Marcos Javier Acuña, nicknamed Huevo (), (born 28 October 1991) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a left back for Argentine Primera División club River Plate and the Argentina national team.
He started his career at Ferro Carril Oeste in Argentina before moving to Racing Club. He moved to Europe in 2017 to play with Portuguese team Sporting CP before joining Spanish team Sevilla in 2020. He was named in the team of the year for the 2021–22 La Liga season. With Sevilla, he won the 2022–23 Europa League and was named in the competition's team of the season. He returned to Argentina in 2024, joining River Plate. He was part of the Argentina squads at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, winning the 2022 edition. He was also part of the squads at the 2019, 2021, and 2024 Copa Américas, winning the latter two.
Club career Early career Acuña began his athletic training at Club Don Bosco in his hometown. At that time he played as a left wing-back. His good performance got him noticed by scouts who invited him to perform tests at various clubs in Buenos Aires. Thus, at age 13 he tried out for but did not stay at Boca Juniors and San Lorenzo de Almagro. Four years later he tried out for Quilmes, River Plate and Tigre before ultimately being taken by Ferro Carril Oeste. After a few seasons in Ferro's reserve team, he was promoted to the first team. He made his debut in 2009 in a match in the Primera B Nacional playing as a winger under coach José María Bianco. Already in the 2013–14 season he stood out for his ability to assist his peers, providing 12 assists, which caught the attention of major clubs. At Ferro, Acuña played a total of 117 matches, with 5 goals and 23 assists.
Racing Club On 18 July 2014, Acuña moved to Racing Club for a net fee of 4,900,000 pesos for 50% of his rights, with the option to buy another 25% at $750,000. On 27 July 2014, he played his first game with the Academia in a match for the knockout phase of the 2013–14 Copa Argentina against San Martín de San Juan, in which he also scored the winning goal on a header to give Racing a 1–0 victory. Later that year he was part of Racing's championship team that won the 2014 Argentine Primera División, cutting a streak of 13 years without titles for the Avellaneda side, in which Acuña played 15 games and scored two goals.
Sporting CP On 12 June 2017, Racing president Víctor Blanco confirmed that Acuña would be leaving the club for Sporting CP. He made his debut for the Portuguese team in a 2–0 away victory over Desportivo Aves. On 15 May 2018, Acuña and several of his teammates, including coaches, were injured following an attack by around 50 supporters of Sporting at the club's training ground after the team finished third in the league and missed out on the UEFA Champions League qualification. Despite the attack, he and the rest of the team agreed to play in the Portuguese Cup final scheduled for the following weekend, eventually losing to C.D. Aves.
Sevilla On 14 September 2020, Acuña joined Spanish club Sevilla on a four-year deal. On 7 November 2021, Acuña scored his first league goal of the 2021–22 season in the el gran derbi where Sevilla won 2–0 against Real Betis. On 13 February 2021, he extended his contract with Sevilla until 2025.
During Sevilla's match at Getafe on 30 March 2024, Acuña was the victim of racist chanting from behind the coaches' benches. As a result of this chanting, Getafe were ordered to close sections of their stadium for 3 matches.
River Plate On August 18, Sevilla and River Plate began to negotiate Acuña's transfer. The operation was closed for just over three million euros to acquire 100% of the player's economical rights, with contract running until December 2027. On August 20, Acuña was officially presented as a River reinforcement.
International career On 15 November 2016, Acuña made his international debut with the Argentina national team in a 2018 World Cup qualifier match against Colombia. He was part of Argentina's squad that won the 2021 Copa América.
Acuña represented Argentina in the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He won the latter edition of the tournament, playing all games except for the semifinal against Croatia in which he was suspended.
In June 2024, Acuña was included in Lionel Scaloni's final 26-man Argentina squad for the 2024 Copa América.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFerro Carril Oeste2010–11Primera B7000–––702011–1231210–––3222012–1336110–––3712013–1439220–––412Total113540–––1175Racing Club2014Argentine Primera División16221–––183201527430–90–394201610100–101–2022016–1725941–31–3211Total781692–222–10920Sporting CP2017–18Primeira Liga3145051131–5462018–19301504060–4512019–2024200406010352Total857100131251101349Sevilla2020–21La Liga30130–40003712021–2231120–80–4112022–2330330–120–4532023–2421110–3010261Total112690–270101496River Plate2024Argentine Primera División11000–30–140202526140–8030411Total37140–11030551Career total425353621318535056441
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsArgentina201610201770201880201911020201020211102022100202370202450202500202610Total620
Honours Racing Club Argentine Primera División: 2014
Sporting CP Taça de Portugal: 2018–19 Taça da Liga: 2017–18, 2018–19
Sevilla UEFA Europa League: 2022–23
Argentina FIFA World Cup: 2022 Copa América: 2021, 2024 CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions: 2022
Individual Argentine Primera División top assist provider: 2016–17 La Liga Team of the Season: 2021–22 UEFA Europa League Team of the Season: 2022–23
References
External links
Profile at the Sevilla FC website