View source for Mateo Musacchio

{{short description|Argentine footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mateo Musacchio
| image = Musacchio Vila-real.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Musacchio in action for [[Villarreal CF|Villarreal]] in 2012
| fullname = Mateo Pablo Musacchio
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|8|26|df=y}}<ref name=Profile>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/mateo-musacchio_prs105835/person.shtml|title=Mateo Musacchio|publisher=[[Eurosport]]|access-date=21 January 2021}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Rosario, Santa Fe|Rosario]], Argentina<ref name=Profile/>
| height = 1.80 m<ref name=Milan>{{cite web|url=https://www.acmilan.com/en/news/official-statement/2017-05-23/official-musacchio-is-now-red-and-black|title=Official: Musacchio is now red and black|publisher=A.C. Milan|date=30 May 2017|access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref>
| position = [[Defender (association football)#Centre-back|Centre-back]]
| currentclub = 
| clubnumber = 
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = 25 de Mayo
| youthyears2 = 1999–2006 | youthclubs2 = [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]]
| years1 = 2006–2009 | clubs1 = [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] | caps1 = 10 | goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2009–2010 | clubs2 = [[Villarreal CF B|Villarreal B]] | caps2 = 22 | goals2 = 3
| years3 = 2010–2017 | clubs3 = [[Villarreal CF|Villarreal]] | caps3 = 189 | goals3 = 7
| years4 = 2017–2021 | clubs4 = [[AC Milan]] | caps4 = 63 | goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2021 | clubs5 = [[SS Lazio|Lazio]] | caps5 = 4 | goals5 = 0
| totalcaps = 288 | totalgoals = 11
| nationalyears1 = 2006–2007 | nationalteam1 = [[Argentina national under-17 football team|Argentina U17]] | nationalcaps1 = 15 | nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2008–2010 | nationalteam2 = [[Argentina national under-20 football team|Argentina U20]] | nationalcaps2 = 3 | nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2011–2017 | nationalteam3 = [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] | nationalcaps3 = 6 | nationalgoals3 = 0
}}

'''Mateo Pablo Musacchio''' ({{IPA|es|maˈteo muˈsakjo|lang}}, {{IPA|it|muˈzakkjo|lang}}; born 26 August 1990) is an Argentine former [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Defender (association football)#Centre-back|central defender]].

He spent most of his professional career with [[Villarreal CF|Villarreal]] after signing as a 19-year-old, going on to appear in 249 competitive matches and score seven goals over seven [[La Liga]] seasons. In 2017 he joined [[AC Milan]] and, four years later, signed with [[SS Lazio|Lazio]] also of the Italian [[Serie A]].

Musacchio made his full debut for [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] in 2011.

==Club career==
===River Plate===
A product of [[Club Atlético River Plate]]'s youth system, Musacchio was born in [[Rosario, Santa Fe]], and he made his first-team debut as a 16-year-old during the [[2006–07 in Argentine football|2006–07 season]], making four appearances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.argentinesoccer.com/squad.cfm?championship=cl07&team=riv|title=River Plate Squad – Closing '07|publisher=Argentine Soccer|access-date=16 October 2007}}</ref> He was part of the squad that won the [[Apertura and Clausura|Clausura]] the [[2007–08 in Argentine football|following year]], but did not feature in any games.<ref name=Future>{{cite web|url=https://elcrackdeportivo.com.ar/futbol-internacional/2021/9/2/volver-river-en-algn-momento-el-el-ex-millonario-que-define-su-futuro-en-europa-25835.html|title=¿Volverá a River en algún momento? El el ex Millonario que define su futuro en Europa|trans-title=Will he ever return to River? The former Millionaire who clears his future in Europe|publisher=El Crack Deportivo|first=Fabián|last=Storti|language=es|date=2 September 2021|access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref>

===Villarreal===
In August 2009, Musacchio moved to [[Villarreal CF]] in Spain, initially being assigned to the [[Villarreal CF B|B team]] in the [[Segunda División]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2009/08/31/futbol/equipos/villarrealb/1251749318.html|title=Musacchio jugará en el filial del Villarreal|trans-title=Musacchio will play in Villarreal's reserves|newspaper=[[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]]|language=es|date=31 August 2009|access-date=31 August 2009}}</ref> He made his official debut on 5 September in a 3–1 away loss against [[Córdoba CF]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elperiodicomediterraneo.com/noticias/castellon/debut-agridulce-musacchio-filial_489696.html|title=Debut agridulce para Musacchio en el filial|trans-title=Bittersweet debut for Musacchio with reserves|newspaper=El Periódico Mediterráneo|language=es|date=7 September 2009|access-date=28 January 2014}}</ref> as the reserves overachieved in their first season ever in that tier, eventually [[2009–10 Segunda División|finishing seventh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vavel.com/es/futbol/villarreal/159422-el-filial-se-ve-obligado-a-descender-a-segunda-b-tras-el-descenso-del-villarreal.html|title=El filial se ve obligado a descender a Segunda B tras el descenso del Villarreal|trans-title=Reserves forced to relegate to ''Segunda B'' after Villarreal relegation|publisher=[[Vavel]]|first=Carlos|last=Ortigosa Arnau|language=es|date=14 May 2012|access-date=28 January 2014}}</ref>

