Andrés Cubas Profile, Stats and Career

Andrés Cubas is a 30-year-old Paraguayan defensive midfielder widely regarded as the best defensive midfielder in Major League Soccer. The Vancouver Whitecaps star has represented Paraguay in 32 international matches since 2019 and was central to Paraguay's successful qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This profile covers his age, career history, MLS stats, and international record heading into the tournament.

Born in Argentina to Paraguayan parents, Cubas represented Argentina at under-20 level before switching to represent Paraguay at senior level in 2019. After stints at Huracán, Defensa y Justicia, Pescara (loan), and Talleres, French side Nîmes Olympique signed him before Vancouver Whitecaps brought him to MLS in April 2022. He has been their Designated Player since, making 136+ appearances and leading MLS in tackles in 2026.

Early Life and Background

Andrés Cubas was born on 22 May 1996 in Aristóbulo del Valle, a city in Misiones Province of northeastern Argentina, close to the Paraguayan border. He grew up in Argentina and was educated in the Argentine football system, joining Huracán's youth academy in Buenos Aires.

He represented Argentina at under-20 level, starting two of three appearances at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. His Paraguayan descent — and the absence of a senior Argentina cap — allowed him to switch allegiance to Paraguay when the opportunity arose in 2019.

Argentine football education and the switch to Paraguay

Cubas developed through Huracán's academy and made his senior debut with the club in Argentine football's Primera División. A loan to Pescara in Italy's Serie B (2017–18) broadened his technical education before stints at Defensa y Justicia and Talleres in Argentina further refined him as a defensive midfielder. Nîmes in France's Ligue 1 signed him in 2020, giving him European senior experience before Vancouver brought him to MLS.

His international switch to Paraguay came after he had accumulated enough Paraguayan residency or descent-based eligibility. He made his senior Paraguay debut in 2019 and has been a consistent international since, starting 30 of his 32 appearances. His 2026 qualifying performance — 13 starts, 1,126 minutes, the ninth-most among midfielders in CONMEBOL qualifying — was a cornerstone of Paraguay's successful campaign.

Andrés Cubas Personal Info and Profile

Cubas is compact at 5 ft 5 in but his positional discipline, reading of the game, and relentless work rate make him the engine of Vancouver's midfield. Leading MLS in tackles in 2026 — 26 through 14 appearances — demonstrates his defensive output per game, while his 3 assists show he also contributes offensively from deep positions.

Transfer News and Market Value

Andrés Cubas extended his contract at Vancouver Whitecaps in February 2026 through the 2027–28 MLS season, giving the club security on their most important defensive midfielder. His Designated Player status means his salary is supplemented by the club above the MLS salary cap.

MLS salary data for Cubas is not publicly disclosed, but Designated Player contracts in 2026 typically range from $1.5 million to $5 million annually for established starters. His market value is estimated at approximately €3.5 million.

His transfer from Nîmes to Vancouver in 2022 was a Designated Player signing — one of the most significant investments in Vancouver's history. He has started 127 of 136 appearances since joining, making him the most reliable player the club has had in their generation of strong MLS performances.

Post-World Cup, Cubas will return to Vancouver for the remainder of the 2026 MLS season. His contract through 2028 provides long-term security and Vancouver will be able to retain him through what should be the peak of his career.

Salary and Net Worth

Andrés Cubas is a Designated Player at Vancouver Whitecaps, with his annual salary estimated between $1.5 and $2.5 million based on typical Designated Player rates for established MLS defensive midfielders.

His Nîmes Olympique salary in Ligue 1 (2020–22) would have been lower — estimated at approximately €500,000–800,000 annually — consistent with a defensive midfielder at a French mid-table club.

Cumulative MLS earnings since his Designated Player designation in 2022 are estimated at approximately $5–8 million, reflecting four-plus seasons at Designated Player rates.

As a World Cup participant, Cubas receives Paraguay's FIFA prize pool distribution. His international compensation through the Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol supplements his MLS club salary during the tournament window.

