Exequiel Palacios
A tenacious and technically gifted midfielder whose career-defining move to Germany culminated in a historic undefeated season and a World Cup win with Argentina.
Born 1998 (age 28)·Argentine footballer·Birthday: October 5·Generation Z
Biography
Exequiel Palacios emerged from the famed academy of River Plate in Buenos Aires, a club known for crafting complete midfielders. His vision, crisp passing, and combative style in the center of the park quickly marked him as a special talent, breaking into the first team as a teenager and becoming a key part of Marcelo Gallardo’s dominant side. His performances in Argentina’s top flight and in the Copa Libertadores, which River Plate won in 2018, drew European attention. In 2020, he made the significant leap to Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga, a move that would define his legacy. Under coach Xabi Alonso, Palacios evolved into a midfield linchpin, his intelligence and grit providing the foundation for one of football’s most remarkable stories: Leverkusen’s unprecedented unbeaten run across all competitions in the 2023-24 season, claiming the Bundesliga title. On the international stage, his journey mirrored this ascent; after winning youth tournaments with Argentina, he became a trusted squad member for Lionel Scaloni, earning a place in the team that triumphed at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Exequiel was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Exequiel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Exequiel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2022 FIFA World Cup with the Argentina national team in Qatar.
- Was an integral part of the Bayer Leverkusen squad that won the 2023-24 Bundesliga title without losing a single game.
- Lifted the Copa Libertadores in 2018 with his boyhood club, River Plate.
- Named the Argentine Footballer of the Year (Olimpia de Plata) in 2023.
Did You Know?
He is a devout Catholic and is often seen making the sign of the cross before entering the pitch.
His younger brother, Julián Palacios, is also a professional footballer playing in Argentina.
He suffered a serious back injury (a vertebral fracture) early in his time at Bayer Leverkusen but fought back to become a starter.
He was part of the Argentina U-20 team that won the 2017 South American U-20 Championship.
“I give everything for this shirt, whether it's River Plate or the national team.”
