Miguel Almirón Bio
Miguel Ángel Almirón Rejala, born on 10 February 1994, is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or right winger for Major League Soccer club Atlanta United and the Paraguay national team. Known for his work rate, dribbling, and knack for arriving in scoring positions, Almirón has built a career across South America, North America, and the Premier League. He began his professional journey with Cerro Porteño before moving to Argentine football, and later became one of the most recognizable South American imports in modern MLS history.
After helping Atlanta United capture the MLS Cup in 2018, Almirón completed a high-profile move to Newcastle United, where he set a then-club transfer record. He returned to Atlanta in early 2025, reconnecting with the club where he first made his mark in Major League Soccer.
Early Life and Background
Miguel Almirón was born into an impoverished family in the San Pablo neighborhood of Asunción, Paraguay. His father, Rubén Almirón, worked 18-hour shifts as a security guard, while his mother, Sonia Rejala, worked at a supermarket. The house shared by the seven family members had only three bedrooms, and Almirón reportedly shared a bed with his mother until he was 18. For much of his childhood, he also spent extended time living with his grandparents.
Almirón began training with Club 3 de Noviembre at the age of seven and trialed with several other teams in his youth. Coaches at multiple clubs considered him too frail and lightweight to become a professional footballer, and he was rejected by Club Nacional for that reason. His perseverance through those early setbacks shaped the determined personality that later defined his professional career.
Path to Soccer
Despite being turned away by several Paraguayan clubs, Almirón eventually found a home at Cerro Porteño, one of the country’s most traditional teams. Even there, reservations about his slight physique lingered, and he did not play regularly until he was promoted to the club’s under-17 side. His progress through the Cerro Porteño youth ranks gave him the platform to begin his senior career and establish himself as a promising attacker in Paraguayan football.
Almirón represented Paraguay at the under-20 level, playing in the 2013 South American Youth Football Championship in Argentina, where his team finished second to Colombia. He was later called up for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey, helping Paraguay reach the last 16. Those international experiences sharpened his competitive edge and prepared him for the senior international stage.
Miguel Almirón Career
Early Career (2013-2015)
Almirón began his senior career at Cerro Porteño in 2013, where his energetic performances in the Paraguayan Primera División began to attract attention from clubs in Argentina. Although he did not always feature as a starter, he showed flashes of the acceleration and direct running that would later become trademarks of his game.
In August 2015, Almirón transferred to Club Atlético Lanús in the Argentine Primera División. He was introduced slowly by manager Guillermo Barros Schelotto during his first season, gradually adapting to a more demanding league. The move to Argentina marked his transition from a domestic prospect to a player being tracked by clubs across the Americas.
Lanús Breakthrough (2015-2016)
Almirón came to the forefront during the shortened 2016 Argentine Primera División campaign under manager Jorge Almirón, playing as an advanced central midfielder. He was pivotal in Lanús’ title-winning season, scoring key goals against local rivals Banfield in the Clásico del Sur and later contributing in the final against San Lorenzo. A few months later, in August 2016, he set up the only goal in Lanús’ Copa Bicentenario victory over Racing.
His performances in Argentina established him as one of the most exciting young attackers in South America and alerted clubs abroad. The combination of league success and cup silverware made his next move inevitable, and within months, Major League Soccer came calling.
Atlanta United Era (2016-2019)
On 5 December 2016, Almirón signed with expansion side Atlanta United FC as a Young Designated Player, with Atlanta paying a transfer fee of around $8 million to Lanús. He became an immediate focal point of the team’s attack, scoring a brace in only his second game, a 6-1 win over Minnesota United FC. On 20 May, he netted the second hat-trick in club history against the Houston Dynamo and added two more goals a week later against New York City FC.
Almirón was named to the MLS All-Star Game in his debut season, won MLS Player of the Week twice, and was selected to seven Teams of the Week. He ended the year in the MLS Best XI and was named MLS Newcomer of the Year for 2017. In 2018, he was named MLS Player of the Month in April and was again selected to the MLS Best XI alongside teammate Josef Martínez. Atlanta won MLS Cup 2018 against the Portland Timbers, and Almirón was named to the Team of the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Newcastle United Era (2019-2025)
On 31 January 2019, Almirón joined Premier League side Newcastle United on a five-and-a-half-year deal for a fee believed to be around £21 million, a club record at the time and the highest transfer fee for an MLS player. He made his Premier League debut on 11 February in a 1-1 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers, coming on for the final 18 minutes. He scored his first Premier League goal on 21 December in a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace, finishing his first season with a club-best eight goals in all competitions.
