Damian Bobadilla

Damian Bobadilla was Born on 11 July 2001 and came through the youth system at Cerro Porteno in Paraguay before making his professional debut there on 5 May 2021. He moved to Sao Paulo FC in Brazil's Seria A in 2024, establishing himself as a central midfielder with composure beyond his years. He made his senior international debut for Paraguay on 11 June 2024 against Chile and was part of the squad that competed at the 2024 Copa America.

At 24, Bobadilla is one of the younger members of Paraguay's 2026 World Cup squad and represents a new generation of Paraguayan footballers seeking to build on a national team history that includes a 2011 Copa America runner-up finish and multiple World Cup appearances, though Paraguay last qualified for the tournament in 2010. The 2026 edition marked their return to the World Cup stage after a 16-year absence.

In the USA's opening game on 12 June 2026 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Bobadilla deflected a Weston McKennie cutback into his own net in the 7th minute, giving the hosts a stunning early lead. It was the first own goal of the 2026 World Cup and the 55th in World Cup history. The United States went on to win 4-1, with Folarin Balogun among the scorers.