Thiago Helguera
Uruguayan footballer (born 2006)
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Thiago Emanuel Helguera Merello (born 26 March 2006) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Segunda División club Mirandés, on loan from Primeira Liga club Braga.[2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thiago Emanuel Helguera Merello[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 26 March 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Paysandú, Uruguay[1] | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Mirandés (on loan from Braga) | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Sportivo Independencia | |||
| 2020–2023 | Nacional | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2024 | Nacional | 16 | (0) |
| 2024– | Braga | 1 | (0) |
| 2024– | Braga B | 13 | (0) |
| 2025– | → Mirandés (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2021 | Uruguay U15 | 1 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Uruguay U17 | 18 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | Uruguay U20 | 13 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 29 November 2025 | |||
Club career
Born in Paysandú, Helguera began his career with local side Sportivo Independencia, representing the club at the under-13 national finals in 2019.[3] He joined the academy of Nacional the following year,[4] and was promoted to the first team, signing his first contract, in January 2023.[5] He played his first game for the club in the 2023 edition of the Copa Río de la Plata, as Nacional lost to Argentinian opposition Colón de Santa Fe 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.[6]
Helguera made his professional debut in the Uruguayan Primera División on 30 April 2023, coming on as a second-half substitute for Diego Zabala in a 3–0 win against La Luz.[7] Following the game, Nacional manager Álvaro Gutiérrez said of Helguera "he has the tools, but you have to go carefully and slowly so that he can develop them".[7]
On 14 June 2024, Helguera joined Primeira Liga club Braga on a five-year deal until June 2029.[2] On 13 August of the following year, after featuring mainly with the reserves, he was loaned to Spanish Segunda División side Mirandés for one year.[8]
International career
Helguera has represented Uruguay at under-17 level.[1] In January 2025, he was named in Uruguay's 23-man squad for the 2025 South American U-20 Championship.[9]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 29 September 2024[10]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Nacional | 2023 | Uruguayan Primera División | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2024 | Uruguayan Primera División | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Total | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |||
| Braga | 2024–25 | Primeira Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| Career total | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
- Notes
- Appearances in Copa Libertadores
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League