If a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner presents you a praise, it is normally a positive signal that you simply’re on the correct path.
Having excelled throughout his debut season in Main League Soccer, Thiago Almada acquired excessive reward from none aside from Lionel Messi after making his senior Argentina debut on Friday.
Almada got here on as a 54th-minute substitute as La Albiceleste beat Honduras 3-0 in a pleasant, finishing 91% of his 22 tried passes, creating one likelihood, and making 4 recoveries.
Even in restricted minutes, the Atlanta United midfielder did sufficient to impress arguably the best participant ever to grace the pitch.
“Thiago may be very contemporary. He’s a really quick participant who is aware of easy methods to play one-on-one. He’s very mischievous. He isn’t afraid of something,” Messi mentioned after Friday’s victory.
Argentina face Jamaica in one other pleasant on Tuesday, with Almada one in all various younger gamers trying to make Lionel Scaloni’s World Cup roster. The 2-time champions have been drawn into Group C alongside Mexico, Poland, and Saudi Arabia.
Since signing for Atlanta United from Velez for an MLS-record $16m price final winter, Almada has registered six objectives and 6 major assists throughout 27 common season appearances.
The 5 Stripes are ninth within the Jap Convention, two factors adrift of the MLS Cup Playoffs spots with two matches remaining.
