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Gonzalo Higuaín

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Gonzalo Higuaín
Personal information
Full name Gonzalo Gerardo Higuaín
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Striker / Winger
Team information
Current team
 Real Madrid
Number 20
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 River Plate 33 (15)
2007– Real Madrid 92 (43)
International career‡
2009– Argentina 3 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 December 2009
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 November 2009

Gonzalo Gerardo "El Pipita" Higuaín (born December 10, 1987 in Brest, France) is an Argentine footballer who plays for Real Madrid and the Argentine national team. He is renowned for his pace and low, powerful drives.

Club career

River Plate

Following his double strike in the Superclásico local derby against Boca Juniors on 8 October 2006, River Plate manager Daniel Passarella declared that he had an 'enormous future' and was 'destined for superstardom'.[1]

Real Madrid

Real Madrid successfully signed Higuaín for €13 million, after River Plate had earlier turned down a €10 million offer for the 19-year-old striker.

The striker announced at the signing of his six and a half-year contract:

"It's great to have the chance of playing for such an important club as Real Madrid. I feel proud that Madrid has noticed me."[2]

2006–07 season

Higuaín's first game for Real Madrid was on 14 January against Real Zaragoza at home.[3] Higuaín shone by creating several chances and delivering the assist which resulted in Madrid's 1-0 crucial win against Zaragoza.

Higuaín's first ever goal for Real Madrid came during the 62nd minute in Real Madrid's draw with local rivals Atlético de Madrid on 24 February 2007. His first home goal for Real came in the dying minutes of Real's crucial encounter with RCD Espanyol on 12 May 2007. With the match tied at 3-3, Higuaín won the ball with a sliding tackle before exchanging a one-two with José Antonio Reyes and slotting the ball into the net. It was this goal which enabled Real Madrid to overtake rivals FC Barcelona into first place and propelled them to their 30th League Title.

2007–08 season

On 4 May 2008, with Real Madrid down 1-0 against CA Osasuna, and needing just three points from their final fours games to secure the league title, Higuaín came on for Javier Saviola in the 67th minute and from a free kick, he assisted Arjen Robben's equalizer in the 88th minute. Higuaín then struck the winning goal two minutes later to clinch Real Madrid's 31st La Liga championship.

Despite being Real Madrid's title hero, Higuaín found himself on the bench for Barcelona's visit to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium four days later. However, as he had in previous games, Higuaín came on to devastating effect, scoring with his first touch within a minute and helped his team to a crushing 4-1 victory.

2008–09 season

On 24 August 2008, Higuaín became Real Madrid's cup hero, scoring in the 89th minute, giving Real Madrid a victory over Valencia CF and its eighth Supercopa de España. After the close of the summer transfer window, Real Madrid revealed that they had turned down a €25 million offer for Higuaín from Juventus. He cemented a starting place in the team's starting eleven after impressing in the preseason, UEFA Champions League, and La Liga.

Higuaín scored all four goals in a 4-3 win against Málaga CF on 8 November 2008.[4] Higuaín also provided two assists in the league match against RCD Mallorca on 11 January 2009. He became recognized for his devastating pace, dribbling, and low, powerful drives.[5] Higuaín finished the season as Real Madrid's top scorer with 22 league goals, and 24 in all competitions.

2009–10 season

On 15 September 2009, Higuaín netted his first Champions League goal when he scored Madrid's third in their 5–2 win over FC Zürich, also providing an assist to Raúl in the same game. Higuaín scored an incredible goal against Valladolid on October 17, 2009. After a great through ball by Xabi Alonso, Higuaín chipped the rushing Valladolid keeper to the far post. Higuaín scored two stunning goals against Getafe beating the keeper on a one on one. A week later he scored Real's third against local rivals Atlético Madrid in the Vicente Calderón Stadium.He added another goal to his tally against Racing Santander in the next round. Due to injury crisis of strikers he got his chance and he availed his chance when played in starting 11 by scoring 7 goals in 8 consecutive games. In Madrid's game against Almeria on December 5, Higuain netted a crucial goal after a decent cross into the box using superb dribbling. He capped off the game with a powerful run down the right wing and provided a low driven cross to Cristiano Ronaldo as Madrid claimed an essential 4-2 win at the Bernabeu. Higuain added two more goals to his tally at the Mestalla on 12 December 2009 in a 3-2 victory over Valencia, a match in which Real were devoid of both Ronaldo and Kaka. Higuain added yet another two goals this season (bringing his tally to 10) in a match against Real Zaragoza. He scored his first after a brilliant through ball from Marcelo which he slotted past the keeper, his second came with a lovely volley to the far post. Higuain added another goal against Mallorca at Santiago Bernabéu in their 2-0 win on 10 January 2010. Slowly he has become an important player for both the club and country.

