River Plate became champion of the Messi Cupthe tournament organized by Lionel Messiafter beating Atlético de Madrid in the final. And there, as throughout the entire contest, one footballer stood out: Bruno Cabralwho finished as MVP and top scorer with 7 goals in 5 games.
The striker born on August 16, 2010 made his debut with a goal against Barcelona, then scored a hat-trick against Inter, taking the ball and taking a photo with the tournament organizer, scored in the semifinal against Chelsea and culminated a dream tournament with a double in the final against Atleti.
But it is not the first time that his name appears on the radar of River fans. The 15-year-old footballer, trained in the Millonario youth team, an inexhaustible source of talent, has been making people talk in the different categories of the club and, also, with the Argentine National Team shirt.
The story of Bruno Cabral, the goalscorer and MVP of the Messi Cup
Bruno Cabral, 2010 class attacker, was born in Argentina, but his parents are Paraguayan. He took his first steps in clubs such as Los Leones de Lomas de Zamora, Fortín de Rivarola, Juncal FC and Parque Chas, and then went through Camioneros, between 2017 and 2022, the step prior to arriving at the Núñez club.
Specifically in 2023, at the age of 13, Pre Novena age, Cabral arrived at River, thanks to the recruitment of Gustavo Petrochelli. The club signed him after a few days of training and he began his youth career the following year.
There, Cabral always stood out: he came out champion with the Ninth, scoring 26 goalsand in 2025 he upped the ante: he was also the top scorer for the Octava, shouting again champion and totaling 34 pointsincluding one in the Superclásico against Boca.
Cabral closed the year as the top scorer in all the lower divisions, but in this dream year he also took his first steps with the Argentine National Team: converted 10 goals in 5 games in the CONMEBOL Evolution Leaguea competition in which the Albiceleste lost in the final against Brazil (he was also chosen as MVP).
Then, adding the goals from the lower leagues, the Liga Evolución and the Messi Cup, the young forward added 51 goals in 36 games, that is, 1.44 per match.
The kid, who Its reference is Julián Álvarezfrom whom he tries to “copy many movements”, both in the game and in the definition, he defines himself as “a fast one-on-one player who has dribbling and physical power and often gets to the goal.” He is not the traditional number nine, but instead seeks to “participate in the game and provide assists.”
Now, in dialogue with OleHe said his dreams are “Win the Libertadores with River and be world champion”but currently “he is preparing to reach First Division.”