On 13 February 2010, shortly after ceasing to be a non-EU player,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2010/01/26/futbol/equipos/villarrealb/1264521748.html|title=Musacchio y 'Sema' ya son comunitarios|trans-title=Musacchio and 'Sema' are already EU players|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=26 January 2010|access-date=21 January 2016}}</ref> Musacchio made his [[La Liga]] debut by playing the last 15 minutes in a 2–1 home win over [[Athletic Bilbao]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2010/02/14/mas_futbol/1266132409_850215.html|title=Nilmar bautiza la 'era Garrido'|trans-title=Nilmar baptizes 'Garrido era'|newspaper=[[Diario AS]]|first=Javier|last=Mata|language=es|date=14 February 2010|access-date=28 January 2014}}</ref> From that moment onwards he was permanently promoted to Villarreal's first team, successively surpassing more experienced [[Iván Marcano]] and [[Gonzalo Rodríguez (footballer, born 1984)|Gonzalo Rodríguez]] – the latter his compatriot – in the defensive pecking order.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2010/02/20/mas_futbol/1266650839_850215.html|title=Jugar en el Bernabéu es un sueño para mí|trans-title=To play at the Bernabéu is a dream for me|newspaper=Diario AS|language=es|date=20 February 2010|access-date=28 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://villarrealcf.lasprovincias.es/noticias/2010-02-27/musacchio-apunta-titular-godin-20100227.html|title=Musacchio apunta a titular si Godín no está disponible|trans-title=Musacchio poised to start if Godín is not available|newspaper=[[Las Provincias]]|language=es|date=27 February 2010|access-date=28 January 2014}}</ref>

Musacchio dealt with several injury problems during his spell at the [[Estadio de la Cerámica|Estadio El Madrigal]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2015/04/12/futbol/equipos/villarreal/1428839110.html|title=Musacchio se lesiona de gravedad|trans-title=Musacchio seriously injured|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=12 April 2015|access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/futbol/villarreal/2016/04/01/56fe9d0946163fa8558b460e.html|title=Musacchio puede perderse el resto de la temporada|trans-title=Musacchio may lose rest of season|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=1 April 2016|access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/villarreal/20170109/413206502266/musacchio-lesion-villarreal-barca.html|title=Musacchio, un mes de baja|trans-title=Musacchio, one month out|newspaper=[[Mundo Deportivo]]|language=es|date=9 January 2017|access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref>

===AC Milan===
On 30 May 2017, eight days after passing his medical,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.acmilan.com/en/news/video-photogallery/first-team/2017-05-22/mateo-musacchio-undergoing-his-medicals|title=Mateo Musacchio undergoing his medicals|publisher=A.C. Milan|date=22 May 2017|access-date=22 May 2017}}</ref> Musacchio moved to Italian club [[AC Milan]] after signing a four-year contract.<ref name=Milan/> He contributed 15 [[Serie A]] appearances in his [[2017–18 Serie A|first season]], with the subsequent [[2018–19 UEFA Europa League|qualification]] for the [[UEFA Europa League]] after a sixth-place finish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milannews24.com/napoli-milan-musacchio-favorito-su-caldara-i-motivi-della-scelta-di-gattuso/|title=Napoli-Milan, Musacchio favorito su Caldara: i motivi della scelta di Gattuso|trans-title=Napoli-Milan, Musacchio favourite over Caldara: the reasons for Gattuso's choice|publisher=Milan News 24|first=Alessandro|last=Sgamma|language=it|date=24 August 2018|access-date=16 September 2018}}</ref>

