Darío Benedetto, our new striker made in Argentina
Olympique de Marseille welcome Darío Isamel Benedetto from Boca Juniors. OM are getting stronger with an attacker who is used to playing in fiery atmospheres.
Born on 17 May 1990 in Berazategui, Argentina, Benedetto (29) was passionate about football from an early age. At age 12, his mother died of a stroke. He then stopped playing football for a few years. But he quickly recovered his passion and in 2007, Darío, then 17 years old, made his debut with the first team of Arsenal de Sarandí, a team in which he remained until 2013. In fifty matches played with the Argentinian club, he scored nine goals and was loaned out twice. Between 2009 and 2011, he went on loan to the Defensa y Justicia and Gimnasia Jujuy.
He then moved to Mexico in 2013 and more precisely Club Tijuana, where the striker scored 23 goals in 50 matches. His goalscoring skills caught the eye of Club America, where he signed in 2014. It was with this team that he won his first titles. He has twice won two editions of the CONCACAF Champions League, in 2015 and 2016. In the second leg of the 2014-2015 edition's final against the Montreal Impact, he distinguished himself by scoring a hat-trick. He finished as the tournament's top scorer (7 goals).
His good performances (49 goals in 111 matches in Mexico) enabled him to sign for Boca Juniors in 2016, his childhood club. "El Pipa" was really making a name for itself in the mythical Argentine team. He was quickly appreciated by fans and became one of La Bombonera's favourites. A powerful player, skilful in front of goal and never lacking effort, he scored 46 goals in 76 games played. He has also won the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 editions of the Superliga (Argentinean league) with Boca Juniors. He was also a finalist in the 2018 Copa Libertadores.
By joining Olympique de Marseille, Darío Ismael Benedetto has moved to a European league for the first time in his career.
DARIO BENEDETTO
Awards:
Winner of the CONCACAF Champions League with Club America: 2015 and 2016.
Superliga champion with Boca Juniors (Argentinean league): 2017, 2018.
Winner of the Argentine Super Cup with Boca Juniors: 2018
Copa Libertadores finalist: 2018.
Previous clubs:
- Sarandi Arsenal (2007-2013, Argentina)
- Defensia y Justicia (loan, 2009-2011, Argentina)
- Gimnasia Jujuy (loan, 2010-2011, Argentina)
- Club Tijuana (2013-2015, Mexico)
- Club América (2015-2016, Mexico)
- Boca Juniors (2016-2019, Argentina).
Goals: Since 2013, Benedetto has scored 95 goals in 187 games played. In Boca Juniors, the Argentine striker has scored 46 goals in 76 matches.
International career: 5 selections with Argentina. First cap: 5 September 2017. Last cap: March 22, 2019.
