Héctor Villalba Explained

Héctor Villalba
Fullname:Héctor Daniel Villalba[1]
Birth Date:1994 7, df=y
Birth Place:Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height:1.73 m[2]
Position:Winger, Forward
Currentclub:Libertad
Clubnumber:23
Youthyears1:2004–2012
Youthclubs1:San Lorenzo
Years1:2012–2016
Clubs1:San Lorenzo
Caps1:89
Goals1:15
Years2:2016–2020
Clubs2:Atlanta United
Caps2:82
Goals2:21
Years3:2016
Clubs3:Tijuana (loan)
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Years4:2020–
Clubs4:Libertad
Caps4:91
Goals4:25
Nationalyears1:2018–
Nationalteam1:Paraguay
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:7 April 2024
Ntupdate:31 May 2019

Héctor Daniel "Tito" Villalba (born 26 July 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Primera División team Club Libertad. Born in Argentina, he represents Paraguay internationally.

Club career

Villalba was born on 26 July 1994 and lived almost to maturity in the Villa 1–11–14. He arrived in San Lorenzo when he was 10, and was chosen after a test in which 500 boys were selected to start a path to professionalism. He confessed to being a fan of San Lorenzo, and went through all the lower levels at the club.

On 18 August 2012, he made his debut in the Primera Division Argentina, against Estudiantes de La Plata, when he entered in the 37th minute of the second half replacing Luis Aguiar, with Ricardo Caruso Lombardi as team manager.

On 22 July 2016, Villaba signed as a young Designated Player with Major League Soccer side Atlanta United.[3] He joined Liga MX side Tijuana on loan on 28 July 2016, but struggled to make many appearances for the club due to injury.[4]

On 31 January 2020, Villaba was transferred to Paraguayan Primera División side Club Libertad for an undisclosed fee.[5]

International career

Born in Argentina, Héctor is also eligible to represent the Paraguay national team because his father was born there. On 5 September 2018, he made the one-time switch to Paraguay in hopes of making the squad for the 2019 Copa América and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[6]

On 25 September 2018, Villalba was called up to Paraguay along with fellow club teammate Miguel Almirón for a national team camp despite not scheduling any friendlies.[7] He made his competitive debut with Paraguay on 20 November as a substitute in the second half of the friendly match against South Africa.[8]

Personal life

Villalba can speak Guarani, an indigenous language spoken in Paraguay.[9]

In January 2018, Villalba earned a U.S. green card which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[10]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
San Lorenzo2012–13Argentine Primera División9230122
2013–143441020374
20141530013110294
2015276205010356
20164000202080
Total891560202212012116
Tijuana (loan)2016–17Liga MX102030
Atlanta United2017Major League Soccer341300103513
20182871051348
20192000200040
Total6420100020617321
Career total1543590202418119737

International

Honours

San Lorenzo

2013 Inicial

2014

2015

Atlanta United

2018

2018

2019

2019

Libertad

2021 Apertura, 2022 Apertura, 2023 Apertura, 2023 Clausura

2023

2023

Individual

2017[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014: List of Players . FIFA . 6 . 15 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150711154142/http://www.fifadata.com/document/FCWC/2014/pdf/FCWC_2014_SquadLists.pdf . 11 July 2015 . dead.
  2. Web site: Hector Villalba | Atlanta United FC . . 14 June 2018.
  3. Web site: Atlanta United sign Argentine winger Hector Villalba as Young DP | MLSsoccer.com.
  4. Web site: Hector Villalba joins Club Tijuana on loan deal. Rob. Usry. 4 August 2016.
  5. Web site: Atlanta United transfers Tito Villalba to Club Libertad | Atlanta United FC.
  6. Web site: Héctor Villalba es paraguayo . . 17 September 2018 . es-ES . 4 September 2018.
  7. Web site: Tito Villalba called up to Paraguay. DirtySouthSoccer . 26 September 2018 . 25 September 2018.
  8. Web site: ESPN. South Africa v Paraguay game report. 20 November 2018.
  9. Web site: King . Andrew . Atlanta's Hector Villalba confirms effort to switch eligibility to Paraguay . . 14 June 2018 . 14 June 2018.
  10. News: Roberson. Doug. Atlanta United secures green card for Villalba . . 22 January 2018. 28 January 2018.
  11. Web site: Atlanta's Hector Villalba wins 2017 AT&T Goal of the Year. Major League Soccer. 15 November 2017 . 15 November 2017.