Gustavo Caballero

Gustavo Caballero
Caballero with Paraguay U23 in 2024
Personal information
Full name Gustavo Rubén Caballero González
Date of birth (2001-09-21) 21 September 2001
Place of birth San Lorenzo, Paraguay
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position Winger
Team information
Current team
 Santos
Number 17
Youth career
Deportivo Capiatá
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 Deportivo Capiatá 7 (0)
2022 Sportivo Ameliano 12 (2)
2022–2025 Nacional Asunción 89 (17)
2023 → Sportivo Ameliano (loan) 8 (0)
2025– Santos 17 (1)
2026 → Portsmouth (loan) 12 (1)
International career‡
2024– Paraguay U23 7 (0)
2026– Paraguay 4 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:30, 18 August 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:30, 4 July 2026 (UTC)

Gustavo Rubén Caballero González (born 21 September 2001) is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as a winger for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Santos, and the Paraguay national team.

He began his career in his country's APF División de Honor, playing 116 games and scoring 19 goals for Deportivo Capiatá, Sportivo Ameliano, and Nacional Asunción. After finishing as joint top scorer of the Apertura in 2025, he transferred to Santos, who then loaned him to Portsmouth.

Caballero represented the Paraguay under-23 team at the 2024 Olympic tournament. He made his senior international debut in 2026 and was chosen for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Deportivo Capiatá

A Deportivo Capiatá youth graduate, Caballero signed his first professional contract on 1 July 2019.[2] He made his debut in the Paraguayan Primera División on 12 July, starting for in a 1–0 home win over Sportivo Luqueño.[3]

Caballero featured in seven league matches for Capiatá during the 2019 season, as the club suffered relegation, and also helped the side to reach the semifinals of the 2019 Copa Paraguay.

Sportivo Ameliano

After the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Caballero also spent the 2021 campaign unemployed before going on a trial at Sportivo Ameliano in January 2022; initially a member of the reserve team, he impressed during the pre-season and earned himself a first team spot.[4] He scored his first professional goal on 20 March 2022, netting the opener in a 2–0 away win over Olimpia.[5]

Caballero contributed with two goals and two assists in 12 matches for Ameliano during the 2022 Apertura tournament.

Nacional Asunción

In July 2022, Caballero joined Nacional Asunción, who had been in irregular form and mid-table positions in the first half of the season.[6] In his second match for La Academia on 25 July, he scored his first goal in a 2–1 win at 12 de Octubre.[7]

On 28 February 2023, Caballero scored his first continental goal in the Copa Libertadores, albeit in a 5–1 loss away to Sporting Cristal of Peru, eliminating his side 5–3 on aggregate; he was soon afterwards demoted to the reserve team as a punishment for alleged tactical disobedience.[8]

Loan to Ameliano

In July 2023, Caballero returned to Ameliano for the second half of the season.[9] He only managed to make eight appearances for the side, with only three starts.

Breakthrough

Back to Nacional for the 2024 campaign, Caballero soon established himself as a starter. On 5 September of that year, he scored a hat-trick in a 5–0 Copa Paraguay away routing of Cristóbal Colón de Juan Augusto Saldívar.[10] His performances attracted the interest of Olimpia,[11] but nothing came of it.

Caballero was the top scorer of the 2025 Apertura tournament with nine goals (along with Juan Iturbe), which led to a move to Libertad on 7 July of that year.[12] Five days later, however, the deal collapsed amidst interest from foreign clubs.[13]

Santos

In July 2025, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A side Vasco da Gama made an offer to obtain Caballero on loan for US$400,000 with an option to purchase for US$2.2 million.[14] On 24 July however, Santos of the same league announced his signing on a four-year contract, paying US$1.6 million for 50% of his economic rights.[15]

Caballero made his debut for Peixe on 26 July 2025, being deployed as a right wing-back in a 2–2 away draw against Sport Recife.[16] He scored his first goal for the club on 10 August, netting the winner in a 2–1 away success over Cruzeiro; he also provided the assist to Guilherme's equaliser.[17]

Loan to Portsmouth

On 2 February 2026, the last day of the transfer window, Caballero was loaned to EFL Championship club Portsmouth for the rest of the season. Manager John Mousinho said that he had been tracking him since the previous year.[18]

