Nicolás Marichal

Nicolás Marichal moved from Sarandí del Yí to Montevideo through the Nacional academy, and it was there, not at Dinamo Moscow, that he built his reputation: a first-team debut in January 2020, a regular starting spot, and a collection of trophies — the Uruguayan Primera División in 2020 and 2022, plus the Supercopa Uruguaya in 2021. That record made him one of the more sought-after young defenders in Montevideo, and Dinamo Moscow moved for him on 30 August 2022, signing him to a five-year deal that has since been extended to 2029.

His early seasons in Moscow were about defensive duty rather than end product — no league goals to his name in his first campaigns, while the team finished third in the Russian Premier League in 2023/2024. That changed in 2025/2026, when Marichal emerged as one of the league's more productive defenders, scoring five goals, a sharp break from his previous output.

International recognition followed the same slower curve. He captained Uruguay's Under-23 side during qualification for the 2024 Olympics, then earned his senior debut on 23 March 2024 in a friendly against the Basque Country. He was named in Uruguay's 26-man squad for the 2024 Copa América, wearing the number 22 shirt and featuring against Panama as the team went on to take the bronze medal. Since then he has added to his senior caps, reaching five appearances by October 2025.