Commercial endorsements are minimal beyond kit partnerships aligned with Vancouver Whitecaps' sponsors. His profile as the top defensive midfielder in MLS has increased media visibility without translating into major individual sponsorship deals.

Total career earnings are estimated at approximately $8–12 million USD across Argentine, Italian, French, and American football.

Estimated net worth is approximately $4–6 million USD, reflecting his sustained Designated Player earnings at Vancouver Whitecaps since 2022.

Andrés Cubas Club Career

Cubas made his professional debut at Huracán and spent several seasons in Argentine domestic football before a Serie B loan at Pescara (Italy) and stints at Defensa y Justicia and Talleres gave him top-flight competitive experience. Nîmes signed him for Ligue 1 in 2020.

Vancouver Whitecaps signed him in April 2022 on a Designated Player contract, and he immediately became their most consistent performer. He has started 127 of 136 appearances across all competitions — a record of availability and reliability that is exceptional for a Designated Player in MLS.

In 2025 he made 100 appearances for the club, helped Vancouver reach the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals, and continued his role as Paraguay's first-choice defensive midfielder through the World Cup qualifying campaign. His 2026 MLS season — leading the league in tackles with 26 through 14 appearances — confirmed his standing as the division's elite defensive midfielder.

For Paraguay in qualifying, he started all 13 of his appearances and played 1,126 minutes — the ninth-most of any midfielder across the entire CONMEBOL qualifying campaign. His defensive screen allowed Almirón and Diego Gómez to operate with greater freedom, and his contribution to Paraguay's 28-point qualifying total was fundamental.

Club Career Stats

2026 MLS Season (Vancouver Whitecaps)

International Career

Andrés Cubas made his senior Paraguay debut in 2019 and has earned 32 caps since, starting 30 of those appearances. He represented Paraguay at Copa América 2021 and 2024 and was the defensive midfield anchor across 13 qualifying starts in the 2026 campaign.

His qualifying contribution — 1,126 minutes, the ninth-most of any midfielder in CONMEBOL qualifying — was reflected in Paraguay's ability to absorb pressure in tight matches. When Cubas is on the pitch, Paraguay concede less. His work-rate and positional discipline give the team a defensive base from which Almirón and Diego Gómez can attack.

The 2026 World Cup is Cubas's first FIFA World Cup. As one of four MLS players in Paraguay's squad — alongside Almirón, Galarza, and Ojeda — he brings MLS's physical and tactical standards to a squad that blends those qualities with South American and European club football experience.

Honours and Trophies

Playing Style and Key Strengths

Andrés Cubas is a disciplined, tireless defensive midfielder whose game is built on positioning, ball-winning, and protecting the defensive structure ahead of the back four. His compact frame — unusually small for a defensive midfielder — makes him nimble in tight spaces and difficult to dispossess when receiving the ball under pressure.

His tackle rate in 2026 — 26 in 14 appearances, leading MLS — reflects the defensive output that makes him indispensable to both Vancouver Whitecaps and Paraguay. He reads the game quickly, positions himself between lines effectively, and rarely commits fouls that give opponents dangerous set-piece positions.

The engine of Paraguay's midfield

In Paraguay's 4-4-2 system under Alfaro, Cubas plays as the holding midfielder — screening the back four and allowing more attack-minded players to push forward. His partnership with Diego Gómez or Bobadilla in the centre of the pitch provides balance and security. Without Cubas, Paraguay's midfield loses its defensive anchor and its ability to transition quickly from defence to attack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Andrés Cubas's story is one of the more quietly impressive in Paraguayan football — an Argentine-born defensive midfielder who built his career across four different football environments, earned the status of MLS's best in his position, and anchored Paraguay's successful World Cup qualification campaign.

At 30 and in peak form, the 2026 World Cup represents the highest stage of his international career. His defensive screening will be central to Paraguay's ability to compete against the United States, Türkiye, and Australia in Group D — and without him in midfield, La Albirroja's defensive stability diminishes significantly.