Juan Sebastián Sforza (born 14 February 2002) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a centre midfielder for Vasco da Gama.[1][2]
Club career
Sforza began his career at the age of eight with Santa Teresita, before moving over to Unión de Álvarez and then Sarmiento.[3][4][2] He soon penned terms with Fundación Messi, an academy set up by Lionel Messi; Lionel's brother, Matías, became one of Sforza's agents in 2019.[3][5] In 2015, Sforza joined Newell's Old Boys.[6] He progressed through their academy for the next five years, notably captaining their reserves.[3] Sforza signed his first professional contract on 13 March 2019.[7] His breakthrough into the first-team wouldn't arrive for another twelve months, though would do so in late-2020 under manager Frank Darío Kudelka.[6]
Sforza's senior debut arrived on 19 December 2020 in a Copa de la Liga Profesional win away to Godoy Cruz, as the midfielder replaced Julián Fernández with four minutes remaining.[1] He had previously been an unused substitute five times in that competition.[1] His first career goal arrived soon after during a victory over Central Córdoba on 28 December.[1]
International career
Sforza represented Argentina at U15 and U17 level; as captain of both.[3] He was a part of the squad that won the 2017 South American U-15 Championship on home soil, as he netted goals against invitees Czech Republic and, in the semi-finals, Peru.[3] After appearing for the U17s in a friendly with the United States in 2018, the midfielder was selected by Pablo Aimar in 2019 for the South American U-17 Championship in Peru and FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil.[1][3] He scored once, versus Uruguay, in eight appearances at the former as they won the trophy, before featuring four times at latter as they reached the round of sixteen.[1]
Personal life
Born in Argentina, Sforza is of Italian descent.[8]
Career statistics
- As of 28 December 2020.[1]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Newell's Old Boys | 2020–21[nb 1] | Primera División | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| Career total | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |||
Honours
- Argentina U15[3]
- Argentina U17[1]
Notes
- ^ Soccerway counts Copa de la Liga Profesional appearances as league appearances.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Argentina - J. Sforza". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Juan Sforza". World Football. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Rosarino, de Newell's y con el Barcelona de Messi atento a su actuación en el Mundial: Juan Sforza, el capitán de la Selección Sub 17 que aprendió a jugar con una sonrisa". Infobae. 27 October 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ "Barcelona to sign Newell's golden boy Juan Sforza". AS. 4 March 2020. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ "El hermano de Messi debuta como representante: maneja a un juvenil de Newell's que es figura de la Selección Sub 17". Infobae. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Newell´s renovó a Juan Sforza hasta 2023". Newell's Old Boys. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ "Juan Sebastián Sforza, Valentín Benítez y Martín Bellotti, los tres juveniles de Newell's que firmaron su primer contrato y representarán a Argentina". Newell's Old Boys. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ 🖉"Da Capaldo e Valentini a Maestro Puch: tutti gli oriundi nel mirino di Mancini per l'Italia - TUTTOmercatoWEB.com". www.tuttomercatoweb.com.
External links
- Juan Sforza at Soccerway