Nicolás Otamendi

Nicolás Otamendi
Otamendi with Argentina at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Nicolás Hernán Gonzalo Otamendi
Date of birth (1988-02-12) 12 February 1988
Place of birth Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Benfica
Number 30
Youth career
1995–2007 Vélez Sarsfield
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 Vélez Sarsfield 40 (1)
2010–2014 Porto 77 (7)
2014–2015 Valencia 35 (6)
2014Atlético Mineiro (loan) 19 (1)
2015–2020 Manchester City 136 (8)
2020– Benfica 148 (10)
International career
2009– Argentina 126 (7)
2024 Argentina Olympic (O.P.) 4 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Argentina
FIFA World Cup
Winner2022 Qatar
Copa América
Winner2021 Brazil
Winner2024 United States
Runner-up2015 Chile
Runner-up2016 United States
2019 Brazil
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions
Winner2022 England
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 May 2025
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 June 2025

Nicolás Hernán Gonzalo Otamendi (born 12 February 1988) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Primeira Liga club Benfica, which he captains, and the Argentina national team. Often Regarded as one of the most decorated and Influential Center back of his generation.

Otamendi played for Vélez Sarsfield and Porto in his early career, winning eight major titles with Porto, including three Primeira Liga championships and the 2011 Europa League. He signed for Valencia in 2014 and spent four months on loan to Atlético Mineiro of Brazil. In 2015, he moved to Manchester City and won back-to-back Premier League titles in 2018 and 2019, as well as four League Cups and an FA Cup. In 2020, Otamendi returned to Portugal with Benfica, where he won another league title and the Portuguese League Cup.

An Argentina international since 2009, Otamendi has made over 120 appearances and represented his country at three FIFA World Cups and five Copas América. After consecutive runner-up finishes in the latter tournament, Otamendi won the 2021 Copa América on his fourth attempt, and would then lift the 2022 World Cup the following year, playing every single minute of Argentina's campaign. In 2024, Otamendi won a second consecutive Copa América title.