Pablo Piatti
Argentine winger who spent most of his career in Spain and won the 2007 U-20 World Cup.
Pablo Daniel Piatti (born 31 March 1989) is an Argentine former professional footballer. He operated mainly as a left winger, but could also play as a forward. He spent the vast majority of his career in Spain after starting out at Estudiantes, appearing in 313 La Liga matches over 14 seasons and scoring a total of 48 goals for Almería, Valencia, Espanyol and Elche. He also represented Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, having signed in 2020. Piatti was capped once for the Argentina national team, in 2011.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Attacking Midfielder; Winger
- Nationality
- Argentine
- Status
- Former Player
- Previous club
- Valencia CF
- Key role
- Creative Playmaker
Lore & Background
Piatti was a product of Estudiantes's youth ranks. He made his debut under coach Diego Simeone on 18 November 2006 against Newell's Old Boys, scoring the winning goal deep into injury time. He became one of the heroes of Estudiantes' championship-winning team. He made the side's starting eleven in the 2007 Clausura tournament alongside José Luis Calderón, José Sosa, and Juan Sebastián Verón.
After 60 appearances for Estudiantes, he was sold to Almería for an undisclosed fee believed to be around €7 million. He later moved to Valencia for €7.5 million in 2011. After a loan to Espanyol in 2016, he signed a permanent three-year deal in May 2017. In February 2020 he moved to Toronto FC as a Designated Player.
He returned to the Spanish top division with Elche in March 2021. On 14 June 2022, he returned to Estudiantes on a deal until June 2024. He retired on 21 December 2024 after claiming the Trofeo de Campeones de la Liga Profesional against Vélez Sarsfield, alongside teammate Federico Fernández.
Reader's Guide
Piatti was a talented, skillful and diminutive player with a keen eye for goal. He contributed effectively to his team's attacking play by both scoring and assisting goals. He could shoot with either foot, despite being naturally left-footed. Primarily deployed as a winger, he was also comfortable playing as a forward or in a deeper creative role behind the main striker. He usually played on the left side of the pitch, but could also play on the right flank. He was known for his turn of pace and dribbling technique, enabling him to get past opponents and make runs into the penalty area. His playing style was initially likened to that of compatriot Lionel Messi.
Did You Know?
- Piatti was the youngest player in Argentina's squad that won the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, playing six of seven games.
- He scored his first official goal for Valencia on 19 January 2012 in a Copa del Rey quarter-final against Levante.
- During his loan at Espanyol, he scored a career-best ten goals to help his team to eighth position in 2016–17.
- He made his senior Argentina debut on 5 June 2011 in a 2–1 friendly loss to Poland.
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