PRONUNCIATION
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Updated through September 14, 2019
2019 (Columbus): Federico Higuain made 14 regular-season appearances (13 starts as a central midfielder) in 2019, scoring one goal and providing five assists. He made his 2019 regular-season debut in a home match against the New York Red Bulls (March 2), recording his first assist of the 20 regular-season by setting up Gaston Sauro’s 41st minute goal. Higuain recorded his 60th career helper during a home match against Atlanta United (March 30), providing an assist on Gyasi Zardes’ 39th minute goal. In a home match against the New England Revolution (April 6) Higuain registered his 61st career assist, for first place tying with Robert Warzycha on the Crew’s list of all-time regular-season assist leaders. He also recorded his 20th game-winning assist in regular-season action, which extended his lead as the all-time regular-season leader in this category (April 6). He recorded his 62nd career assist during a home match against the LA Galaxy (May 8), while also scoring the game-winning goal. With the assist, Higuain became the all-time assists leader for Crew SC. Higuain recorded his first goal of the 2019 regular-season in the 53rd minute of a home contest against the LA Galaxy (May 8). Following his efforts against Los Angeles FC (May 11), Higuain was named to MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week for his performance. Higuain underwent successful Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction on his right knee on June 10 and is expected to be sidelined for approximately nine to 12 months. He did not make an appearance in the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
2018 (Columbus):Federico Higuain made 30 regular-season appearances (27 starts at central attacking midfielder), scoring six goals and providing nine assists. He scored the game-winning goal during the first match of the season on the road against Toronto FC (March 3) while also making his 150th appearance for the club. For his efforts, he was named to the MLSSoccer.com Team of the Week. Higuain scored his second goal of the season and 50th with Crew SC in the 2018 home opening match against the Montreal Impact (March 10). He also played all 90 minutes against the Philadelphia Union (March 17). Against D.C. United (March 24), Higuain recorded two assists, becoming the first player in Crew SC history to reach a career total of at least 50 goals and 50 assists. He was also named to the MLSSoccer.com Team of the Week for the second time this season. Higuain registered an assist in a home match against the New England Revolution (April 21) and another helper in a home match against the San Jose Earthquakes (April 28). In a home match against the Chicago Fire (May 12), Higuain scored the game-winning goal by converting his second penalty kick goal of the year. In a road match the following week against the New England Revolution (May 19), Higuain provided the game-winning assist to Lalas Abubakar. In a home match against Toronto FC (June 2), Higuain provided an assist to Gyasi Zardes, and scored his 19th career penalty-kick goal to preserve a draw. He recorded his seventh assist of the season in a home match against the New York Red Bulls (June 9). After starting in matches against Atlanta United FC (June 13) and Los Angeles FC (June 23), Higuain did not start in a home match against Real Salt Lake (June 30), after being listed as questionable with a hip injury. He made a substitute appearance in a road match against the LA Galaxy (July 7). Higuain returned to the starting lineup in a road match against New York City FC (July 14). He did not make an appearance in a road contest against the New York Red Bulls (July 28) after being listed as questionable with back pain. He returned to the starting lineup in a home match against the Houston Dynamo (August 11), and he was named to MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week for his efforts. Higuain started in consecutive matches against New York City FC (September 1) and FC Dallas (September 15). In a home match against the Colorado Rapids (September 22), Higuain provided an assist and scored the game-winning goal. In addition, he was named to MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week for his performance. He started in a home match against the Philadelphia Union (September 29) and in a road match against the Montreal Impact (October 6). In a road match against Orlando City SC (October 21), Higuain scored his sixth goal of the season. In a home match against Minnesota United FC (October 28), Higuain recorded his team-high ninth assist of the season on Gyasi Zardes’ 11th-minute goal. Higuain made three appearances (two starts as a central attacking midfielder) in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs, scoring two goals and recording one assist. In an Eastern Conference Knockout Round match against D.C. United (November 1), Higuain recorded a brace to help Crew SC advance to a penalty kick shootout and advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Higuain made a substitute appearance in Leg 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Red Bulls (November 4), providing a game-winning assist on Gyasi Zardes’ 61st-minute goal, before starting in Leg 2 (November 11). He was named to the Gameday 18, but did not make an appearance in the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
2017 (Columbus): Higuain made 26 regular-season appearances (all starts): 25 appearances as an attacking midfielder and one appearance as a center midfielder, and scored nine goals and recorded 14 assists this season. He scored his 40th Crew SC career-goal and first goal of the season against D.C. United via penalty kick, extending his lead as the all-time leading penalty kick goal scorer to 15 goals (March 18). Higuain recorded his first assist of the season at home against the Portland Timbers (March 25). Following his appearance against Portland Timbers (March 25), he was named to MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week. Higuain made his 125th MLS regular-season start for Crew SC on the road at the New York Red Bulls (April 22). He started against the New England Revolution (May 6) and scored his third goal of the season, which was nominated for MLSSoccer.com’s Goal of the Week; he was also voted as the club’s Acura Man of the Match by Crew SC fans and earned MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week honors. Higuain recorded his 40th Crew SC regular-season assist and joined Crew SC’s 40/40 club, also scoring his fifth goal of the season in a home contest against Seattle Sounders FC (May 31). He started in a home contest against FC Dallas (August 26), registering two assists - including the game-winning assist - to take sole possession of fourth place on Crew SC’s list of all-time regular-season assist leaders. He started in a home match against the New York Red Bulls (September 23) and provided three assists - including the game-winning assist - to earned a spot on MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week for his performance. Higuain signed a one-year contract extension through the 2018 MLS season on October 3, 2017. Higuain made five appearances (all starts) as an attacking midfielder, registering two assists in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs. He started in a road match against Atlanta United FC (October 26) in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round, scoring a goal in the penalty-kick shootout. Higuain started in a home match against New York City FC (October 31) in the First Leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, providing two assists, including the game-winning assist.
