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Fabián Balbuena

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Paraguayan footballer (born 1991)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Balbuena and the second or maternal family name is González.
Fabián Balbuena
Balbuena with Dynamo Moscow in 2021
Personal information
Full name Fabián Cornelio Balbuena González
Date of birth (1991-08-23) 23 August 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Ciudad del Este, Paraguay
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team Dynamo Moscow
Number 3
Youth career
Cerro Porteño PF
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Cerro Porteño PF 76 (5)
2013 Rubio Ñu 17 (1)
2013–2014 Nacional 30 (1)
2014–2016 Libertad 43 (3)
2016–2018 Corinthians 69 (4)
2018–2021 West Ham United 54 (3)
2021– Dynamo Moscow 65 (6)
2022–2023 → Corinthians (loan) 20 (3)
International career
2015– Paraguay 45 (2)
2024 Paraguay Olympic (O.P.) 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 December 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2024

Fabián Cornelio Balbuena González (born 23 August 1991) is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Russian Premier League club Dynamo Moscow and the Paraguay national team.

He played for Cerro Porteño PF, Rubio Ñu, Nacional and Libertad in the Paraguayan Primera División, before joining Corinthians of Brazil in 2016. He played 120 games for Corinthians, winning the Campeonato Paulista twice and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A once, and was named in the latter's 2017 team of the year. After three years with West Ham United in the Premier League, he signed for Dynamo Moscow.

Balbuena made his senior international debut for Paraguay in 2015. He played for his national team at four Copa América tournaments, coming fourth in 2015.

Club career

Paraguay

Born in Ciudad del Este, Balbuena was promoted to Cerro Porteño PF's first team in 2010, after the arrival of new manager Eduardo Rivera. He immediately became a starter under Rivera, playing in all the remaining seven matches of the campaign as his side achieved a mid-table position.

Balbuena became a regular starter in 2011, being also team captain as the club achieved promotion from División intermedia.

Balbuena joined Rubio Ñu ahead of the 2013 season, but remained at the club for only six months before moving to defending champions Club Nacional. At the latter side, he was also first-choice and reached the 2014 Copa Libertadores Finals, losing it to San Lorenzo.

On 15 August 2014, Libertad bought 50% of Balbuena's federative rights, and the player signed a four-year deal with the club. They won the 2014 Clausura tournament.

Corinthians

On 16 February 2016, Balbuena moved abroad for the first time in his career after agreeing to a three-year deal with Série A side Corinthians. He made his debut for the club nine days later by starting in a 1–1 Campeonato Paulista away draw against São Bento, and scored his first goal on 19 March in a 4–0 home routing of Linense for the same competition.

A key defensive unit at Timão, Balbuena lifted the 2017 Campeonato Paulista, 2017 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and 2018 Campeonato Paulista during his spell. On 24 April 2018, he signed a new four-year contract.

West Ham United

Balbuena (furthest right) in a friendly against Hertha BSC in July 2019

On 14 July 2018, Balbuena signed for Premier League club West Ham United on a three-year deal, for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut on 12 August in a 4–0 defeat by Liverpool. On 27 October he scored his first goal for the Hammers to open the scoring at Leicester City, but deflected Wilfred Ndidi's long-range shot into his own net for the equaliser; he was the first Paraguayan to score in England's top division since Antolín Alcaraz in May 2012.

On 18 October 2020, Balbuena scored West Ham's first goal as they overturned a 3–0 deficit with eight minutes remaining to draw at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The following 24 April, he was sent off in a 1–0 home loss to another capital team, Chelsea, for catching Ben Chilwell when making a clearance; the decision was criticised by manager David Moyes and various pundits. The red card was overturned after West Ham appealed. In May 2021, Balbuena was told by West Ham that his contract would not be renewed when it expired at the end of the 2020–21 season.

Dynamo Moscow

Balbuena with Corinthians in 2023

On 9 July 2021, he signed a four-year contract with Russian Premier League club FC Dynamo Moscow.

On 10 July 2022, Balbuena suspended his contract with Dynamo Moscow for the 2022–23 season, having taken advantage of the FIFA ruling relating to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Eight days later, he returned to Corinthians for the period of his Dynamo contract suspension, until 30 June 2023.

