Benjamín Ignacio Galdames Millán

Football runs in the family. Benjamín Galdames was born in Mexico City because his father, the former Chile international Pablo Galdames, was on the books at Cruz Azul at the time — a detail that also explains the dual Mexican and Chilean nationality he holds today.

He came through the youth ranks at Unión Española in Chile and made his first-team debut on 24 November 2018, against Deportes Antofagasta. He stayed at the club through to the end of 2023, when he told Unión Española he did not want to renew his contract.

The dual nationality also shaped his path with the national teams. Chile's coach at the time, Martín Lasarte, tried to bring him into the senior squad, but Galdames chose Mexico instead. He went on to represent Mexico's under-21 and under-23 sides, and in 2021 received a call-up to the senior squad for a friendly against Chile, though there is no record of him winning his first cap.

His clearest individual highlight came away from club football altogether: at the 2023 Maurice Revello Tournament in Toulon, he was included in the Best XI. He has yet to add a club trophy to his name.