2016 (Columbus): Higuain made 20 appearances (19 starts) for Crew SC, with 19 appearances coming at central attacking midfield and one at central midfield. He scored four goals and added three assists. He started in the season opener at Portland (March 6) where he recorded his first goal of the season on a bicycle-kick finish. He registered his first assist of the season at FC Dallas (April 2). He notched his second helper of his 2016 campaign in a start against New York City FC (April 16). He started vs. Montreal (May 7), where he registered his second and third goals of the campaign, including a penalty kick goal, which passed Guillermo Barros Schelotto to place him first all-time in regular season penalties converted for Crew SC. Higuain registered the game-winning assist on a corner kick against Real Salt Lake (May 28). It was announced that he would be out for five-to-seven weeks following surgery to repair a hernia (June 15). He returned to the matchday 18 and made a second-half substitution against Orlando (July 23). He scored his fourth goal of the campaign during a start at New England (August 20). He started at central attacking midfield at New York City FC (October 23). Higuain did not make an appearance in the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
2015 (Columbus): Higuain made 32 appearances (32 starts) at central attacking midfield in 2015, scoring eight goals and adding nine assists. Against Orlando (April 18), he scored his first goal of the season with a backheel tally that was nominated for MLS Goal of the Week. The Designated Player made his 75th career MLS and Crew SC start at D.C. United (May 2). He scored in consecutive matches with a game-tying goal against LA (June 13). Higuain notched an assist in back-to-back contests with a game-winning helper against the Red Bulls (July 4). He tied Guillermo Barros Schelotto for the most penalty kicks converted in club history (13) with a successful spot kick vs. Chicago (July 19). At NYCFC (August 29), he registered a goal and the game-winning assist, moving into solo sixth place in club history in both goals and assists, as well as solo fifth all-time in club history in game-winning assists. Higuain reached a milestone by making his 100th appearance for the club with a start at D.C. United (September 19). In the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs, Higuain started all five contests, recording one goal and leading the club with two assists, including an assist in the 2015 MLS Cup. Higuain did not make an appearance in the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
2014 (Columbus): Higuain made 29 appearances, including 28 starts at central attacking midfield. He was named the club’s Barbasol Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season and shared the Budweiser Golden Boot after tying for the team lead in both goals (11) and assists (seven). Higuain scored two goals in the Black & Gold’s 3-0 Season Opener win against D.C. United (March 8) and he recorded one assist against Philadelphia in Columbus’ 2014 home-opener (March 22). He recorded one goal -- a penalty kick goal -- and one assist -- the game-winner -- in the club’s 2-1 win at Seattle (March 29). He recorded his 20th career goal in Columbus’s 1-1 tie at San Jose (April 13). He scored two goals and added one assist in the match at Portland (May 17), converting his 10th career penalty kick goal and a chipped goal before adding an assist en route to MLS Player of the Week Honors for Week 11. He recorded two assists -- including the game-winning assist -- in the 2-0 win over Chicago (May 24), becoming just the sixth player in Black & Gold history to record 20 goals and 20 assists in a career, doing so in 54 regular-season matches. He started at New England (July 26) and scored the match’s opening goal, a free kick that was nominated for the MLS AT&T Goal of the Week award. He made his postseason debut by starting at central attacking midfield and scored his first MLS Cup Playoffs goal in a start versus New England (November 1). He did not dress for the second leg at New England (November 9) after being listed as questionable prior to the match. Higuain did not make an appearance in the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup while he recovered from a right hamstring strain suffered on June 4, 2014.