International career

Higuaín initially rejected calls from both the Argentine and French national teams,[6] specifically a friendly against Greece on 15 November 2006,[7] claiming at the time he was undecided for which country he would prefer to play.

Higuaín's international career was looking set to mirror that of David Trézéguet, whose father was Argentinian, but went on to play successfully for France. When Les Bleus called up Higuaín against Greece, they assigned him the number 20 shirt, the number originally worn by Trézéguet. However, at the beginning of 2007, Higuaín expressed his desire to play for Argentina and decided to declare his natural-born status at the nearest Argentine embassy while being abroad.[8]


In February 2008, Higuaín was called up by Argentina Olympic for a friendly match against Guatemala.[9] He scored two goals in his debut as Argentina won 5-0. And in May 2008, Higuaín played 61 minutes against Catalonia in the other friendly match.[10] Both matches were not officially recognized by FIFA as "A" international matches, and will not count towards his caps and goals in international play.[citation needed]

Higuaín finally got the call for Argentina by coach Diego Maradona for the last two qualifying matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup against Peru and Uruguay. Many in the Argentine media had criticized Diego Maradona for not selecting Higuaín in the past. He scored his first goal on his debut, a 47th minute strike during a 2-1 win over Peru.[11]

Statistics

(correct as of 12 December 2009)[12]

Club

Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
River Plate 2004-05 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
2005-06 13 5 5 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 8 5
2006-07 18 10 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 19 10 11
Total 33 15 16 5 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 39 18 16
Real Madrid 2006–07 19 2 3 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 23 2 3
2007–08 25 8 3 2 1 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 32 9 3
2008–09 34 22 9 2 1 0 7 0 0 1 1 0 44 24 9
2009–10 14 11 2 1 0 0 5 2 1 0 0 0 21 13 3
Total 92 43 17 7 1 0 19 2 1 1 1 0 120 48 18
Career Total 125 58 33 12 4 0 19 2 1 2 1 0 158 66 34

International

National team Year Competitive Friendly Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Argentina 2009 2 1 1 0 3 1
Career total 2 1 1 0 3 1

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 11 October 2009 El Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina  Peru 1–0 2–1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Real Madrid

Domestic

References

  1. ^ "Passarella predicts River's 18-year-old Higuain has "enormous future"". International Herald Tribune. 2006-10-09.
  2. ^ Higuain nearing move to Madrid SportsNews24h.com. Retrieved on October 27, 2007
  3. ^ "Tactical Formation". Football-Lineups.com. Retrieved January 16, 2007.
  4. ^ Higuain vs Malaga http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/1202758364036/noticia/Noticia/Happy_Christmas_from_Higuain.htm
  5. ^ Real Madrid vs Mallorca http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/88/spain/2009/01/11/1055737/rampant-real-madrid-maul-mallorca
  6. ^ "La Celeste y Blanca pesa" (in Spanish). Olé. 2006-11-10.
  7. ^ "Domenech turns to uncapped tyros". UEFA. 2006-11-09.
  8. ^ "Higuain to choose Argentina over France" - Yahoo sports
  9. ^ Higuaín called up for friendly against Guatemala
  10. ^ Higuaín played against catalonia
  11. ^ Late goal boosts Argentina hopes
  12. ^ Higuain Statistics Retrieved October 27, 2008

14 http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-worldargentina&prov=reuters&type=lgns http://www.gonzalo-higuain.com


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