Thiago Almada is having himself a year.
With four goals, four assists, two Player of the Matchday awards and two Goal of the Matchday recognitions with Atlanta United, Almada has become the player to watch in MLS this season. In his first match back with the Argentina National Team after winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar last December, Almada was subbed in when Argentina was tied goalless against Panama in Buenos Aires.
At the 78th minute, a Lionel Messi free kick hit the post and in the rebound, Almada scored his first goal with the National Team. Messi would then score off a free kick in the 89th minute for his 800th career goal in his career (Barcelona, PSG and Argentina).
A World Cup celebration
Argentina's match was played in front of more than eighty thousand people at Estadio Más Monumental in Buenos Aires, which included a prematch and postmatch celebration for Argentina's World Cup triumph. Almada was part of the celebration after becoming the first-ever active MLS player to win the World Cup.
Argentina will now travel north east to the city of Santiago del Estero where they will play another friendly against Curaçao to continue the celebration. Coincidentally in that game, Almada will meet Columbus Crew goalkeeper Eloy Room on March 28, with both players missing their corresponding MLS match on Saturday since the League decided to continue playing during this FIFA window.
Click here to find out which other Atlanta United players will be missing from our away match at Columbus. The match will be played at Lower.com Field on Saturday, March 25 (7:30 pm | Watch on MLS Season Pass).
