From near exit to 100 games for Sporting: Lions' warrior lives dream | OneFootball

Maxi Araújois about to reach a special milestone in aSporting shirt. This Saturday, against Arouca, the Uruguay international will make his 100th appearance for the Lions, almost two years after making his debut, coincidentally against the same opponent.

His move to Alvalade happened in the summer of 2024, after Sporting invested €13.6 million to sign him from Toluca. Since then, he has established himself as an important part of the team, initially as a wing-back in a three-man defense and, more recently, as a left-back in a back four.

Maxi’s journey at Alvalade gained even greater importance after his strong performances in the Champions League and at the Club World Cup, where he scored two goals and provided one assist. The Uruguayan’s rise in value caught the market’s attention, and there were concerns that he could leave Sporting if a high-value offer came in. The club’s response was to further show their confidence in the player.

In that context, Sporting extended his contract by two more seasons, keeping him tied to the club until 2031. His release clause remained at €80 million, while his salary was significantly increased. The Uruguayan was also added to the group of team captains.

The match against Arouca will therefore have special meaning for Maxi Araújo, who reaches 100 games for Sporting after already surpassing every record he had previously set at a single club. For the Lions, he has already recorded 12 goals and 15 assists.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.