Matías Galarza (Paraguayan footballer)

Not to be confused with Matías Galarza (Argentine footballer).

Matías Galarza Fonda (born 11 February 2002) is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Argentinian club River Plate and the Paraguay national team.

Matías Galarza

Personal information
Full name	Matías Galarza Fonda
Date of birth	(2002-02-11) 11 February 2002 (age 23)
Place of birth	Asunción, Paraguay
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	River Plate
Number	23
Youth career
	Olimpia
2020–2021	→ Vasco da Gama (loan)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021	Olimpia	0	(0)
2021	→ Vasco da Gama (loan)	10	(2)
2021–2025	Vasco da Gama	54	(5)
2022	→ Coritiba (loan)	11	(0)
2023–2024	→ Talleres (loan)	40	(5)
2025	Talleres	13	(0)
2025–	River Plate	1	(0)
International career‡
2017	Paraguay U15
2019	Paraguay U17	3	(0)
2022–	Paraguay	8	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18:05, 28 July 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 5 June 2025

Club career

Born in Asunción, Galarza represented hometown side Olimpia. On 19 June 2020, he moved on loan to Brazilian club Vasco da Gama until 2022, and was initially assigned to the under-20 squad.^[1]

After impressing with the under-20s, Galarza made his senior debut on 3 March 2021, after coming on as a half-time substitute for Vinícius in a 0–1 Campeonato Carioca home loss against Portuguesa;^[2] at the age of 19, he became the youngest foreigner to play for Vasco in the 21st century.^[3] He scored his first goal as a professional on 24 March, netting his team's third in a 3–1 home success over Macaé.^[4]

On 20 May 2021, Galarza signed a permanent contract with Vasco until 2025,^[5] after the club bought 60% of his economic rights for a fee of US$ 500,000.^[6] A regular starter during the remainder of the campaign, he lost his starting spot in 2022.

On 4 April 2022, Galarza moved to Série A side Coritiba on loan for the remainder of the year.^[7]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 29 April 2025^[8]

Club	Season	League			State League		Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Vasco da Gama	2021	Série B	21	1	11	2	4	0	—		—		36	3
	2022		0	0	5	0	0	0	—		—		5	0
	2023	Série A	10	1	7	1	0	0	—		—		17	2
	Total		31	2	23	3	4	0	—		—		58	5
Coritiba (loan)	2022	Série A	11	0	—		0	0	—		—		11	0
Talleres (loan)	2023	Argentine Primera División	9	0	—		0	0	—		—		9	0
	2024		27	3	—		3	0	7[a]	0	—		37	3
	2025		13	0	—		0	0	4[a]	0	—		17	0
	Total		49	3	—		3	0	11	0	—		63	3
Career total			91	5	23	3	7	0	11	0	0	0	132	8

1. Appearances in Copa Libertadores

International

As of 5 June 2025

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Paraguay	2022	3	0
	2023	1	0
	2024	1	0
	2025	3	1
Total		8	1