El Flaco
Argentine striker for Palmeiras and the Argentina national team.
José Manuel Alberto López (born 6 December 2000), also known as Flaco López, is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a striker for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Palmeiras and the Argentina national team.
- Born
- 6 December 2000
- Club
- Palmeiras
- National Team Debut Date
- 14 October
- World Cup Selection Year
- 2026
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Titles
- 2022, 2023
- Copa Libertadores Top Scorer Goals
- 7
- Campeonato Paulista Top Scorer Goals (20
- 10
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
López started his career at the age of seven with Club El Progreso in Saladas. Six months later, soon before a trial in front of their scouts, the player was signed by Boca Juniors. At the age of nine, López joined Independiente; remaining until 2016, he notably trained with Ariel Holan's first-team squad at one point. 2017 saw López head to Lanús, initially featuring at youth level before being called up mid-season ahead of the 2018–19 Primera División resumption. However, in that period, López was loaned to Liga Tresarroyense side Colegiales de Tres Arroyos in 2019. He finished his stint there as the club's top scorer. López was promoted into Luis Zubeldía's senior squad in late-2020, appearing on the substitute's bench for Copa de la Liga Profesional encounters with Aldosivi and Defensa y Justicia. López, in the aforementioned competition, made his professional debut on 3 January 2021 during a draw on the road against Patronato, after he was substituted on in place of Gonzalo Torres with twenty-five minutes left. On his second appearance, López scored his first goal during a win over Rosario Central on 9 January.
In Their Own Story
The turning point arrived on 3 January 2021 during a Copa de la Liga Profesional match against Patronato. López made his professional debut coming off the bench with twenty-five minutes remaining, replacing Gonzalo Torres in a road draw. His impact was immediate and historic; on only his second appearance, he scored his first goal in a victory over Rosario Central on 9 January. This breakthrough marked his arrival at the highest level of Argentine football. By August 2025, his consistent performances earned him his first senior call-up from manager Lionel Scaloni for matches against Venezuela and Ecuador. His international debut followed on 14 October, where he started in a commanding 6–0 friendly win over Puerto Rico. The momentum continued into 2026 when he was named to the 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup.
Reader's Guide
In August 2025, López received his first call-up for the senior Argentina side by manager Lionel Scaloni for the matches against Venezuela and Ecuador on September 4 and September 9 respectively. He made his debut for the national team on 14 October when he started in a 6–0 friendly win over Puerto Rico. On 27 May 2026, López was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Did You Know?
- López is also known as Flaco López.
- He was top scorer for Colegiales de Tres Arroyos during his loan in 2019.
- He scored his first professional goal on 9 January 2021 against Rosario Central.
- López was the top scorer of the 2025 Copa Libertadores with 7 goals.
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