Mateo Retegui: Age, Career, Goals and Football Journey

Introduction

Mateo Retegui is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-forward for Al-Qadsiah and represents the Italy national team. He was born in Argentina but qualified to play for Italy through his Italian family background.

The striker became internationally famous during the 2024–25 season. He scored 25 Serie A goals for Atalanta, won the league’s top-scorer award and was named Serie A’s Best Forward.

As of July 2026, Mateo Retegui is 27 years old. He wears number 32 for Al-Qadsiah and has a contract with the Saudi club until 2029.

Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full Name	Mateo Retegui
Date of Birth	29 April 1999
Age	27 years old, as of July 2026
Birthplace	San Fernando, Argentina
Profession	Professional footballer
Position	Centre-forward
Height	1.86 metres
Current Club	Al-Qadsiah
Shirt Number	32
National Team	Italy
National Team Number	9
Previous Major Clubs	Boca Juniors, Tigre, Genoa and Atalanta
Al-Qadsiah Contract	Until 2029
Famous For	Winning the 2024–25 Serie A top-scorer award

Mateo Retegui’s date of birth, position, current club and squad numbers are listed on his official UEFA profile.

Who Is Mateo Retegui?

Mateo Retegui is an Argentine-born Italian footballer known for scoring goals inside the penalty area. He mainly plays as a central striker, where he uses his movement, strength and quick finishing to create problems for defenders.

His journey is unusual because he reached the Italy national team before playing club football in Italy. He was performing for Tigre in Argentina when Italy selected him for the first time in March 2023.

Retegui scored on his international debut against England. That goal immediately introduced him to European football supporters and increased interest from Italian clubs.

How Old Is Mateo Retegui?

Mateo Retegui was born on 29 April 1999. He turned 27 years old in April 2026.

His birthplace is San Fernando, a city in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. He developed as a footballer in Argentina before moving to Europe in 2023.

Early Football Career in Argentina

Retegui began his professional career with Boca Juniors, one of Argentina’s largest football clubs. However, he needed regular playing time to develop, so he completed loan spells with Estudiantes, Talleres and Tigre.

His most important Argentine period came at Tigre. Between 2022 and 2023, he scored 35 goals in 70 appearances across competitions.

During his first season with Tigre, he scored 19 goals in 27 league matches and finished as the leading scorer in Argentina’s top division. His performances showed that he was ready for a more demanding stage.

Readers interested in another striker who followed a patient path through different countries can read the Promise David football journey.

Italy National Team Debut

Mateo Retegui received his first Italy call-up in March 2023 while he was still playing for Tigre.

He made his senior international debut against England on 23 March 2023. Italy lost the match 2–1, but Retegui scored his country’s goal.

He scored again three days later when Italy defeated Malta 2–0. Scoring in his first two international games helped him quickly earn the trust of coaches and supporters.

Retegui later represented Italy at UEFA Euro 2024. He has remained involved with the national side during its World Cup qualifying campaigns.

UEFA’s 2026 European Qualifiers profile records five goals and four assists from ten qualifying appearances. These figures cover that competition rather than his complete international career.

Why Does Mateo Retegui Play for Italy?

Mateo Retegui was born and raised in Argentina, but he was eligible to represent Italy through his Italian ancestry and citizenship.

FIFA described him as an Argentine forward with Italian citizenship when he entered the national team. After accepting Italy’s invitation, he became a full senior international for the Azzurri.

Move to Genoa

Retegui moved to Genoa in 2023. The transfer gave him his first opportunity to play club football in Italy.

His first Serie A season was an important learning period. He scored seven league goals while adapting to faster matches, more tactical defending and the pressure of European football.

Although his Genoa goal total was not as high as his Tigre record, his movement and finishing attracted Atalanta’s attention.

Historic Season With Atalanta

Atalanta signed Mateo Retegui from Genoa in August 2024.

He made an immediate impact by scoring twice against Lecce on the opening weekend of the Serie A season. That performance became the beginning of the best club campaign of his career.

Retegui scored 25 Serie A goals during the 2024–25 season. He finished six goals ahead of Moise Kean in the top-scorer standings and won the league’s Best Forward award.

The official Serie A review of the season’s best forwards confirmed his 25 goals and individual award.

