Chilean · Santiago, Chile · Born 22 May 1987Ferocious box-to-box midfielder and Copa América winner whose combative style and medal haul made him one of the most decorated footballers of his generation.
Arturo Vidal was heavily linked with both Real Madrid and Barcelona at multiple points in his career without ever actually signing for either -- an unusual gap for a midfielder who spent a decade being described as one of the most complete box-to-box players in world football. Instead his path ran through Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona eventually, but a full season later than the rumours suggested. What set Vidal apart from more technically polished midfielders was a willingness to do the unglamorous defensive work alongside the goals -- a genuine two-way threat rather than a specialist in either half of the pitch, evidenced by title wins in four different top European leagues (Serie A, Bundesliga, La Liga, and domestic cup competitions in Italy and Spain) with different teams built around different systems. His back-to-back Copa América titles with Chile in 2015 and 2016 came during the best period in the national team's history, a squad built around his generation of players that delivered Chile's first-ever major international trophies -- a rare case of a golden generation actually converting sustained quality into silverware rather than being remembered as a near-miss.
Key player in Chile's back-to-back Copa América victories
He won league titles in Italy, Germany, Spain and Brazil — one of only a handful of players to win top-flight titles in four different countries.
Did You Know?How They Played
Box-to-box midfielder with exceptional work rate, aerial ability, and leadership qualities
Lasting Impact
One of Chile's greatest players, known for his warrior mentality and trophy collection across Europe
Career Honours
- Copa América 2015, 2016
- Serie A 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
- Bundesliga 2016, 2017, 2018
- La Liga 2019
- DFB-Pokal 2017
- Copa del Rey 2021
- Coppa Italia 2021
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colo-Colo | 2005–2007 | — | 36 | 2 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 2007–2011 | — | 117 | 15 |
| Juventus | 2011–2015 | — | 124 | 35 |
| Bayern Munich | 2015–2018 | £25m | 79 | 14 |
| Barcelona | 2018–2020 | — | 66 | 11 |
| Inter Milan | 2020–2022 | — | 51 | 2 |
| Flamengo | 2022–2023 | — | 28 | 2 |
| Athletico Paranaense | 2023–2024 | — | 7 | 0 |
| Colo-Colo | 2024–Present | — | 53 | 8 |
 Chile | — | — | 142 | 34 |
Chilean Athletes