While Marcelo Gallardo thinks about how he will assemble the squad to face next year and has plans to strengthen the forward line to avoid suffering from the offensive anemia that he suffered in recent months, in the lower divisions of River There is a teenager who in the long term arouses enormous enthusiasm among fans. By dint of goals, many of them with definitions of enormous quality, typical of an experienced attacker, Bruno Cabral He became publicly known for his voracity in Messi Cupthe Under 16 competition that recently had Millonario as champion at the Inter Miami stadium, after winning 2-0 over Atlético de Madrid.
Con seven conquests in five gamesCabral was the top scorer of the youth tournament that had Messi as a witness in several matches, before he traveled to India to participate in different events. In addition to forever having a photo with the great world soccer star, River’s number 9 was chosen as the best player in the competition and closed a spectacular year on a personal level.
Champion of the Eighth, in which he played a decisive role because he contributed 34 goals and became the player who scored the most times among the six categories that make up the orbit of the AFA, Cabral He also shone with the Sub 15 of Argentina in Paraguay. There he could not obtain the title of the Evolution League organized by Conmebol because the national representative lost the final on penalties against Brazil, after drawing 2 to 2. However, his performance was outstanding, the product of ten goals: two in the decisive duel and previously a double against Uruguay, a shout against Paraguay, two against Chile and a hat-trick against Bolivia.
Such numbers did not go unnoticed by European talent scouts. in the United States, a reason that inevitably causes a wake-up call for River. Cabral does not have a professional contract, nor can he sign it for now. You will only be able to enter into your first employment relationship on August 16, 2026, when you turn 16 years of age, the minimum required. A situation like this occurred with Franco Mastantuonowhose signature occurred as soon as he finished making the three wishes.
Born in Lomas de Zamora, Cabral joined River in 2023. After passing a test, he requested a transfer to Camioneros, Hugo Moyano’s club that has its facilities in Esteban Echeverría, and joined the Prenovena of the Núñez institution.
River, champion of the Messi Cup
Aware that he was facing a great possibility, the forward committed himself to the maximum with the chance that was proposed to him at the end of 2022. While enjoying the title that the team won in Qatar, Cabral dreamed of wearing the red sash. “During the holidays I trained fully to be in shape. I knew that it was my big opportunity and that River’s 2010 was a powerful category. They put me at 9, I was lucky to do well and in the same week they signed me in the AFA. It was an unforgettable day for me and my entire family, who are River fans. Now I enjoy what it’s like to play here every day,” he told the official website.
Ruthless in the rival area, Cabral is not limited to just having the arc between his eyebrows. He knows how to associate with the midfielders, contributes in the game circuit and is capable of holding the ball, a fact that happened repeatedly in the outcome of the Messi Cup, when River was left one less two minutes into the second half due to the expulsion of Valentín Sayago, responsible for assisting him in the first goal.
Through his precise shots with the right boot, Cabral was the exclusive figure of the team led by Martín Pellegrino, a 46-year-old man who did not have the privilege of defending River’s colors, but who went through Deportivo Riestra, Excursionistas, General Lamadrid, Barracas Central and Dock Sud, among other promotion teams. The striker scored a penalty goal in the 2-2 draw in the group B debut against Barcelona last Tuesday. The next day he rested from the starting lineup in the 2-1 loss against Manchester City, and returned to the starting eleven with three goals to beat Inter Milan 5-1on Thursday. On Saturday afternoon he was the author of the final 3-1 victory over Chelsea and in the final he appeared in his splendor to resolve the story in a period of two minutes.
Far from it being simply an extraordinary year, Cabral had already exhibited his scoring ability in 2024, when he also made the Olympic return with the 2010 category, at that time with Javier Claut in the technical direction after having started the campaign under the command of Cristian Viola. He collaborated with 25 goals, including one to surpass Boca, as happened in 2025.
Son of Marcial and Jésica, Cabral took his first football steps in different neighborhood entities. He started in Los Leones de Lomas de Zamora, and before joining the Camioneros hotbed he performed in Fortín de Rivarola, Juncal FC and Parque Chas. In addition to learning from the coaches he met during his childhood development, The young man observes a world champion in detail: “I look at Julián Álvarez a lot. He is complete and I try to reflect on him.”
Although the skill of Felipe López, the number 10, and the display of Sayago, whose older brother played in Independiente’s first team, were high points of the team, Cabral was River’s main exponent in the Messi Cup. His goals gave him a kind of rise to fame. River’s objective will be to keep him with his feet on the ground and take care of him not only so that his evolution continues on the right path, but also to prevent some power from the old continent from taking advantage of the fact that he cannot count on a contract and seeking to seduce his parents through an economic offer disguised as a job proposal to emigrate abroad, which means the shortcut historically known as Patria Potestad and which today is legally called “Parental Responsibility.”
Beyond the fact that the matter in question may raise concerns, Cabral in no way has the intention of leaving the country, but instead intends to succeed with the shirt he loves. “I want to enjoy myself, I had a very nice year. I’m working to get to First Division. Then I want to win the Libertadores and be world champion,” he said when asked about his dreams at a press conference, minutes after celebrating at Chase Stadium, Messi’s football home.
