Thiago Emanuel Helguera Merello (born 26 March 2006) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Primeira Liga club Braga.[2]

Thiago Helguera
Personal information
Full name Thiago Emanuel Helguera Merello[1]
Date of birth (2006-03-26) 26 March 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Paysandú, Uruguay[1]
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Braga
Number 22
Youth career
Sportivo Independencia
2020–2023 Nacional
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2024 Nacional 16 (0)
2024– Braga 1 (0)
2024– Braga B 5 (0)
International career
2021 Uruguay U15 1 (0)
2022–2023 Uruguay U17 18 (0)
2024– Uruguay U20 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 December 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 September 2024

Club career

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Born in Paysandú, Helguera began his career with local side Sportivo Independencia, representing the club at the under-13 national finals in 2019.[3] He joined the academy of Nacional the following year,[4] and was promoted to the first team, signing his first contract, in January 2023.[5] He played his first game for the club in the 2023 edition of the Copa Río de la Plata, as Nacional lost to Argentinian opposition Colón de Santa Fe 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.[6]

Helguera made his professional debut in the Uruguayan Primera División on 30 April 2023, coming on as a second-half substitute for Diego Zabala in a 3–0 win against La Luz.[7] Following the game, Nacional manager Álvaro Gutiérrez said of Helguera "he has the tools, but you have to go carefully and slowly so that he can develop them".[7]

On 14 June 2024, Helguera joined Primeira Liga club Braga on a five-year deal until June 2029.[2]

International career

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Helguera has represented Uruguay at under-17 level.[1]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 29 September 2024.[8]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Nacional 2023 Uruguayan Primera División 12 0 0 0 1[a] 0 0 0 13 0
2024 Uruguayan Primera División 4 0 0 0 3[a] 0 0 0 7 0
Total 16 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 20 0
Braga 2024–25 Primeira Liga 1 0 0 0 0 0 1[b] 0 2 0
Career total 17 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 22 0
Notes
  1. ^ a b Appearances in Copa Libertadores
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Thiago Helguera at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b "Oficial: Thiago Helguera reforça Sp. Braga" (in Portuguese). 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  3. ^ "La Sub 13 se metió en las finales nacionales" [The Sub 13 got into the national finals]. eltelegrafo.com (in Spanish). 30 September 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Juveniles Club Nacional de Football" [Youth of Club Nacional de Football]. juvenilesclubnacionaldefootball.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Primer contrato como profesionales" [First contract as professionals.]. nacional.uy (in Spanish). 13 January 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Quién es Thiago Helguera, el pibe de 16 años que debutó en la primera de Nacional" [Who is Thiago Helguera, the 16-year-old boy who debuted in the first National]. elobservador.com.uy (in Spanish). 14 January 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Nacional: El debut de Thiago Helguera con 17 años al que Guti comparó con una mojarrita" [Nacional: Thiago Helguera's debut at 17 years of age, whom Guti compared to a mojarrita]. futbol.com.uy (in Spanish). 29 April 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  8. ^ Thiago Helguera at Soccerway
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