Atlanta United's young star midfielder Thiago Almada has already changed his shirt number once since joining the club in February 2022 - and now the 2022 World Cup Winner has now been given a third different shirt number for the Five Stripes.
The 22-year-old Ciudadela, Argentina native originally donned the number eight shirt in his first season in the league before making a change to 23 ahead of the current campaign. Fans were excited to buy the new-look Almada shirt, and they now may have to fork out some more cash to get his new No. 10 shirt.
Given his performances since joining the club, it makes sense as to why Almada has been chosen to wear the number 10 on the back of his shirt. He's amassed 14 goals and 22 assists in 50 games played (46 starts) while playing for Atlanta and doesn't look like slowing down anytime soon with Giorgos Giakoumakis in playing in front of him, who's scored 10 goals this season himself.
In Atlanta's young history, there's been a mixed review of players who've worn the number 10. One of the best players in club history, Miguel Almiron, was the first player in United's history to wear the 10 and did so magnificently. After Almiron departed Atlanta for Premier League side Newcastle, the Five Stripes tried to fill the void that the Paraguay international left by giving new signing Gonzalo 'Pity' Martinez the number 10.
Martinez had moments of brilliance here and there, but it never really worked out in Atlanta. The same can be said for Marcelino Moreno and Luiz Araujo, who both left the clubs earlier this summer on permanent deals.
Ever since Almiron left Mercedes-Benz Stadium the number 10 shirt has been crying out for sometime to step up and wear it with excellence. Almada, in his second season with Atlanta, looks set to do just that moving forward as the 2018 MLS Cup champions look to make a late push for a strong playoff spot at the back-end of the season.
Atlanta, with 35 points sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference, is back in MLS action against Seattle Sounders on August 20 at Lumen Field, with kick-off set for 10:30 PM EST.
Sign up now for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV to watch all the action from the 2023 Major League Soccer season. Click here to subscribe!
This article was originally published on 90min as Thiago Almada receives new Atlanta United shirt number .