A Record-Breaking Goal Total

His 25 league goals broke Atalanta’s record for the most goals by one player in a single Serie A season.

The previous record belonged to Filippo Inzaghi, who scored 24 league goals for Atalanta during the 1996–97 season.

Retegui scored ten goals with his right foot, ten with his left foot and five with his head. This balanced record showed that he could finish chances in several different ways.

All-Competition Statistics

Mateo Retegui finished his Atalanta season with:

• 49 appearances in all competitions
• 28 goals
• Eight assists
• 25 Serie A goals
• Three UEFA Champions League goals
• Six matches in which he scored at least twice

He also scored four goals in one Serie A match against Hellas Verona.

Transfer to Al-Qadsiah

Al-Qadsiah signed Retegui from Atalanta in July 2025.

The move took him from Italian football to the Saudi Pro League. He signed a four-year contract that runs until 2029 and received the number 32 shirt.

Al-Qadsiah signed him after his record-breaking Atalanta season. The club wanted a reliable striker who could lead its attack and score regularly.

As of July 2026, official Saudi Pro League records list 28 league appearances, 16 goals and one assist for Retegui during the 2025–26 season.

Which Club Does Mateo Retegui Play For?

Mateo Retegui currently plays for Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia.

Both UEFA and the official Saudi Pro League list Al-Qadsiah as his current club. He is also included in the club’s squad information for the 2026–27 season.

Playing Style

Mateo Retegui mainly plays close to the opponent’s goal. His role is to find space between defenders, reach crosses and finish chances quickly.

He can score with both feet and is also dangerous in the air. His Atalanta statistics showed an unusually even scoring record between right-footed, left-footed and headed goals.

Retegui can also help teammates. During his 2024–25 Serie A campaign, he combined 25 goals with eight assists. Serie A described him as a forward who could finish chances and involve other players in attacking moves.

For another player connected with Italy’s national football system, read about Destiny Udogie’s rise in Italian football.

Mateo Retegui Career Timeline

Year	Career Event
2018	Made his professional debut with Boca Juniors
2019	Joined Estudiantes on loan
2020	Moved to Talleres on loan
2022	Joined Tigre and became Argentina’s leading league scorer
2023	Scored on his Italy debut against England
2023	Joined Genoa and began playing club football in Italy
2024	Signed for Atalanta
2025	Won the Serie A top-scorer and Best Forward awards
2025	Joined Al-Qadsiah on a contract until 2029
2026	Completed his first Saudi Pro League season with 16 league goals

Major Awards and Achievements

Individual Honours

• Argentine Primera División leading scorer: 2022
• Serie A leading scorer: 2024–25
• Serie A Best Forward: 2024–25
• Atalanta Player of the Season: 2024–25
• Atalanta record for most goals in one Serie A season
• Second Atalanta player to win the Serie A scoring title

His 25 Serie A goals moved him ahead of Filippo Inzaghi’s previous Atalanta club record.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mateo Retegui’s age?

He is 27 years old as of July 2026. He was born on 29 April 1999.

Where was Mateo Retegui born?

He was born in San Fernando, Argentina.

What position does Mateo Retegui play?

He plays mainly as a centre-forward.

What is Mateo Retegui’s current club?

He currently plays for Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League.

What is Mateo Retegui’s shirt number?

He wears number 32 for Al-Qadsiah and number 9 for Italy.

How many Serie A goals did Mateo Retegui score in 2024–25?

He scored 25 league goals for Atalanta.

Did Mateo Retegui win the Serie A Golden Boot?

Yes. He finished as Serie A’s leading scorer during the 2024–25 season.

Why does Mateo Retegui represent Italy?

He was eligible through his Italian ancestry and citizenship. He accepted an invitation to represent Italy and made his senior debut in March 2023.

Conclusion

Mateo Retegui’s football journey has included steady development, major transfers and record-breaking success.

He began in Argentina, found his breakthrough at Tigre and earned an unexpected opportunity with the Italy national team. His move to European football led to successful periods with Genoa and Atalanta.

The 2024–25 season became the defining point of his career. His 25 Serie A goals made him the league’s leading scorer and broke Atalanta’s long-standing club record.

His move to Al-Qadsiah opened another chapter. At 27, he remains an experienced international striker with a contract running until 2029.