhaps his first and only playoffs. Thiago Almada is one of the most skilled players that MLS has ever seen, placing him at #77 after just 57 appearances.
YEAR | CLUB | MINUTES | GOALS | ASSISTS |
2023 | ATL | 2,499 | 10* | 16* |
2022 | ATL | 2,373 | 6 | 12 |
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