Caballero made his debut for Pompey on 7 February, replacing Andre Dozzell for the last 11 minutes of a 1–0 loss at Preston North End.[19] Two weeks later, he scored his only goal for the club in a 3–1 victory over Millwall at The Den.[20]

International career

Under-23 team

Caballero made his debut for the Paraguay national under-23 team on 8 June 2024, as a substitute in a 4–0 friendly loss to neighbours Argentina. He was named in the squad for the 2024 Olympic event in France, but was moved to standby after veteran Fabián Balbuena received late permission from Dynamo Moscow.[21]

Caballero was restored to the team days later when Fabrizio Peralta was denied permission by his Brazilian club Cruzeiro,[22] and then dropped again as Julio Enciso was allowed to play by Brighton & Hove Albion.[23] On the day before the tournament, he was finally reinstalled in the squad when Diego González suffered an injury.[24] He played in all three matches in the group stage, but was an unused substitute in Paraguay's quarterfinal loss to Egypt.

Senior team

In March 2026, Caballero was called up to the Paraguay national team for friendly matches away to Greece and against Morocco in France.[25] He made his debut on 27 March in a 1–0 win over Greece as a substitute for the last 22 minutes,[26] and four days later at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, he came off the bench to score a consolation goal in a 2–1 loss to Morocco.[27]

On 1 June 2026, Caballero was included in Gustavo Alfaro's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[28]

Career statistics

Club

As of 18 August 2026[29]
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental State league[b] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Deportivo Capiatá 2019 Primera División 7030——100
Sportivo Ameliano 2022 Primera División 12200——122
Nacional Asunción 2022 Primera División 18331——214
2023 151004[c]1—192
2024 3444311[d]1—455
2025 229002[c]1—2410
Total 891774173—11324
Sportivo Ameliano (loan) 2023 Primera División 8010——90
Santos 2025 Série A 121———121
2026 40201[e]01080
Total 161201010201
Portsmouth (loan) 2025–26 EFL Championship 121———121
Career total 144211341831017628
  1. ↑ Includes Copa do Brasil, FA Cup
  2. ↑ Includes Campeonato Paulista
  3. 1 2 Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
  4. ↑ Five appearances in Copa Libertadores, six appearances and one goal in Copa Sudamericana
  5. ↑ Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana

International

As of match played 4 July 2026
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Paraguay 202641
Total41
Scores and results list Paraguay's goal tally first.
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1. 27 March 2026 Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France  Morocco 1–2 1–2 Friendly

