Norberto Alejandro Briasco Balekian (Armenian: Նորբերտո Ալեխանդրո Բրիասկո Բալեկյան; born 29 February 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Argentine Primera División club Boca Juniors and the Armenia national football team. Born in Argentina to an Armenian Argentine mother, he has represented Armenia internationally since 2018.

Norberto Briasco
Personal information
Full name Norberto Alejandro Briasco Balekian
Date of birth (1996-02-29) 29 February 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Boca Juniors
Number 29
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2021 Huracán 86 (9)
2021– Boca Juniors 30 (3)
International career
2018– Armenia 16 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 11, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 October 2023

Early life edit

Briasco was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He also holds Armenian citizenship through his mother, surnamed Balekian, whose parents are Armenian.[2] His grandfather helped him learn the Armenian language, with Briasco stating that "it is quite complicated, but I wrote down the basics to study [the language]".[2].

Club career edit

On 27 August 2016, Briasco made his debut in a 1–0 away defeat against Godoy Cruz after coming on as a substitute at the 75th minute in place of Mauro Bogado.[citation needed] On 11 March 2017, scored his first official goal for Huracán senior squad, that gave his team the final 1–0 win away at San Martín de San Juan.[citation needed]

On 3 March 2017, he made his continental club debut at the 2017 Copa Sudamericana, in a 3–0 away defeat against Deportivo Anzoategui, away in Venezuela.[citation needed] Norberto scored his first continental goal in the return game in Buenos Aires, a 4–0 win that saw Huracán go through to the next round.[3]

On 17 June 2021, Briasco signed a four-year contract with Boca Juniors.[4]

International career edit

On 7 March 2018, Briasco received his first call-up for the Armenia national team for the friendly matches against Estonia and Lithuania.[2][5][6][7] He made his international debut in a 0–0 friendly draw with Estonia on 24 March 2018.[8][9]

Honours edit

Boca Juniors

References edit

  1. ^ "Norberto Briasco" (in Spanish). Boca Juniors. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "La historia de Norberto Briasco, de Parque Patricios a la selección de Armenia" [The story of Norberto Briasco, from Parque Patricios to the Armenian national team.] (in Spanish). Diario La Nación. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  3. ^ "Huracán logró una hazaña histórica, revirtió el 3-0 de la ida y avanzó". espn.com.co. 1 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Armenia international Norberto Briasco Balekian joins Argentine club Boca Juniors". armenpress.am. 18 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Արտերկրում հանդես եկող 13 ֆուտբոլիստներ հրավիրվել են ազգային հավաքական" [13 footballers from abroad are invited to the national team] (in Armenian). Football Federation of Armenia. 7 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Norberto Briasco is happy to play for Armenian national team". Mediamax. 14 March 2018.
  7. ^ "Նորբերտո Բրիասկո Բալեկյանը ժամանեց Հայաստան" [Norberto Briasco Balekian arrives in Armenia] (in Armenian). Football Federation of Armenia. 19 March 2018.
  8. ^ "Mängud". jalgpall.ee.
  9. ^ "Norberto Alejandro Briasco Balekian". eu-football.info.

External links edit