At the end of this suspension, Balbuena returned to Dynamo in July 2023. After returning to the Moscow club, Balbuena was chosen as the team captain for the next season.

International career

First called up on 19 March 2015, Balbuena made his full international debut for Paraguay national team on 31 March by starting in a 1–0 friendly loss against Mexico at the Arrowhead Stadium. He was also named among the 23-man squads for the 2015 Copa América and the Copa América Centenario. He made his first competitive appearance at the latter in the final group game, a 1–0 loss to hosts the United States in which he was substituted at half time for attacker Juan Iturbe.

At the 2019 Copa América in Brazil, Paraguay faced the host team in the quarter-finals, and Balbuena was sent off after an hour for fouling Roberto Firmino when the Brazilian was clear on goal; the game ended goalless and Brazil won on penalties.

On 23 September 2022, Balbuena scored his first international goal, a late header that was the only goal of a friendly win over the United Arab Emirates in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. In a 1–0 friendly loss away to Peru on 16 November, Balbuena and opponent Alexander Succar were sent off for fighting.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 8 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental State League Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cerro Porteño PF 2010 División Intermedia 7 0 — — — — 7 0
2011 División Intermedia 28 4 — — — — 28 4
2012 Primera División 41 1 — — — — 41 1
Total 76 5 — — — — 76 5
Rubio Ñu 2013 Primera División 17 1 — — — — 17 1
Nacional 2013 Primera División 14 0 — 2 0 — — 16 0
2014 Primera División 16 1 — 10 0 — — 26 1
Total 30 1 — 12 0 — — 42 1
Libertad 2014 Primera División 16 1 — 4 0 — — 20 1
2015 Primera División 26 2 — 8 0 — — 34 2
2016 Primera División 1 0 — — — — 1 0
Total 43 3 — 12 0 — — 55 3
Corinthians 2016 Série A 29 0 4 0 2 0 6 2 — 41 2
2017 Série A 32 4 5 0 6 2 15 0 — 58 6
2018 Série A 8 0 2 0 6 0 15 3 — 31 3
Total 69 4 11 0 14 2 36 5 — 130 11
West Ham United 2018–19 Premier League 23 1 0 0 — — — 23 1
2019–20 Premier League 17 1 4 0 — — — 21 1
2020–21 Premier League 14 1 4 0 — — — 18 1
Total 54 3 8 0 — — — 62 3
Dynamo Moscow 2021–22 Russian Premier League 27 3 5 0 — — — 32 3
2023–24 Russian Premier League 26 2 7 1 — — — 33 3
2024–25 Russian Premier League 12 1 3 0 — — — 15 1
Total 65 6 15 1 — — — 80 7
Corinthians (loan) 2022 Série A 13 3 6 0 2 0 — — 21 3
2023 Série A 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 — 7 0
Total 13 3 6 0 2 0 7 0 — 28 3
Career total 367 26 40 1 40 2 43 5 0 0 490 34
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
  3. Six appearances in Copa Libertadores, two appearances in Copa Sudamericana
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in Campeonato Paulista

International

As of 19 November 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Paraguay 2015 2 0
2016 2 0
2017 1 0
2018 3 0
2019 6 0
2020 3 0
2021 6 0
2022 7 1
2023 5 1
2024 10 0
Total 45 2
Scores and results list Paraguay' goal tally first.
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 23 September 2022 Stadion Wiener Neustadt, Wiener Neustadt, Austria  United Arab Emirates 1–0 1–0 Friendly
2 18 June 2023 Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asuncion, Paraguay  Nicaragua 2–0 2–0