Following [[Leonardo Bonucci]]'s departure to [[Juventus FC]] and [[Mattia Caldara]]'s two long-term injuries, Musacchio became a starter, oftentimes partnering up with the team's newly appointed captain [[Alessio Romagnoli]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milannews.it/primo-piano/mateo-musacchio-una-titolarita-da-difendere-nella-stagione-della-rivoluzione-343069|title=Mateo Musacchio, una titolarità da difendere nella stagione della rivoluzione|trans-title=Mateo Musacchio, starting status to defend in the season of revolution|publisher=Milan News|first=Luca|last=Vendrame|language=it|date=20 August 2019|access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref> In June 2020, just before the post-pandemic restart of the [[2019–20 Serie A|league competition]] in Italy, he underwent surgery on his left ankle and missed the remainder of games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mykhel.com/football/ac-milan-mateo-musacchio-ankle-surgery-145725.html|title=Milan dealt injury blow as Musacchio requires ankle surgery|publisher=My Khel|first=Peter|last=Hanson|date=19 June 2020|access-date=17 December 2020}}</ref>

Musacchio played his first match in ten months on 12 January 2021, featuring 62 minutes in a 0–0 [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shootout]] victory over [[Torino F.C.]] in the [[2020–21 Coppa Italia|round of 16]] of the [[Coppa Italia]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/serie-a/milan/2021/01/13/news/coppa_italia_milan-torino_5-4_dcr_rossoneri_ai_quarti_i_granata_si_arrendono_ai_rigori-282286943/|title=Coppa Italia, Milan-Torino 5–4 ai rigori: i rossoneri ai quarti dopo una maratona|trans-title=Italian Cup, Milan-Torino 5–4 on penalties: red-and-black to quarter-finals following a marathon|newspaper=[[La Repubblica]]|first=Antonio|last=Farinola|language=it|date=12 January 2021|access-date=21 January 2021}}</ref>

===Lazio===
On 27 January 2021, [[SS Lazio]] announced the signing of Musacchio on a permanent deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sslazio.it/it/news/ultime-news/63063-comunicato-27-01-2021|title=Comunicato 27.01.2021|trans-title=Announcement 27.01.2021|publisher=S.S. Lazio|language=it|date=27 January 2021|access-date=27 January 2021}}</ref> He was released at the end of [[2020–21 Serie A|the campaign]].

After more than two years without a club, Musacchio retired at the age of 32.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lapaginamillonaria.com/riverplate/que-fue-de-la-carrera-de-mateo-musacchio-20230910-LPM-19163.html|title=Mateo Musacchio, de debutar en River a retirarse a los 32 años|trans-title=Mateo Musacchio, from making debut at River to retiring aged 32|publisher=La Página Millonaria|first=Luciano|last=García Dresch|language=es|date=12 September 2023|access-date=26 October 2023}}</ref>

==International career==
Musacchio was first called by the [[Argentina national football team|Argentina national team]] in May 2011, as manager [[Sergio Batista]] only selected players under 25 for [[Exhibition game|friendlies]] with [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]] and [[Poland national football team|Poland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riverplate.com/Noticias/Ex-River/9992-marco-ruben-mateo-musacchio-citados-seleccion-argentina.html|title=Musacchio y Ruben, convocados a la selección argentina|trans-title=Musacchio y Ruben, called to Argentine national team|publisher=River Plate|language=es|date=20 May 2011|access-date=28 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214235848/http://www.riverplate.com/Noticias/Ex-River/9992-marco-ruben-mateo-musacchio-citados-seleccion-argentina.html|archive-date=14 December 2013}}</ref> He made his debut against the former on 2 June, in a 4–1 defeat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infonews.com/nota.php?id=141986&bienvenido=1|title=Argentina B fue vapuleada por Nigeria|trans-title=Argentina B routed by Nigeria|publisher=Info News|language=es|date=2 June 2011|access-date=28 January 2014}}</ref>

In 2017, [[Gianni De Biasi]] asked Musacchio if he would be interested in playing for [[Albania national football team|Albania]] of which he was the manager, but the player declined as he wished to represent his country of birth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.balkanweb.com/site/de-biasi-musacchio-te-milan-i-kam-derguar-mesazhe-per-ta-afruar-ne-kombetare/|title=De Biasi: Musacchio te Milan? I kam dërguar mesazhe për ta afruar në kombëtare|trans-title=De Biasi: Musacchio to Milan? I've sent messages to get him in the national team|publisher=Balkan Web|language=sq|date=20 May 2017|access-date=8 March 2018}}</ref>

==Style of play==
A press release of AC Milan described Musacchio as a "very physical centre back" with character and agility.<ref name=Milan/> Additionally, the article highlighted his marking and blocking abilities, and that he liked to start moves and play short passes."<ref name=Milan/>

