- Claudio Spinelli is one of the key attacking options available to Portuguese coach Pedro Emanuel in Vasco da Gama’s deep squad.
- The Argentinian forward has registered three direct goal contributions for the Cruzmaltino side in this season’s CONMEBOL Sudamericana.
The striker, born in El Talar in the province of Buenos Aires, appears tailor-made for continental competition. Over the past 18 months, across the CONMEBOL Libertadores and CONMEBOL Sudamericana, Spinelli has recorded 10 goals and two assists in just 20 appearances for Vasco da Gama and Independiente del Valle.
Now 29, and after spells in several different corners of the football world, the Tigre academy graduate appears to have found his place: South American continental competitions.
Before making his mark at Independiente del Valle, where he scored three goals against River Plate in the 2025 CONMEBOL Libertadores, Spinelli played for Slovenia’s FC Koper, Ukraine’s FC Oleksandria and Israel’s Bnei Sakhnin FC.
The turning point in his career came with the Ecuadorian side, but he first had to impress at Defensor Sporting to earn his move to El Matagigantes. Six months with the Uruguayan club were enough for him to shine and attract the attention of one of South America’s most promising teams, scoring nine goals in 18 appearances.
His performances at IDV lived up to expectations. He scored four goals in the CONMEBOL Libertadores and another four in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana, where the Ecuadorian side were eliminated by Atlético Mineiro in the semi-finals.
That pedigree earned him a move to Vasco da Gama at the start of this year. Across the group stage and the play-offs, the striker has now registered a goal contribution in three matches for the Brazilian side, including two goals: the equaliser in the 2-1 victory over Audax Italiano and the second in the 2-2 draw against Independiente Medellín, both away from home.
Only Colombia’s Dayro Moreno (10) has scored more goals than Spinelli (6) over the past 18 months in La Gran Conquista. The Rio de Janeiro club know they have a powerful attacking weapon in their ranks and an almost guaranteed source of goals, as well as energy and spark whenever he comes off the bench.
The Argentinian, who has already struck against DIM in Medellín, will look to make the difference again in Rio de Janeiro as Vasco da Gama seek a home victory and a place in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Round of 16.
