Footballer comes out as homosexual to make historical past as boyfriends ‘specific what we really feel’
A football star has become the first professional player in his country to publicly come out as gay after a video from his boyfriend went viral and prompted international support
Footballer Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Lago has come out as gay(Image: Jam Press)
A footballer has made history by coming out as gay.
Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Lago became the first professional in Argentina to publicly come out as homosexual. The winger, who plays for Club Atl tico Col n in the South American country’s second division, said he and his boyfriend try to “express what we feel”.
The 23-year-old was filmed reacting to a surprise video message from his partner, Gonzalo, which has recently gone viral and prompted widespread international support. While the original interview with the club’s media show ‘Sangre y Luto’ aired last season, the clip has only just gained global traction after circulating on social media.
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In the emotional clip, Gonzalo praised the forward for being an “excellent person and an excellent professional” before thanking him for “defending the colours of my city”. Visibly moved, Lago replied: “It’s an irrational love, we experience it this way, just like with football. We’re obsessed, and we try to express what we feel.”
Historically, South American football has been known for a deep-rooted culture of machismo and homophobia, making the young attacker’s announcement an unprecedented breakthrough for the game in Argentina.
The only other notable example of a player coming out as gay was regional league goalkeeper Nicol s Fern ndez in 2020. Lago is considered the first at top-tier professional level.
Fans of the second-division side have rallied behind the star player, who previously had a brief spell playing in Mexico. According to reports, the fanbase have largely known about his relationship with Gonzalo for many months. They’ve continued to support the attacker as he recovers from injury amid the team’s push for promotion to the top flight this year. Club Atl tico Col n are currently top of the Primera Nacional after eight games played of the 2026 season, as reported by Creatorzine.com.
Lago formed part of the youth academy at Club Almirante Brown. He made his professional debut in February 2018 at just 15. In September 2020, his potential earned him a transfer to top-flight side Talleres de C rdoba. Seeking more playing time, Lago went on loan to Tlaxcala FC in Mexico, where he recorded 16 appearances and scored five goals. He returned to his home country for successful loan spells at San Martin de San Juan and Atl tico de Rafaela.
Lago joined Col n de Santa Fe on loan and rapidly evolved into a vital pillar of the team, signing a permanent deal last season. He is recognised as a dynamic winger who can also operate as a second striker.
