Miggy Magic: A look back at Miguel Almiron’s best moments with Atlanta United

No, you aren’t dreaming. And no, you haven’t been magically transported back to December of 2016. The rumors continue to swirl around Atlanta United closing in on their newest, and simultaneously oldest, number 10. While we’re at it, let’s take a look back and reminisce on Miggy’s 10 best moments (so far!) in a Five Stripes’ kit, for nostalgia’s sake (and a bit of scouting, perhaps?).

10.) Philly tiki-taka

Already up a goal, Miggy orchestrates the Atlanta squad, playing a give-and-go with Josef Martinez before unselfishly playing it back across for Tito Villalba for a second. Exhibit A of an Atlanta United team firing on all cylinders.

9.) A comeback #AfterDark

To this day, perhaps the wildest match Atlanta United has ever played, and fittingly the birth of “Five Stripes After Dark”. The 4-1 down to 4-3 win comeback in the late hours of the night on the East Coast was in part thanks to the contributions of Almiron, who scored the leveler before providing Josef with a dime of a cross deep into stoppage time for the winner.

8.) Chipping away LA

In a demolition derby of the Galaxy, Miggy capped off a four goal first half with a splitting run through the defense and a nifty first-time chip over LA’s goalkeeper. The speed. The control. *Chef’s kiss*

7.) Home Opener top bins

A smashing effort from 18 yards out, this felt like the moment that kicked off a season for the ages (don’t look up what happened a week prior). In front of a sold-out home opener crowd, Miggy kicked off his All-Star year by going top shelf with this one. Banger.

6.) Snow-lazo

Taking it back to Atlanta United’s second *ever* match, expectations were mixed coming into Minnesota. After a solid yet losing performance in the inaugural match prior, there was plenty of uncertainty over the Five Stripes’ ability to do it on a cold and snowy afternoon in Minneapolis. This half-volley from distance, combined with another goal and assist, played a big part in shutting that narrative down and showing, for the first time, what Atlanta United’s talented attack was capable of.

5.) Columbus solo’d

In the second half a back and forth battle with the Crew, Almiron picked up the ball at the halfway line and hit the gas all the way to the 18 yard box, where a pinpoint strike to the bottom corner beat two defenders and a pre-European transfer Zack Steffen.

4.) Fighting off Lions

In a moment that lives long in Atlanta United lore, Miggy finished the burial of Orlando with his brace and the team’s fourth goal in a memorable way, receiving the ball at midfield before shouldering off Atlanta’s current Head of International Recruitment and Development, Jonathan Spector, on his way to hit a drive through the legs of goalkeeper Joe Bendik to send the Benz into raptures. Surely there aren’t any lingering feelings there, right?

3.) Clutch in the Conference Semis

In the second leg of the 2018 Eastern Conference Semifinals against NYCFC, Atlanta led 2-0 on aggregate with a single away goal. Enter Miguel Almiron to pull Atlanta to a comfortable lead with a tremendous free kick just before the half, sending the Five Stripes onward with momentum into the Eastern Conference Finals.

2.) “An absolute peach”

Arguably Almiron’s most iconic match, and maybe Kevin Egan’s as well, the rainy weather cleared away from Bobby Dodd Stadium just in time to see a Miggy hat trick take down the Houston Dynamo. A left-footed rocket in the 30th minute, an off-balance strike in the 42nd, and a penalty to seal the deal in the 80th all helped push the Five Stripes to a 4-0 victory in one of the more legendary of the pre Mercedes-Benz Stadium matches.

1.) MLS Cup curtain call

After two seasons, 22 goals, and 30 assists, two MLS Best XIs, and to top it off, an MLS Cup, an ovation was more than deserved for Miguel Almiron. With a transfer over to Europe expected, the largest crowd in MLS Cup history was able to send Miggy off and show their appreciation for the club’s first number 10, whose scintillating play won over an entire city, if not only to the club then to the sport as a whole. Almiron in turn saluted the fans back in one final walk off the pitch, his last in red and black. Unless…?

If a transfer is made official in the coming days, how much more magic could we expect to see from an older, Premier League tested Miguel Almiron? How would he fit around an entirely new cast, save for Brad Guzan? Can Miggy himself be the one to bring back the vibes of those first two seasons, or are we just wishfully nostalgizing for a past nearly seven, eight years behind us?

There’s much to think about until then. At least we’ll always have the highlight compilations.