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Esequiel Barco
1189124 sPICT (cropped).jpg
Barco playing for Spartak Moscow in August 2024
Personal information
Full name Esequiel Omar Barco
Date of birth (1999-03-29) 29 March 1999 (age 26)
Place of birth Villa Gobernador Gálvez, Argentina
Height 1.67 m
Playing position Attacking midfielder, winger
Club information
Current club Spartak Moscow
Number 5
Youth career
0000–2015 Jorge Griffa
2015–2016 Independiente
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 Independiente 38 (5)
2018–2023 Atlanta United 81 (17)
2022–2023 River Plate (loan) 76 (10)
2024 River Plate 20 (1)
2024– Spartak Moscow 17 (8)
National team
2017–2019 Argentina U20 9 (2)
2021 Argentina Olympic 3 (0)
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 December 2024.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13:44, 28 July 2021 (UTC)

Esequiel Omar Barco (born March 29, 1999) is a professional football player from Argentina. He plays as an attacking midfielder or winger. Currently, he plays for Russian Premier League team Spartak Moscow.

Esequiel was born in Villa Gobernador Gálvez, Argentina. He started his football journey at Independiente. He quickly joined the main team and played his first game in the 2016–17 season. After two seasons with Independiente, he moved to the American team Atlanta United in 2018. Barco has also played for Argentina's national team at the under-20 level.

Barco's Club Career Highlights

Starting at Independiente

Esequiel Barco was born in Villa Gobernador Gálvez, a city in Santa Fe, Argentina. He joined Independiente's youth academy in 2015. Before that, he played for AA Jorge Bernardo Griffa.

In July 2016, the team's coach, Gabriel Milito, brought Barco up to the first team. He signed his first professional contract that same month. Barco played his first game in Argentina's top league, the Argentine Primera División, on August 28, 2016. He came into the game as a substitute and helped his team win 1–0 against Belgrano.

Just a few weeks later, on September 11, he scored his first goal as a professional player. It was the final goal in a 2–0 win against Godoy Cruz. In his first full season, Barco scored four goals in 30 league games. He also played a big part in the 2017 Copa Sudamericana. He scored a penalty kick in the final game against Flamengo, which helped his team win the championship.

Playing for Atlanta United

On January 19, 2018, Barco joined Major League Soccer (MLS) club Atlanta United. He was signed as a special "designated player". Reports said that Atlanta United paid $15 million for him. This was a record amount for an MLS transfer at the time.

Barco played his first game for Atlanta United on April 15, 2018. It was a 2–2 draw against New York City FC. He came on as a substitute in the 70th minute. He scored his first goal for the club on May 5, 2018, against the Chicago Fire. His goal helped Atlanta United win the game 2–1.

Barco was part of the team that won the MLS Cup 2018 against the Portland Timbers. He came on as a substitute in the final moments of the game, which Atlanta United won 2–0. He then won another trophy with Atlanta United in the Campeones Cup. They beat América 3–2, and Barco came on late in the game. A few weeks later, on August 27, Barco started in the U.S. Open Cup final against Minnesota United. His team won that game 2–1.

Time at River Plate

On January 30, 2022, Barco moved to Argentine Primera División team River Plate. He joined them on a loan deal. This deal included an option for River Plate to buy him permanently later. On February 10, 2023, it was confirmed that Barco's move to River Plate would become permanent on January 1, 2024.

Joining Spartak Moscow

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

Career Statistics

Here's a summary of Barco's games and goals for his clubs:

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
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
2017–18 Argentine Primera División 8 1 2 0 12 3 22 4
Total 38 5 3 0 16 3 57 8
Atlanta United 2018 Major League Soccer 26 4 2 1 5 0 33 5
2019 Major League Soccer 15 4 3 0 5 0 3 0 26 4
2020 Major League Soccer 15 2 4 0 19 2
2021 Major League Soccer 25 7 3 1 1 0 29 8
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
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
Total 96 11 7 0 16 3 2 0 121 14
Spartak Moscow 2024–25 Russian Premier League 17 8 5 1 22 9
Career total 232 41 20 2 44 7 11 0 307 50

Awards and Trophies

Esequiel Barco has won several important awards and trophies throughout his career:

With Independiente

With Atlanta United

  • MLS Cup: 2018 (the championship of Major League Soccer)
  • U.S. Open Cup: 2019 (a major cup competition in the USA)
  • Campeones Cup: 2019 (a match between the MLS Cup winner and the Mexican Liga MX champion)

With River Plate

  • Argentine Primera División: 2023 (Argentina's top league title)
  • Trofeo de Campeones: 2023 (a super cup in Argentina)
  • Supercopa Argentina: 2023 (another super cup in Argentina)

Individual Awards

  • MLS All-Star: 2018, 2019 (chosen as one of the best players in the MLS)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Esequiel Barco para niños

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