Leandro Bacuna
A versatile footballer whose international loyalty shifted to help build Curaçao's national team, becoming its most-capped player.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Curaçaoan footballer·Birthday: August 21·Millennials
Biography
Leandro Bacuna's professional journey is a map of European football's itinerant middle class. A product of the famed Groningen academy in the Netherlands, he made his name as a dynamic, versatile midfielder in the English Premier League with Aston Villa. His career then took him across Britain and into Turkey, marked by a hard-working adaptability that allowed him to play in midfield or at full-back. His most significant impact, however, came internationally. Eligible for Curaçao through his father, Bacuna chose to represent the island nation at a pivotal time, providing top-level experience and stability. His commitment helped transform them into a competitive force in CONCACAF and earned him a shared place as their most-capped player.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Leandro was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Leandro Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Leandro's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Is the joint record holder for the most appearances for the Curaçao national football team.
- Played over 100 Premier League matches during his time with Aston Villa and Cardiff City.
- Helped Curaçao win the 2017 Caribbean Cup, their first major international trophy.
Did You Know?
His younger brother, Juninho Bacuna, is also a professional footballer who has played in the English leagues.
Bacuna can play in a wide variety of positions, including central midfield, right wing, and right-back.
He scored his first Premier League goal with a stunning long-range strike for Aston Villa against Manchester City in 2014.
“My job is to be ready, to fill whatever role the manager needs on the day.”
