# Esequiel Barco

Esequiel Omar Barco (born 29 March 1999) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder and winger for Russian Premier League team Spartak Moscow.
Born in Villa Gobernador Gálvez, Barco began his career with Independiente. He was promoted to the first team and made his debut during the 2016–17 season. Barco played two seasons with Independiente before signing with American side Atlanta United in 2018. At the international level, Barco has represented Argentina at the under-20's.

## Club career
### Independiente

Born in Villa Gobernador Gálvez, Santa Fe, Barco joined Independiente's youth setup in 2015 from AA Jorge Bernardo Griffa. Promoted to the first team by manager Gabriel Milito in July 2016, he signed his first professional contract later that month.
Barco made his first team – and Primera División – debut on 28 August 2016, coming on as a second-half substitute for Jesús Méndez in a 1–0 away win against Belgrano. He scored his first professional goal on 11 September, netting the last in a 2–0 home defeat of Godoy Cruz.
Barco finished his first senior season with four goals in 30 league appearances. As a starter during the 2017 Copa Sudamericana, he scored the equalizer in the second leg of the Final against Flamengo through a penalty kick.

### Atlanta United

On 19 January 2018, Barco joined Major League Soccer club Atlanta United as a designated player. The transfer fee paid by Atlanta United was reported to be $15 million, an MLS record. Barco made his debut for Atlanta United on 15 April 2018 in a 2–2 draw against New York City FC, coming on as a 70th-minute substitute for Kevin Kratz. He scored his first goal for the club on 5 May 2018 against the Chicago Fire. He scored the opening goal as Atlanta United won 2–1.
Barco was on the bench for Atlanta United during MLS Cup 2018 against the Portland Timbers. He came on as a substitute in the first minute of second-half stoppage time as Atlanta United won 2–0. Barco then won his second trophy with Atlanta United when the club won 3–2 over América in the Campeones Cup, coming on as a late second-half substitute. A couple of weeks later, on 27 August, Barco was a starter in the U.S. Open Cup final against Minnesota United, helping his side win 2–1.

### River Plate

On 30 January 2022, Barco joined Argentine Primera División side River Plate on loan with an option to make the move permanent at the end of 2022 or 2023. On 10 February 2023 it was announced that Barco's loan to River Plate would become permanent on 1 January 2024.

### Spartak Moscow

On 25 July 2024, Barco signed a three-year contract with Spartak Moscow in Russia.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 16 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Independiente | 2016–17 | Argentine Primera División | 30 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 4 |
| Independiente | 2017–18 | Argentine Primera División | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 3 | — | — | 22 | 4 |
| Independiente | Total | Total | 38 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 3 | — | — | 57 | 8 |
| Atlanta United | 2018 | Major League Soccer | 26 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 33 | 5 |
| Atlanta United | 2019 | Major League Soccer | 15 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 4 |
| Atlanta United | 2020 | Major League Soccer | 15 | 2 | — | — | 4 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 2 |
| Atlanta United | 2021 | Major League Soccer | 25 | 7 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 8 |
| Atlanta United | Total | Total | 81 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 107 | 19 |
| River Plate (loan) | 2022 | Argentine Primera División | 35 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 2 | — | — | 45 | 5 |
| River Plate (loan) | 2023 | Argentine Primera División | 41 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 8 |
| River Plate | 2024 | Argentine Primera División | 20 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 1 |
| River Plate | Total | Total | 96 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 121 | 14 |
| Spartak Moscow | 2024–25 | Russian Premier League | 20 | 9 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 26 | 10 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 235 | 42 | 21 | 2 | 44 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 311 | 51 |
* ↑ Includes Copa Argentina, U.S. Open Cup, Russian Cup
* ↑ Appearance in Trofeo de Campeones de la Liga Profesional
* ↑ Appearance in Supercopa Argentina

## Honours

Independiente
* Copa Sudamericana: 2017
Atlanta United
* MLS Cup: 2018
* U.S. Open Cup: 2019
* Campeones Cup: 2019
River Plate
* Argentine Primera División: 2023
* Trofeo de Campeones: 2023
* Supercopa Argentina: 2023
Individual
* MLS All-Star: 2018, 2019