References

  1. ↑ "Gustavo Caballero" (in Spanish). Club Nacional. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  2. ↑ "El contrato que todo jugador desea firmar es la que suscribieron hoy los juveniles Gustavo Caballero y Fernando Bracho convirtiéndose así en jugadores del Deportivo Capiatá por 4 años y son integrantes del plantel principal!" [The contract which every player wants to sign is the one which the youngsters Gustavo Caballero and Fernando brach signed today becoming players of Deportivo Capiatá for 4 years and are members of the first team!]. Deportivo Capiatá (in Spanish). Facebook. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  3. ↑ "Con gol de Sasá, Capiatá castigó a Luqueño" [With goal from Sasá, Capiatá punished Luqueño] (in Spanish). Versus. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  4. ↑ Versus [@SomosVersusPY] (21 March 2022). ""Gustavo Caballero vino a prueba a la reserva, lo llevamos a la pretemporada y ayer hizo un gran partido" Humberto García, Técnico de #Ameliano en #VersusRadio @Universo970py @SomosGENAhora" ["Gustavo Caballero came on a trial for the reserves, we took him to pre-season and he played a great match yesterday" Humberto García, manager of #Ameliano at #VersusRadio @Universo970py @SomosGENAhora] (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 July 2025 – via Twitter.
  5. ↑ "Gustavo Caballero, figura de Nacional, confesó su fanatismo por Olimpia" [Gustavo Caballero, Nacional's key man, confessed his fanaticism for Olimpia] (in Spanish). Versus. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  6. ↑ "Gustavo Caballero, el futbolista que sorprendió en Ameliano y ahora refuerza Nacional" [Gustavo Caballero, the footballer who surprised at Ameliano and now bolsters Nacional] (in Spanish). Versus. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  7. ↑ "Nacional se convierte en escolta y hunde al 12 de Octubre" [Nacional go defensive and sink 12 de Octubre] (in Spanish). D10. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  8. ↑ "Gustavo Caballero, separado del equipo: "Supuestamente soy desobediente tácticamente"" [Gustavo Caballero, separated from the team: "Apparently I am tactically disobedient"] (in Spanish). Versus. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  9. ↑ "Altas y bajas de los 12 clubes de cara al torneo Clausura 2023" [Ins and outs of the 12 clubs ahead of the 2023 Clausura tournament] (in Spanish). Versus. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  10. ↑ "Nacional golea al Cristóbal Colón y clasifica a los octavos de final de la Copa Paraguay" [Nacional thrash Cristóbal Colón and qualify to the round of 16 of the Copa Paraguay] (in Spanish). Radio Nacional del Paraguay. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  11. ↑ "Olimpia también mira por barrio Obrero" [Olimpia also look to the Obrero neighborhood] (in Spanish). Versus. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  12. ↑ "Libertad: Caballero, fuerte apuesta del campeón" [Libertad: Caballero, high bet from the champions] (in Spanish). ABC Color. 7 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  13. ↑ "Cambio de planes: Gustavo Caballero finalmente no será jugador de Libertad" [Change of plans: Gustavo Caballero will not be a Libertad player] (in Spanish). Versus. 12 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  14. ↑ Cardoso, Leandro (17 July 2025). "Vasco oficializa proposta por atacante internacional" [Vasco confirm offer for international attacker] (in Portuguese). Terra. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  15. ↑ "Santos anuncia a contratação do atacante paraguaio Gustavo Caballero" [Santos announce the signing of Paraguayan attacker Gustavo Caballero] (in Portuguese). ge. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  16. ↑ "Gustavo Caballero tuvo un accidentado debut en el Santos" [Gustavo Caballero had a troubled debut at Santos] (in Spanish). Versus. 27 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  17. ↑ "Decisivo, Caballero exalta vitória do Santos: 'Mostrou nossa capacidade'" [Decisive, Caballero praises Santos' win: 'Showed our capacity'] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  18. ↑ Lacey, Pepe (2 February 2026). "Portsmouth transfer deadline-day business continues as South American star seals switch". The News (Portsmouth). Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  19. ↑ McMahon, Mark (10 February 2026). "Why Portsmouth will have seen Gustavo Caballero as a 'risk' worth taking - the view from Paraguay". The News (Portsmouth). Retrieved 2 April 2026.
  20. ↑ "Millwall 1–3 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 21 February 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
  21. ↑ "Roberto Jr. Fernández y Fabián Balbuena, citados a París 2024" [Roberto Jr. Fernández and Fabián Balbuena, called up to Paris 2024]. ABC Color. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  22. ↑ "Gustavo Caballero, sustituto de Fabrizio Peralta en París 2024" [Gustavo Caballero, Fabrizio Peralta's replacement at Paris 2024] (in Spanish). ABC Color. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  23. ↑ "Refuerzo estrella: Julio Enciso está para jugar los Juegos Olímpicos" [Star addition: Julio Enciso will play in the Olympic Games] (in Spanish). Versus. 13 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  24. ↑ "El sentido mensaje de Diego González tras quedar fuera: "Tenía muchas ganas"" [Diego González's heartfelt message after being cut: "I was looking forward so much"] (in Spanish). Versus. 23 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  25. ↑ "Diego Gómez y Gustavo Caballero, los primeros en suelo griego" [Diego Gómez and Gustavo Caballero, the first on Greek soil]. ABC Color (in Spanish). 22 March 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
  26. ↑ "Paraguay venció a Grecia en uno de los amistosos internacional de cara al Mundial 2026" [Paraguay defeated Greece in one of the international friendlies ahead of the 2026 World Cup] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 27 March 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
  27. ↑ "Portsmouth's Caballero on target in Paraguay loss". BBC Sport. 1 April 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
  28. ↑ "Winger Gustavo Caballero earns World Cup call-up after impressive Portsmouth stint". The News. 1 June 2026. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  29. ↑ Gustavo Caballero at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
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