- published: 15 May 2016
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Gonzalo Gerardo Higuaín (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡonˈsalo iɣwaˈin], born 10 December 1987) is a French-born Argentine professional footballer who plays for Italian club Napoli and the Argentina national team as a striker.
Nicknamed El Pipita or Pipa, as was his father, Jorge, Gonzalo Higuaín was born in France, attaining Argentine citizenship in 2007, and now holds dual nationality. He started his career with Argentine club River Plate, before a transfer to Real Madrid in January 2007 for €12 million. His time in Spain saw him win honours including three La Liga titles, and score 107 goals in 190 league appearances. He joined Italian side Napoli for €40 million in the summer of 2013, where he won the Coppa Italia during his first season.
A full international for Argentina since 2009, Higuaín has represented the country at two FIFA World Cups and as many Copa América tournaments, helping them to second place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2015 Copa América.
Higuaín was born in Brest, France, the son of the Argentine former footballer Jorge Higuaín, who was playing for Stade Brestois 29 as an expatriate. Therefore, he holds dual French-Argentine nationality. Having left the country at the age of 10 months, he did not return to France until the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Even though he does not speak French, he holds a French passport because his father was naturalized in France. He successfully applied for Argentine nationality in January 2007. Higuaín has two elder brothers, Nicolas and Federico, the latter of which plays for MLS club Columbus Crew SC as a deep-lying forward, and one younger brother, Lautaro.