Almirón enjoyed his most prolific Premier League stretch in 2022. On 21 August, he equalized against Manchester City, then in October he scored six goals in six matches, including braces against Fulham and strikes against Brentford, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Aston Villa. He won Premier League Player of the Month for October 2022 and Premier League Goal of the Month for his first-half goal against Fulham. On 4 October 2023, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal, becoming the ninth Paraguayan to score in the competition, in a 4-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain. In March 2025, after his departure, he received an EFL Cup winners’ medal as he had featured in four cup games during the campaign.
Return to Atlanta United (2025-Present)
On 30 January 2025, Almirón rejoined Atlanta United, with the club paying $400,000 in general allocation money to Charlotte FC for his MLS discovery rights. His return was treated as a homecoming by the Atlanta fanbase, which remembered him as the heartbeat of the franchise’s first great years. He immediately added veteran leadership and a familiar attacking identity to a team still building its post-championship identity.
Driving Style and Strengths
Almirón is known for his relentless engine, sharp close control, and ability to time late runs into the box from midfield. He combines the creativity of a number 10 with the defensive work rate expected of a wide attacker, and his passing range allows him to link play between lines. Throughout his career, his versatility has let managers deploy him as a central attacker, a second striker, or a right winger depending on the tactical setup.
Notable Events and Milestones
Almirón’s career is dotted with signature moments, including Atlanta’s 2018 MLS Cup triumph, his record-breaking £21 million move to Newcastle, his October 2022 Player of the Month award, and his Champions League goal against Paris Saint-Germain. Each chapter has reinforced his reputation as a clutch performer in high-pressure environments.
Miguel Almirón Career Wins
Across his club career, Miguel Almirón has accumulated a varied collection of team trophies and individual accolades in Paraguay, Argentina, England, and the United States. While the table below summarizes his verified honors, his trophy cabinet reflects both longevity and the ability to deliver on the biggest stages.
Club Highlights
Almirón won the 2016 Argentine Primera División with Lanús and the Copa Bicentenario the same year, establishing himself as a difference-maker in South American football. With Atlanta United, he helped the club claim MLS Cup 2018, the franchise’s first major trophy, just two seasons into its existence.
Although he did not lift a domestic trophy during his time at Newcastle, he did receive an EFL Cup winners’ medal in 2025 after featuring in four cup matches earlier in the campaign. He was also a central figure as Newcastle returned to the UEFA Champions League in 2023.
Other Wins & Performances
At international level, Almirón has represented Paraguay at the Copa América in 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024. He also played at the 2013 South American Youth Football Championship, where Paraguay finished second, and the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where the team reached the round of 16. His consistent selection across major tournaments underlines his status as a long-serving senior international.
Miguel Almirón Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Almirón’s parents, Rubén Almirón and Sonia Rejala, worked long hours to support their family, and his upbringing in the San Pablo neighborhood of Asunción was shaped by financial hardship. He spent much of his childhood with his grandparents, who were an important part of his early life. There is no notable sporting lineage in his immediate family, and his rise is widely cited as a product of personal resilience rather than inherited opportunity.
Personal Life
Almirón is a Catholic, and two religious quotes are tattooed on his arms as expressions of his faith. He married his high school sweetheart, Alexia Notto, a dancer, Zumba instructor, and influencer, on 29 August 2016. The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Francesco, on 6 June 2021.
2025 Season Performance
Almirón’s 2025 campaign began with his return to Atlanta United in late January, giving him a full preseason to integrate with the squad. The move was framed by the club as both a sporting and symbolic addition, with Almirón’s prior connection to the fanbase expected to lift morale around the team. Early-season form has been centered on helping Atlanta rediscover the attacking identity that defined its 2018 run.
Beyond his own output, Almirón’s experience in the Premier League and Champions League is expected to benefit a relatively young Atlanta roster. His leadership in the locker room and on the training pitch has been highlighted by coaches as a key reason for bringing him back.
Looking ahead, the 2025 season is framed around Atlanta United’s push back toward the MLS Cup playoffs, with Almirón expected to play a central role in the club’s creative play. Whether he can recapture the goalscoring form of his first Atlanta spell will likely shape both his legacy in the league and the club’s competitive ceiling this year.