Rodrigo Holgado

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Rodrigo Holgado

| fullname = Rodrigo Julián Holgado

| image = Audax Italiano v Colo-Colo 20200209 09.jpg

| caption = Holgado with Audax Italiano in 2020.

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1995|6|28}}

| birth_place = Buenos Aires, Argentina

| height = {{Height|m=1.79}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub = América de Cali

| clubnumber = 22

| youthyears1 = 2014–2015

| youthclubs1 = San Lorenzo

| years1 = 2014–2016 | clubs1 = San Lorenzo | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2014–2015 | clubs2 = → Almagro (loan) | caps2 = 27 | goals2 = 2

| years3 = 2016–2017 | clubs3 = Orizaba | caps3 = 25 | goals3 = 17

| years4 = 2017 | clubs4 = Veracruz | caps4 = 3 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2018 | clubs5 = Coquimbo Unido | caps5 = 29 | goals5 = 18

| years6 = 2019–2021 | clubs6 = Audax Italiano | caps6 = 51 | goals6 = 16

| years7 = 2021–2023 | clubs7 = Gimnasia LP | caps7 = 12 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2022 | clubs8 = → Curicó Unido (loan) | caps8 = 26 | goals8 = 8

| years9 = 2023 | clubs9 = → Coquimbo Unido (loan) | caps9 = 27 | goals9 = 16

| years10= 2024– | clubs10= América de Cali | caps10 = 44 | goals10 = 17

| nationalyears1 = 2025– | nationalteam1 = Malaysia| nationalcaps1 = 1| nationalgoals1 = 1

| club-update = 10 May 2025

| ntupdate = 10 June 2025

}}

Rodrigo Julián Holgado (born 28 June 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Colombian club América de Cali. Born in Argentina, he plays for the Malaysia national team.

Career

From 2017 to 2018, Holgado played in Mexico for Albinegros de Orizaba and Veracruz.{{cite web |url= http://ligamx.net/cancha/jugador/121421/rodrigo-julian-holgado |title= Rodrigo Julián Holgado|publisher= LIGA BBVA Bancomer MX |website= LigaMX.net |date=1999-03-13 |accessdate= 2016-04-03}}

In 2018, Holgado moved to Chile and joined Coquimbo Unido in the second level, winning the league title. In Chile, he also played for Audax Italiano and Curicó Unido before rejoining Coquimbo Unido in 2023 at the top division on loan from Argentine side Gimnasia La Plata.{{cite web |title="Vuelve a casa": Coquimbo Unido oficializó el regreso de Rodrigo Holgado |url=https://www.alairelibre.cl/noticias/deportes/futbol/coquimbo/vuelve-a-casa-coquimbo-unido-oficializo-el-regreso-de-rodrigo-holgado/2022-12-19/233022.html |website=alairelibre.cl |publisher=Radio Cooperativa |access-date=14 December 2023 |language=es |date=19 December 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Encina |first1=Camilo |title=La U y Colo Colo miran atentos: Coquimbo no compra a Holgado y este debe volver al fútbol argentino |url=https://redgol.cl/chile/atentos-colo-colo-y-la-u-coquimbo-no-compra-a-rodrigo-holgado-y-debe-volver-a-argentina-20231208-RDG-223306.html |website=RedGol |access-date=14 December 2023 |language=es |date=8 December 2023}}

In 2024, he moved to Colombia and joined América de Cali.{{cite news |title=El argentino Rodrigo Holgado llega a reforzar el ataque escarlata |url=https://www.americadecali.co/el-argentino-rodrigo-holgado-llega-a-reforzar-el-ataque-escarlata/ |access-date=10 January 2024 |work=America de Cali |date=10 January 2024 |language=es}}

Personal life

Holgado is eligible to represent his birth country of Argentina, as well as Malaysia, due to his grandmother being born there.{{cite web |url= https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2025/05/29/holgado-looks-set-to-represent-harimau-malaya |title= Holgado looks set to represent Harimau Malaya|publisher= Star Media Group Berhad|website= thestar.com.my |date=2025-05-29 |accessdate= 2025-06-09}}

International career

In preparation for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, Holgado, along with Facundo Garcés, Jon Irazabal, Imanol Machuca, and João Figueiredo, was called up for the Malaysian national team on the 4th of June.{{cite web |url= https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2025/06/1225848/new-heritage-blood-ready-fire-harimau-malaya-watch |title= New heritage blood ready to fire up Harimau Malaya [WATCH]|publisher= New Straits Times Berhad|website= nst.com.my |date=2025-06-04 |accessdate= 2025-06-09}}

Holgado faced criticism from Colombian sports journalist Eduardo Luis López for "abandoning his club duties" and accepting the Malaysia call-up purely based on "financial motivations". This was refuted by Holgado, who rebutted by stating that López was not qualified to comment as he was not a footballer. Colombian-born Syrian international Pablo Sabbag publically supported Holgado's decision, emphasizing that "it is an honor to play for the national team".{{cite web |url= https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/732448/berita/sukan/holgado-tempelak-wartawan-colombia |title= Holgado tempelak wartawan Colombia |publisher= Karangkraf Group|website= sinarharian.com.my |date=2025-06-06 |accessdate= 2025-06-09|language=ms }}

Holgado made his international debut on 10 June 2025 in the match against Vietnam at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, where he also scored his first international goal.https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2025-06-10/malaysia-vs-vietnam/3587614/

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="1"\|Coquimbo Unido \|2018 \|Primera B de Chile \|4	3	0	0	0	0	4	3
rowspan="4"\|Audax Italiano \|2019 \|Chilean Primera División \|13	5	0	0	0	0	13	5
2020 \|Chilean Primera División \|29	8	0	0	4	3	33	11
2021 \|Chilean Primera División \|9	3	0	0	0	0	9	3
colspan=2 \|Total !51	16	0	0	4	3	55	19
rowspan="1"\|Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP) \|2021 \|Argentine Primera División \|12	0	0	0	0	0	12	0
rowspan="1"\|Curicó Unido \|2022 \|Chilean Primera División \|26	8	0	0	0	0	26	8
rowspan="1"\|Coquimbo Unido \|2023 \|Chilean Primera División \|27	16	0	0	0	0	27	16
rowspan="3"\|América de Cali \|2024 \|Categoría Primera A \|30	10	7	0	1	0	38	10
2025 \|Categoría Primera A \|16	7	0	0	6	1	22	8
colspan=2 \|Total !46	17	7	0	7	1	60	18
colspan=3 \| Career total !166	60	7	0	11	4	184	64

=International=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
rowspan="1"\|Malaysia \|2025	1	1
colspan="2"\|Total	1	1

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year

!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals

rowspan="1"|Malaysia

|2025

colspan="2"|Total

:Scores and results list Malaysia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Holgado goal.

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Rodrigo Holgado

!scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue