Erick Antonio Pulgar Farfán

Erick Pulgar made his way into professional football through the academy at Deportes Antofagasta, in the Chilean city where he was born, before a move to Universidad Católica put him on the radar of European clubs. Bologna signed him in 2015, and four seasons in Serie A led to a switch to Fiorentina, a transfer worth around €10 million that placed him among the more expensive Chilean exports of his generation. A loan spell at Galatasaray followed before he left Italy altogether for Brazil.

At Flamengo, Pulgar has built the most decorated stretch of his career. Since arriving in 2022, he has won the Copa Libertadores twice, the Brazilian Cup twice, the Rio state championship in three straight years, and, in 2025, the Brasileirão title itself along with the Brazilian Super Cup. That run has come with individual recognition too: he was named to Brazil's Bola de Prata in 2023, was voted Chile's best male footballer for 2025, and was picked for the South American team of the year.

For the national team, Pulgar has been a regular presence in central midfield since his debut against the United States in 2015, and he was part of the Chile squad that won the Copa América Centenario the following year. His goalscoring for the side has been rare but timely, including a strike against Japan at the 2019 Copa América and a brace against Venezuela during qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.