19-year-old Argentine forward Gianluca Prestianni, nicknamed "La Pulga" (The Flea), is considered one of the greatest hopes of Argentine football and is fighting for a place in the national team for the 2026 World Cup, following in the footsteps of Thiago Almada.
Currently, the forward plays for S.L. Benfica in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. In the 2025-26 season, he has played 6 matches, scored 1 goal, and provided 2 assists, showing constant growth in his performance. His nickname, "La Pulga", is no coincidence.
Prestianni quickly caught the attention of European giants such as Real Madrid and Chelsea. In 2023, he scored his first goal as a professional, and after a stint at Vélez, he signed with Benfica in 2024.
To date, Prestianni has played 43 matches in his professional career, with 3 goals and 3 assists.
He was one of the pleasant surprises in Lionel Scaloni's latest call-up for the November friendly matches.
Prestianni was also part of the Argentina U-20 team that was runner-up at the 2025 U-20 World Cup in Chile, under the technical direction of Diego Placente. This experience gave him international exposure and solidified him as one of the main figures of his generation.
His professional career began very early. He debuted for Vélez Sarsfield on May 24, 2022, at just 16 years, 3 months, and 22 days old, becoming the youngest player in the club's history in the professional era.
His skill, speed, and dribbling place him alongside great talents of Argentine football, and his recent call-up to the senior team excites fans with the possibility of seeing him shine at the upcoming World Cup.
