Augusto Martín Batalla Barga

Augusto Martín Batalla Barga is an Argentine goalkeeper born in Buenos Aires on 30 April 1996. He joined River Plate at five and developed through the club’s academy before becoming a leading goalkeeper in Argentina’s youth teams. With the under-17 and under-20 sides, he won the South American championships in 2013 and 2015 respectively. After Marcelo Barovero’s departure, River promoted Batalla to its senior first team in 2016, and he helped the club win the 2015–16 Copa Argentina and 2016 Recopa Sudamericana. He lost the starting role in 2017, then saw competition increase after Franco Armani’s arrival in early 2018, leading to loan moves including Unión La Calera. A subsequent spell at San Lorenzo from 2021 to 2023 helped establish him as a dependable senior goalkeeper, and he recorded 14 clean sheets in 22 league matches during 2023. Batalla is now part of Rayo Vallecano, where his shot-stopping, command of the area and proactive work beyond the line continue to define his game.