Rodrigo Holgado

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 represents the Malaysia national team.

Rodrigo Holgado

Holgado with Audax Italiano in 2020.
Personal information
Full name	Rodrigo Julián Holgado
Date of birth	(1995-06-28) 28 June 1995 (age 30)
Place of birth	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	América de Cali
Number	22
Youth career
2014–2015	San Lorenzo
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2016	San Lorenzo	0	(0)
2014–2015	→ Almagro (loan)	27	(2)
2016–2017	Orizaba	25	(17)
2017	Veracruz	3	(0)
2018	Coquimbo Unido	29	(18)
2019–2021	Audax Italiano	51	(16)
2021–2023	Gimnasia LP	12	(0)
2022	→ Curicó Unido (loan)	26	(8)
2023	→ Coquimbo Unido (loan)	27	(16)
2024–	América de Cali	44	(17)
International career‡
2025–	Malaysia	1	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10 June 2025

Career

From 2017 to 2018, Holgado played in Mexico for Albinegros de Orizaba and Veracruz.^[1]

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.^[2][3]

In 2024, he moved to Colombia and joined América de Cali.^[4]

Personal life

Holgado is eligible to represent his birth country of Argentina, as well as Malaysia, due to his grandmother being born there.^[5]

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.^[6]

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 publicly supported Holgado's decision, emphasizing that "it is an honor to play for the national team".^[7]

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.^[8]

Career statistics

As of match played 31 May 2025^[9]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Coquimbo Unido	2018	Primera B de Chile	4	3	0	0	0	0	4	3
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
	Total		51	16	0	0	4	3	55	19
Gimnasia y Esgrima (LP)	2021	Argentine Primera División	12	0	0	0	0	0	12	0
Curicó Unido	2022	Chilean Primera División	26	8	0	0	0	0	26	8
Coquimbo Unido	2023	Chilean Primera División	27	16	0	0	0	0	27	16
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
	Total		46	17	7	0	7	1	60	18
Career total			166	60	7	0	11	4	184	64

International

As of match played 10 June 2025

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Malaysia	2025	1	1
Total		1	1

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

List of international goals scored by Rodrigo Holgado

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	10 June 2025	Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Malaysia	Vietnam	2–0	4–0	2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Honours

Coquimbo Unido

• Primera B de Chile: 2018

Individual

• Primera B de Chile Top Goalscorer: 2018