Honours

Club

Cerro Porteño PF

Libertad

Corinthians

Paraguay

Individual

References

  1. "Men's Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024 – Squad List: Paraguay (PAR)" (PDF). FIFA. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  2. "Fabián Cornelio Balbuena González - Fichajes.com". Fichajes .com: Noticias y rumores sobre el mercado de fichajes de fútbol. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  3. "Pai queria que Balbuena estudasse, mas ele virou jogador, capitão aos 20 e hoje brilha no Corinthians" [Balbuena's father wanted him to study, but he became a player, captain at 20 and today shines at Corinthians] (in Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  4. "Se sumó otro Mazacotte" [Another Mazacotte joined] (in Spanish). ABC Color. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  5. "Balbuena ya es gumarelo" [Balbuena already is gumarelo] (in Spanish). ABC Color. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  6. "Balbuena assina com Corinthians por três temporadas" [Balbuena signs with Corinthians for three seasons] (in Portuguese). SC Corinthians Paulista. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  7. "Fabián Balbuena renova contrato por quatro temporadas" [Fabián Balbuena renews contract for four seasons] (in Portuguese). SC Corinthians Paulista. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  8. "West Ham sign Paraguay defender Balbuena". West Ham United FC. 14 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  9. "Salah, Mane & Sturridge on target as Liverpool beat West Ham 4–0". BBC Sport. 12 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  10. "Leicester City 1–1 West Ham United". BBC Sport. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  11. Hytner, David (18 October 2020). "Lanzini's late gem completes stunning West Ham fightback at Tottenham". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  12. "David Moyes: West Ham boss hits out at officials after Fabian Balbuena red card". BBC Sport. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  13. "Fabian Balbuena: West Ham defender's red card against Chelsea overturned on appeal". BBC Sport. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  14. Veysey, Wayne (28 May 2021). "West Ham news: Fabian Balbuena told to find new club".
  15. "Фабиан Бальбуэна стал игроком "Динамо"" (in Russian). FC Dynamo Moscow. 9 July 2021.
  16. "Fabián Balbuena suspends contract with Dynamo". en.fcdm.ru/. FC Dynamo Moscow. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  17. "Balbuena é o novo reforço do Corinthians" (in Portuguese). Corinthians. 18 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  18. "Парагвайский футболист Бальбуэна вернулся в «Динамо»". Sportrbc.ru (in Russian). 6 July 2023.
  19. "Капитаном «Динамо» выбрали приостанавливавшего контракт легионера". Sportrbc.ru (in Russian). 21 July 2023.
  20. "Mexico vs. Paraguay 2015: Final score 1–0, El Tri run rampant in Kansas City". SB Nation. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  21. "Los 23 elegidos de Díaz" [Díaz's 23 chosen ones] (in Spanish). ABC Color. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  22. "Solo un par de nuevos entre los de siempre" [Only a bunch of newbies among the usual ones] (in Spanish). ABC Color. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  23. "Shorthanded USA outlasts Paraguay 1–0 to advance to 2016 Copa America quarterfinals". U.S. Soccer. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  24. "Copa America: Brazil beat Paraguay on penalties to reach semi-finals". BBC Sport. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  25. "Paraguay, con gol de Balbuena, superó a los Emiratos Arabes" [Paraguay, with goal by Balbuena, overcame the United Arab Emirates] (in Spanish). FDP Radio. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  26. "Gresca entre ambos: Alexander Succar y Fabián Balbuena fueron expulsados en amistoso entre Perú y Paraguay" [Fracas between the two: Alexander Succar and Fabián Balbuena were sent off in friendly between Peru and Paraguay] (in Spanish). RPP. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  27. ^ Fabián Balbuena at Soccerway. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  28. "Games played by Fabián Balbuena in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  29. "Games played by Fabián Balbuena in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  30. "Games played by Fabián Balbuena in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  31. "Balbuena, Fabián". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  32. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  33. "Veja os vencedores da edição 2017 do Troféu Mesa Redonda - Gazeta Esportiva". www.gazetaesportiva.com. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  34. "Com domínio do Palmeiras, Seleção é premiada recheada de finalistas" [With prevalence of Palmeiras, Best XI is awarded full of finalists] (in Portuguese). Federação Paulista de Futebol. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  35. "Агаларов, Сафонов и Захарян – в списке «33 лучших футболистов» сезона". Российский футбольный союз (in Russian). Retrieved 14 September 2023.

External links

FC Dynamo Moscow – current squad
Paraguay squads
Paraguay squad – 2015 Copa América fourth place
Paraguay
Paraguay squad – Copa América Centenario
Paraguay
Paraguay squad – 2019 Copa América
Paraguay
Paraguay squad – 2021 Copa América
Paraguay
Paraguay squad – 2024 Copa América
Paraguay
Paraguay men's football squad – 2024 Summer Olympics
Paraguay
Awards
2017 Bola de Prata
2017 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year
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