# Álvaro Barreal

Álvaro Martín Barreal (born 17 August 2000) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays primarily as a left winger for Brazilian club Santos, on loan from Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati.

## Club career
### Vélez Sarsfield

Barreal began his career with Vélez Sarsfield. Gabriel Heinze promoted the midfielder into the club's first-team squad at the beginning of 2018–19, selecting him for his professional debut on 2 September at La Bombonera against Boca Juniors; he was substituted on for Lucas Robertone with thirty-two minutes remaining. He netted his first goal on 3 February 2019 against River Plate.

### FC Cincinnati

On 2 September 2020, Barreal signed for Major League Soccer side FC Cincinnati. He signed a three-year contract with a club option for a fourth year. Reports out of Argentina listed the transfer fee in the range of $1.5 to 1.7 million for 75 percent of the player's rights, with Vélez Sarsfield retaining 25 percent of any future sale. Also noted was the potential of $250,000 additional for a set number of appearances. Barreal made his debut on October 7 in a 3–0 defeat away to the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park, having replaced Frankie Amaya early in the second half. Four further appearances, all as a starter, arrived in his first season with the American club.
In September 2023, Barreal was nominated for the prestigious FIFA Puskás Award for his 71st-minute goal scored against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals. Barreal joined 10 other players on the shortlist for the world's "most beautiful goal" of the year. He was the fourth active MLS player to be nominated for the award, and the first since a 2018 goal by Zlatan Ibrahimović for LA Galaxy.

#### Loan to Cruzeiro

On 1 March 2024, FC Cincinnati announced a loan with purchase option on an undisclosed fee to Cruzeiro through December 2024. He was regularly used for the club during his spell, scoring twice in 42 appearances before departing in December.

#### Loan to Santos

On 6 February 2025, Santos announced the signing of Barreal on a one-year loan deal, with a buyout clause. After nursing an injury, he made his club debut seventeen days later, replacing Yeferson Soteldo late into a 3–0 away win over Inter de Limeira.

## International career

Barreal represented the Argentina U20s at the 2018 COTIF Tournament in Spain. He scored two goals in five games, as Argentina won the tournament.
Scouts from the Argentina national football team visited two FC Cincinnati games in 2023 to assess him for a potential call up to the senior team.

## Career statistics

    As of 24 February 2025
Club statistics :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | State league | State league | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Vélez Sarsfield | 2018–19 | Primera División | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 1 |
| Vélez Sarsfield | 2019–20 | Primera División | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| Vélez Sarsfield | Total | Total | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 1 |
| FC Cincinnati | 2020 | Major League Soccer | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| FC Cincinnati | 2021 | Major League Soccer | 33 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 33 | 3 |
| FC Cincinnati | 2022 | Major League Soccer | 32 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 37 | 8 |
| FC Cincinnati | 2023 | Major League Soccer | 34 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 46 | 8 |
| FC Cincinnati | Total | Total | 104 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | 121 | 19 |
| Cruzeiro (loan) | 2024 | Série A | 28 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 2 |
| Santos (loan) | 2025 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 147 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 182 | 22 |
* ↑ Includes Copa Argentina, US Open Cup, Copa do Brasil
* ↑ Includes Copa de la Superliga and Leagues Cup
* ↑ Includes Campeonato Mineiro, Campeonato Paulista
* ↑ Includes MLS Cup playoffs
* ↑ Appearance(s) in the 2022 Leagues Cup Showcase
* ↑ Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana

## 46Honours

Argentina U20
* L'Alcúdia International Football Tournament: 2018
FC Cincinnati
* Supporters' Shield: 2023
Individual
* MLS All-Star: 2023