Fabián Balbuena

Paraguay

Born in Ciudad del Este, Balbuena was promoted to Cerro Porteño PF's first team in 2010, after the arrival of new manager Eduardo Rivera. He immediately became a starter under Rivera, playing in all the remaining seven matches of the campaign as his side achieved a mid-table position. Balbuena became a regular starter in 2011, being also team captain as the club achieved promotion from División intermedia. Balbuena joined Rubio Ñu ahead of the 2013 season, but remained at the club for only six months before moving to defending champions Club Nacional. At the latter side, he was also first-choice and reached the 2014 Copa Libertadores Finals, losing it to San Lorenzo. On 15 August 2014, Libertad bought 50% of Balbuena's federative rights, and the player signed a four-year deal with the club. They won the 2014 Clausura tournament.

Corinthians

On 16 February 2016, Balbuena moved abroad for the first time in his career after agreeing to a three-year deal with Série A side Corinthians. He made his debut for the club nine days later by starting in a 1–1 Campeonato Paulista away draw against São Bento, and scored his first goal on 19 March in a 4–0 home routing of Linense for the same competition. A key defensive unit at Timão, Balbuena lifted the 2017 Campeonato Paulista, 2017 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and 2018 Campeonato Paulista during his spell. On 24 April 2018, he signed a new four-year contract.

West Ham United

On 14 July 2018,…

First called up on 19 March 2015, Balbuena made his full international debut for Paraguay national team on 31 March by starting in a 1–0 friendly loss against Mexico at the Arrowhead Stadium. He was also named among the 23-man squads for the 2015 Copa América and the Copa América Centenario. He made his first competitive appearance at the latter in the final group game, a 1–0 loss to hosts the United States in which he was substituted at half time for attacker Juan Iturbe. At the 2019 Copa América in Brazil, Paraguay faced the host team in the quarter-finals, and Balbuena was sent off after an hour for fouling Roberto Firmino when the Brazilian was clear on goal; the game ended goalless and Brazil won on penalties. On 23 September 2022, Balbuena scored his first international goal, a late header that was the only goal of a friendly win over the United Arab Emirates in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. In a 1–0 friendly loss away to Peru on 16 November, Balbuena and opponent Alexander Succar were sent off for fighting. He was called up to the Paraguay's 2026 FIFA World Cup team and made an entry in the round of 32 fixture against Germany that stretched into extra time and ultimately penalties shootout after a 1–1 scoreline. Balbuena missed the fifth penalty kick in the shootout which would have won the game for Paraguay. Paraguay still won the shootout on the next shot after another miss from Germany.

Club

As of match played 10 May 2026

International

As of match played 29 June 2026

Scores and results list Paraguay' goal tally first.

Club

Cerro Porteño PF

Paraguayan Second Division: 2011 Libertad

Primera División: Clausura 2014 Corinthians

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2017 Campeonato Paulista: 2017, 2018 Grêmio

Campeonato Gaúcho: 2026

Individual

Bola de Prata: 2017 Campeonato Brasileiro Team of the Year: 2017 Best Centre-back in Brazil: 2017 Campeonato Paulista Team of the Year: 2018 Russian Premier League Centre-back of the Season: 2021–22