- Claudio Paul Spinelli, the Argentine forward who was named after his parents' admiration for Claudio Paul Caniggia, is one of Vasco da Gama's main attacking weapons as they compete among the CONMEBOL Sudamericana's last four.
- He was coached by Diego Armando Maradona, has played in eight different countries and rediscovered his best form in the Great Conquest, a competition that has restored his prominence on the continental stage.
The forward, born in El Talar in Buenos Aires Province, is not related to Caniggia, but his name, physical resemblance — his long blond hair —, pace and eye for goal make the connection with 'El Hijo del Viento' seem inevitable. Following a successful spell with Independiente del Valle, Spinelli joined Vasco da Gama to become part of a side dreaming of reaching the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Final.
Claudio Spinelli's footballing map spans destinations across every geographical coordinate: he made his debut in Argentina and played in Italy before representing Slovenia's FC Koper, turning out for Ukraine's FC Oleksandria and wearing the shirt of Israel's Bnei Sakhnin FC before returning to South American football.
Before embarking on his international journey, he was coached by Diego Maradona at Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata. The legendary Argentina captain, who won the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, forged a close relationship with the forward. During one of his first press conferences in charge of the 'Tripero', Maradona was asked about the resemblance between Spinelli and Caniggia and replied with a laugh: “He's a good player. And yes, they're alike, but he has to put the ball in the net too…”.
They spent only a few months together at the Argentine club before the forward returned to Genoa. But the memories left with the Tigre academy product would be unforgettable. “One day he came to training wearing some sunglasses and I said to him, ‘Those glasses are really good, Diego.’ And he said, ‘Here, they're for you, facha, they're for you, Paul’” — the nickname Maradona had given him —, Spinelli recalled in an interview with Independiente del Valle's official channel, highlighting his former manager's generosity.
His arrival at the 'Matagigantes' marked a sporting revival. The 2025 season established him as a key player for the Ecuadorian side: he scored four goals in the CONMEBOL Libertadores and another four in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana, where he reached the semi-finals before being eliminated by Atlético Mineiro.
At Vasco da Gama, the 29-year-old alternates between starting and coming off the bench, but he is always an option for Portuguese manager Pedro Emanuel. In this year's edition, he scored in the Group Stage during the 2-1 win over Audax Italiano in Chile; he contributed to the 2-2 draw against Independiente Medellín in Colombia in the Round of 16 Playoffs; and put the finishing touch to a 4-1 Round of 16 victory over Olimpia in Paraguay.
Almost a year later, fate has handed Spinelli another chance. Now wearing the colours of the 'Cruz-Maltino', the forward will look to lead his side to the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Final, but first they must overcome a difficult opponent: Boca Juniors, two-time winners of the competition.