2013 (Columbus): The club’s 2013 Barbasol Most Valuable Player was second on the team in goals behind Dominic Oduro (11) and was first on the team in assists (nine). He wore the captain’s armband in the team’s first 25 matches and in 29 matches overall in 2013. Higuain recorded the game-winning goal in the start at Chivas USA (March 2) and earned an assist off of Glauber’s header goal against San Jose (March 16). He recorded a first-half stoppage time penalty kick goal and an assist in the 3-0 win against D.C. (April 27) and connected with Dominic Oduro for the game-winning assist on Oduro’s 42nd minute goal at Toronto FC (May 18). Pushing his season penalty kick goal totals to four following a penalty kick conversion against Chicago (June 22), he also recorded his fifth assist on the season on a free kick that Bernardo Anor headed home in the 78th minute at LA (July 4). Later, he recorded either a goal or an assist in four straight matches from June 22 –July 7. Higuain recorded double in two consecutive matches against New York (August 10) – where his fifth penalty kick conversion on the year tied a club record - and against Toronto (August 17) pushing his season total to nine goals. After receiving his fourth and fifth yellow cards in the tilt at Real Salt Lake (August 24), he missed matches against Seattle (August 31) and Houston (September 4) while serving a two-game suspension for yellow card accumulation and a red card that was issued in the 89th minute at Real Salt Lake. Following the missed match at Sporting KC (September 7) while nursing a left adductor strain suffered in the training session leading up to the contest in Kansas City, he returned to the starting 11 the following week at Montreal (September 14) where he recorded two assists including the game-winning helper to Dominic Oduro in the 78th minute of the contest. Goal number 10 on the season came in the form of his sixth penalty kick goal on the season surpassing Guillermo Barros Schelotto for first on the club’s all-time regular-season list for penalty kick goals. He scored his 11th tally and extended his team lead in assists to nine on the season in the match at FC Dallas (September 29) marking the third consecutive match in which he had scored a goal or an assist. Higuain missed the team’s final two matches in a home-and-home series versus New England (October 19 and 27) due to a right hip contusion. He made two appearances and one start at forward in the Third Round win of the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup win against Dayton Dutch Lions (May 29).
2012 (Columbus) Acquired midseason, Higuaín made an instant impact with the Black & Gold. In his debut as a second half substitute in Houston on August 19, the Agrentine assisted on Eddie Gaven's counterattack goal with a brillianty place 40-yard lob. Over the next four matches, Higuaín logged three goals and five assists to earn back-to-back MLS Player of the Week honors, including two free kick strikes against the New England Revolution on August 25. Higuaín finished 2012 with a total of five goals and seven assists to earn the 2012 MLS Newcomer of the Year award.
2010-12 (Colón de Santa Fe): Higuaín scored 10 goals in 62 League appearances in two seasons for Colón before signing with the Black & Gold in the middle of 2012.
2009-10 (Godoy Cruz): Following his time at Independiente, Higuaín moved to Godoy Cruz where he made 36 appearances in the Argentine Primera Division to score 11 goals in 2652 minutes.
2008-09 (Independiente): At the end of 2008, Higuaín returned to Argentina with Independiente where he appeared in 18 matches, recording one goal for the First Division side. He made one appearance for the club in the 2008 Copa Sudamerica, logging 65 minutes.
2007-08 (Besiktas, Club America): Higuain signed with Besiktas of Turkey in the middle of 2007, appearing in nine League matches. The Argentine made five appearances as a substitute for the Turkish side in the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League, logging 100 minutes. He was subsequently loaned to Club America of the Mexican Primera where he tallied one goal in 13 appearances to finish out the 2007-08 season.
2003-07 (River Plate, Nueva Chicago): Higuaín began his career at famed club River Plate in 2003, at the age of 18, where he made only two appearances. In 2005, he was loaned to Nueva Chicago of the Primera “B” Nacional (Argentina’s second division), where he helped the team reach promotion into the first division. Higuain spent two seasons there, notching 28 goals in 75 appearances, and returned to River Plate in 2007.
YOUTH EXPERIENCE
Higuaín spent his teenage years in River Plate's famed academy system, the club where his father made 131 appearances for the Senior Team.
ACQUIRED
Higuain was signed as a Designated Player on July 27, 2012. He signed a one-year contract extension through the 2018 MLS season on October 3, 2017.
PERSONAL
Higuain is married to his wife, Veronica and the couple has three children: Santino, Nicolino and Meme. In his free time, he enjoys reading and listening to music, specifically rock and tango. In 2013, MLS Insider profiled his affinity for the Rolling Stones. He lists Indio Solari, Garde and Edmundo Rivero as his favorite musical artists. Higuain enjoys all types of movies but lists “Life Is Beautiful” (1997) as his favorite flick. He enjoys eating carne asada and traveling to the beach, listing Argentina as a place he always likes to visit. Outside of MLS, he supports Barcelona and idolizes soccer player Zinedine Zidane. He lists his role model as his family and every soccer memory he’s had as his favorite. Higuain comes from a family of renowned soccer players. His father Jorge played at several clubs in Argentina, including Boca Juniors and River Plate, while his younger brother Gonzalo is one of the top strikers at Juventus and Argentina’s National Team. He speaks Spanish and English.
