Gustavo Almada

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Gustavo Almada

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Gustavo Javier Almada Gonzales

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|4|29|df=y}}

| birth_place = Itauguá, Paraguay

| height = 1.82 m

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub = Blooming

| clubnumber = 71

| youthyears1 = 2009–2012

| youthclubs1 = Sol Paraguayo

| years1 = 2012–2014

| clubs1 = Sol Paraguayo

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 2015–2016

| clubs2 = Norte América

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 2016

| clubs3 = Torre Fuerte

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 = 2017

| clubs4 = Universidad Cruceña

| caps4 =

| goals4 =

| years5 = 2017

| clubs5 = Torre Fuerte

| caps5 =

| goals5 =

| years6 = 2018

| clubs6 = Destroyers

| caps6 =

| goals6 =

| years7 = 2019

| clubs7 = Torre Fuerte

| caps7 =

| goals7 =

| years8 = 2020

| clubs8 = Aurora

| caps8 = 0

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2020

| clubs9 = Sur-Car

| caps9 =

| goals9 =

| years10 = 2021

| clubs10 = Torre Fuerte

| caps10 = 12

| goals10 = 0

| years11 = 2022

| clubs11 = CDT Real Oruro

| caps11 = 0

| goals11 = 0

| years12 = 2022–2024

| clubs12 = Universitario de Vinto

| caps12 = 49

| goals12 = 0

| years13 = 2025–

| clubs13 = Blooming

| caps13 = 0

| goals13 = 0

| club-update = 20:15, 23 March 2025 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Gustavo Javier Almada Gonzales (born 29 April 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bolivian club Blooming. Born in Paraguay, he represents Bolivia at international level.

Club career

Born in Itauguá, Almada played for hometown sides Sol Paraguayo and Norte América before moving to Bolivia in 2016 with Torre Fuerte.{{cite web|url=https://www.versus.com.py/versus/2024/05/27/en-paraguay-fue-ninguneado-y-ahora-podria-estar-en-la-copa-america-con-otra-seleccion/|title=En Paraguay fue "ninguneado" y ahora podría jugar la Copa América con otra selección|trans-title=In Paraguay he was a "nobody" and now he could play the Copa América with another national team|publisher=Versus|language=es|date=27 May 2024|accessdate=19 June 2024}} He subsequently continued to appear for clubs in the country, representing Universidad Cruceña, Torre Fuerte and Destroyers{{cite web|url=https://www.vision360.bo/noticias/2024/05/20/4732-almada-es-convocado-para-el-amistoso-con-mexico-el-golero-esta-feliz-de-representar-a-bolivia|title=Almada es convocado para el amistoso con México, el golero está feliz de “representar a Bolivia”|trans-title=Almada is called up for the friendly against Mexico, the goalkeeper is happy to "represent Bolivia"|publisher=Visión 360|language=es|date=20 May 2024|accessdate=19 June 2024}} before signing for Aurora in January 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.opinion.com.bo/articulo/deportes/arquero-almada-llegara-reforzar-aurora/20200106192257744683.html|title=Arquero paraguayo Almada llegará para reforzar al Aurora|trans-title=Paraguayan goalkeeper Almada will arrive to bolster Aurora|publisher=Opinión|language=es|date=6 January 2020|accessdate=19 June 2024}}

After failing to feature in a single match for Aurora, Almada joined Sur-Car in October 2020,{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1269333500076478|title=Damos la bienvenida a un nuevo jugador del Club Deportivo Sur Car Gustavo Almada #OnofreZunaVeliz #ElTriunfoEsPorTi #GraciasPorTodo ⚽️|trans-title=We welcome the new player of Club Deportivo Sur Car Gustavo Almada #OnofreZunaVeliz #ElTriunfoEsPorTi #GraciasPorTodo ⚽️|publisher=Facebook|work=CD Sur Car|language=es|date=15 October 2020|accessdate=19 June 2024}} and later went on a trial period at San José.{{cite web|url=https://premiumsportsbo.com/san-jose-pone-a-prueba-a-nueve-extranjeros/|title=San José pone a prueba a nueve extranjeros|trans-title=San José put nine foreigners on trial|publisher=Premium Sports|language=es|date=10 June 2021|accessdate=19 June 2024}} In 2022, after a short period at CDT Real Oruro,{{cite web|url=https://impresa.lapatria.bo/noticia/1063506/cdt-real-oruro-renueva-a-la-mitad-de-su-plantel#articulo|title=CDT Real Oruro renueva a la mitad de su plantel|trans-title=CDT Real Oruro renew half of their squad|publisher=La Patria|language=es|date=6 July 2022|accessdate=19 June 2024}} he signed for Primera División side Universitario de Vinto.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/DosisdeFutbolOficial/photos/a.208263533236794/1114323329297472/?paipv=0&eav=AfZzmwe-M2NQd2akO8_i4sd2LdT3_pMew35ct4nNQdojY-RrC9HmEO-GH3GNDwg1bYU&_rdr|title=El Paraguayo Gustavo Almada es nuevo arquero de la U de Vinto|trans-title=Paraguayan Gustavo Almada is the new goalkeeper of U de Vinto|publisher=Facebook|work=Dosis de Futbol|language=es|date=8 July 2022|accessdate=19 June 2024}}

Initially a backup option, Almada made his professional debut at the age of 28 on 10 September 2022, coming on as a second-half substitute for Raúl Olivares in a 2–0 away loss to Bolívar.{{cite web|url=https://deportetotal.com.bo/bolivar-vence-sin-sobresaltos-ante-un-apocado-u-de-vinto/|title=Bolívar vence sin sobresaltos a un apocado «U» de Vinto|trans-title=Bolívar defeat a shy "U" de Vinto smoothly|publisher=Deporte Total|language=es|accessdate=19 June 2024}}

International career

A naturalized citizen of Bolivia after spending more than five years living in the country, Almada was called up to the Bolivia national team on 20 May 2024, for a friendly against Mexico.{{cite web|url=https://eldeber.com.bo/futbol/que-se-sabe-sobre-gustavo-almada-el-nuevo-arquero-convocado-a-la-seleccion-boliviana_368702|title=¿Qué se sabe sobre Gustavo Almada? El nuevo arquero convocado a la selección boliviana|trans-title=What do we know about Gustavo Almada? The new goalkeeper called up to the Bolivia national team|publisher=El Deber|language=es|date=20 May 2024|accessdate=19 June 2024}} He was also included in Antônio Carlos Zago's 26-man squad for the 2024 Copa América.{{cite web |title=Copa América 2024: Las listas de jugadores las 16 selecciones |trans-title=2024 Copa América: The squad lists of the 16 national teams |url=https://copaamerica.com/es/novedades/todas-listas-copa-america-estados-unidos-2024 |website=copaamerica.com |publisher=CONMEBOL |access-date=17 June 2024 |language=es |date=14 June 2024}}