Gonzalo Higuaín
Who was Gonzalo Higuaín?
Prolific striker who became Juventus's highest-scoring South American player and won three Serie A titles with the club.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Gonzalo Higuaín (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Gonzalo Gerardo Higuaín was born on December 10, 1987, in Brest, France, to Argentine parents. Known as El Pipita or Pipa, he became one of the top strikers of his generation with his remarkable goal-scoring ability, physical presence, and sharp finishing. He started his professional career at River Plate in Argentina before transferring to Real Madrid in January 2007, which brought him into the spotlight in European football. At Real Madrid, Higuaín became one of Europe's top strikers, winning three La Liga titles. His consistent play and goal-scoring talent made him a key player for the team. In 2013, Napoli in Italy signed him for €40 million, where he continued to shine and won the Coppa Italia in his first season. His standout season came in 2015-16 when he scored 36 league goals for Napoli, earning the Capocannoniere title and matching the Serie A single-season scoring record. This impressive performance led Juventus to sign him for €90 million in 2016, marking one of football's highest transfer fees and the most expensive in Italian football history. At Juventus, Higuaín won domestic doubles in his first two seasons and reached the 2017 Champions League final, becoming the club's highest-scoring South American player and winning three Serie A titles. Later in his career, he had loan spells at AC Milan and Chelsea, where he won the UEFA Europa League, before joining Inter Miami in 2020 and retiring from professional football in 2022.
Before Fame
Born to Argentine parents in France, Higuaín grew up developing his football skills in Argentina after his family moved there. He joined the youth setup at River Plate, one of Argentina's top clubs, where he improved his striking skills and learned the basics that shaped his playing style. His natural talent for scoring goals and his physical attributes made him stand out in the club's youth system. The early 2000s was a great time for Argentine football development, with the country producing many world-class players who would go on to excel in European leagues. This environment of excellent coaching and competitive youth football laid the groundwork for Higuaín's rise to international fame.
Key Achievements
- Won six European league titles across La Liga and Serie A
- Scored 36 goals in Serie A 2015-16, winning Capocannoniere and equaling the league record
- Became Juventus's highest-scoring South American player
- Won the UEFA Europa League with Chelsea in 2019
- Earned 75 international caps for Argentina and reached three World Cup tournaments
Did You Know?
- 01.He scored 36 goals in Serie A during the 2015-16 season, equaling the single-season record set by Gunnar Nordahl in 1949-50
- 02.His €90 million transfer to Juventus in 2016 remained the highest transfer fee paid by an Italian club for several years
- 03.Despite being born in France, he chose to represent Argentina internationally after obtaining citizenship in 2007
- 04.He became Juventus's highest-scoring South American player during his time with the club
- 05.His nickname 'El Pipita' was inherited from his father Jorge, who was also called 'Pipa' during his own football career