==Personal life==
Musacchio's paternal grandparents were of [[Albanian people|Albanian]] origin, being [[Kurveshë people|Kurveleshë]] from [[Portocannone]] in lower [[Molise]] region, Italy. The surname Musacchio originated from the [[Muzaka family|Muzaka]] region in south-central [[Albania]], and was widely used in the Albanian community in Italy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.romatoday.it/sport/calciomercato-roma-musacchio-parametro-zero.html|title=Calciomercato Roma, Musacchio è il primo rinforzo|trans-title=Calciomercato Roma, Musacchio is first addition|publisher=Roma Today|language=it|date=27 April 2012|access-date=1 September 2014}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{Soccerway|mateo-musacchio/15361}}</ref>
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]]
|[[2006–07 Argentine Primera División|2006–07]]
|[[Argentine Primera División]]
|5||0|||0||0||colspan="2"|–||5||0
|-
|[[2007–08 Argentine Primera División|2007–08]]
|Argentine Primera División
|1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0
|-
|[[2008–09 Argentine Primera División season|2008–09]]
|Argentine Primera División
|4||0||0||0||1||0||5||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!10!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!11!!0
|-
|[[Villarreal CF B|Villarreal B]]
|[[2009–10 Segunda División|2009–10]]
|[[Segunda División]]
|22||3||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||22||3
|-
|rowspan="9"|[[Villarreal CF|Villarreal]]
|[[2009–10 La Liga|2009–10]]
|[[La Liga]]
|7||0||0||0||1||0||8||0
|-
|[[2010–11 La Liga|2010–11]]
|La Liga
|31||0||6||0||15||0||52||0
|-
|[[2011–12 Villarreal CF season|2011–12]]
|La Liga
|30||0|||2||0||7||0||39||0
|-
|[[2012–13 Villarreal CF season|2012–13]]
|Segunda División
|39||2||1||0||colspan="2"|–||40||2
|-
|[[2013–14 Villarreal CF season|2013–14]]
|La Liga
|32||1||3||0||colspan="2"|–||35||1
|-
|[[2014–15 Villarreal CF season|2014–15]]
|La Liga
|14||3||3||0||7||0||24||3
|-
|[[2015–16 Villarreal CF season|2015–16]]
|La Liga
|13||1||3||0||5||0||21||1
|-
|[[2016–17 Villarreal CF season|2016–17]]
|La Liga
|23||0||1||0||6||0||30||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!189!!7!!19!!0!!41!!0!!249!!7
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[AC Milan]]
|[[2017–18 AC Milan season|2017–18]]
|[[Serie A]]
|15||0||0||0||7||1||22||1
|-
|[[2018–19 AC Milan season|2018–19]]
|Serie A
|29||1||3||0||1||0||33||1
|-
|[[2019–20 AC Milan season|2019–20]]
|Serie A
|18||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||18||0
|-
|[[2020–21 AC Milan season|2020–21]]
|Serie A
|1||0||1||0||0||0||2||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!63!!1!!4!!0!!8!!1!!75!!2
|-
|[[SS Lazio|Lazio]]
|[[2020–21 SS Lazio season|2020–21]]
|Serie A
|4||0||0||0||1||0||5||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total 
!288!!11!!23!!0!!51!!1!!362!!12
|}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{NFT player|id=43394}}</ref>
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan=4|[[Argentina national football team|Argentina]]
|2011||2||0
|-
|2015||1||0
|-
|2016||1||0
|-
|2017||2||0
|-
!colspan=2|Total||6||0
|}

==Honours==
'''River Plate'''
*[[Argentine Primera División]]: [[2007–08 Argentine Primera División|Clausura 2008]]<ref name=Future/>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{BDFA|56009}}
*{{BDFutbol|12446}}
*{{TuttoCalciatori|Musacchio_Mateo_Pablo}}
*{{FIFA player|268838}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Musacchio, Mateo}}
[[Category:1990 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Argentine people of Arbëreshë descent]]
[[Category:People of Molisan descent]]
[[Category:Argentine sportspeople of Italian descent]]
[[Category:21st-century Argentine sportsmen]]
[[Category:Argentine men's footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers from Rosario, Santa Fe]]
[[Category:Men's association football central defenders]]
[[Category:Argentine Primera División players]]
[[Category:Club Atlético River Plate footballers]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:Segunda División players]]
[[Category:Villarreal CF B players]]
[[Category:Villarreal CF players]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:AC Milan players]]
[[Category:SS Lazio players]]
[[Category:Kings League players]]
[[Category:Argentina men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:Argentina men's under-20 international footballers]]
[[Category:Argentina men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Argentine expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]