Franco Escobar

Franco Nicolás Escobar (born 21 February 1995) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Newell's Old Boys.

Club career Newell's Old Boys Escobar began his career in the Newell's Old Boys academy. He made his first team debut on 7 June 2015, getting the start against Boca Juniors in a 4–0 loss. Escobar made 6 appearances during the 2016 season and 12 in the 2016–17 season, playing as both a rightback and a centerback. He made 2 appearance during the 2017–18 season prior to being sold. On 3 March 2018 he made his debut for Atlanta, playing 90 minutes in a 4–0 loss to the Houston Dynamo in the opening match of the season. He suffered a concussion on 17 March in a 4–1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps that would keep him out for the next 4 games. Escobar would miss the next 3 matches. He scored his first goal for Atlanta on 21 October, helping Atlanta to a 2–1 win over Chicago. During Atlanta's playoff run, Escobar played every minute of the 5 games, scored 2 goals, and had an assist, including one in the final where Atlanta beat the Portland Timbers 2–0. He was named to the MLS Cup Playoffs Best XI.

On 16 January 2019, on the first day of preseason, Escobar suffered a fractured right clavicle. The injury forced him to miss all of Atlanta's CONCACAF Champions League matches as well as the first 3 games of the MLS season. After making an appearance for Atlanta United 2 to regain fitness, he made his first MLS match of the season in a 2–0 loss to the Columbus Crew on 30 March. Escobar ended the regular season with 1 goal and 3 assists in 25 appearances, helping Atlanta finish 2nd in the East. In the opening round of the playoffs, Escobar scored the lone goal to give Atlanta a 1–0 win over the New England Revolution.

In a shortened 2020 season due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Escobar played in 16 of the 23 matches and had 2 assists. In CCL play, Escobar made 3 appearances as Atlanta fell to Club América in the quarterfinals 3–1 on aggregate.

Loan to Newell's Old Boys On 9 February 2021, Escobar returned to Newell's Old Boys on a loan deal until 1 January 2022. On 16 February, Escobar broke his foot (fifth metatarsal) in training. He made his first appearance of the loan on 17 July, playing 58 minutes in a 3–2 win over Talleres de Córdoba. In Newell's next match, Escobar had to be subbed off due to pain in his foot. He would miss the next 18 matches. He made his LAFC debut on 26 February, playing the full match in a 3–0 win over the Colorado Rapids in the opening game of the season. On 6 March, LAFC drew 1–1 with the Portland Timbers, Escobar was forced off 13 minutes into the game with a calf injury that would keep him out for 6 games. He scored his first goal for LAFC on 7 May, his second game back from the injury, to give LAFC a 2–2 draw with the Philadelphia Union. He also missed 3 games due to a concussion at the end of the season. Escobar ended the season with 1 goal and 1 assist in 19 regular season appearances, helping LAFC win the Supporters' Shield.

Houston Dynamo

On 12 January 2023, Escobar signed with the Houston Dynamo. Houston declined his contract option following the 2025 season.

Penarol On 1 January 2026, Franco Escobar signed for Peñarol and a 1-year contract with the club.

Career statistics Club

2020

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Honours Atlanta United MLS Cup: 2018 U.S. Open Cup: 2019 Campeones Cup: 2019

Los Angeles FC Supporters' Shield: 2022 MLS Cup: 2022

Houston Dynamo U.S. Open Cup: 2023

Personal life Escobar obtained a green card in 2020, classifying him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.