This article delves into the life of Marcos Acuna, affectionately known as “The Egg,” a footballer who hails from humble Argentine beginnings. Despite a challenging childhood marked by rejections from numerous clubs, Acuna’s journey from a chubby child to a formidable left-back is nothing short of inspiring. Growing up in a broken home, he once pleaded with his mother to stop making sacrifices for his football training due to repeated setbacks. This story recounts how Marcos Acuna persevered, made a final determined effort, and ultimately achieved success through sheer hard work.
The inspiring story of Marcos Acuna tells the story of a boy from humble origins in Zapala, Neuquén, a youngster who rose to become one of the most energetic left-backs in modern football. Raised by his mother, Sara del Prado, and supported by his wife, Julia Silva, Marcos’s journey is a testament to resilience, family, and unyielding determination.
This biography explores his early life, the close-knit family bonds with his siblings, and the cultural heritage that has influenced his personal and professional life. Join us as we uncover the facets of Acuna’s life that have contributed to his success, lifestyle, and financial achievements.
Preamble:
We aim to ignite your interest in autobiographies with Marcos Acuna’s story. To start, here’s a photo gallery showcasing the journey of this Argentine football legend. From his early childhood to his moments of triumph, Acuna’s path has been truly remarkable.
The Biography of Marcos Acuna – from his baby years to the moments of career greatness.
Yes, everyone knows the Argentine excels best when it comes to his power, movement, skill, mentality, and his defending.
Acuna’s rise to the top was quick. He, who is a complete footballer, is blessed with the capability to get into goalscoring and defensive positions.
In the course of writing the stories of Argentine Football Players, we notice a gap. The truth is, not many football fans have read Marcos Acuna’s Biography, which is very exciting. So we have taken time to prepare it. Without further ado, let’s get started.
Marcos Acuna Childhood Story:
For Biography starters, he bears the nickname – Egg. His full name is Marcos Javier Acuña. The Argentine was born on the 28th day of October 1991 to his Mother, Sara del Prado, in Zapala, Neuquén, Argentina.
Marcos Acuna is one among four children born to the short-lived marital union between his Mum (Sara) and Dad.
Now, let’s introduce you to one of Marcos Acuna’s Parents. Sara del Prado is Sara del Prado is a warrior woman who stood her ground and never rested until her son found success.
Let’s introduce you to one of Marcos Acuna’s parents- his Mum – Sara del Prado.
Growing Up:
Marcos Acuna grew up to be a chubby boy who was always happy and full of life. The cute, chubby baby, as many knew him, always wore a bright smile on his face. It is obvious that this smile was a product of the building blocks of love Acuna received from his Mum.
Right from his baby years, Acuna has always gotten this explosion of cute smile and charm.
Marcos Acuna’s Early Life:
The Athlete spent his childhood years alongside his siblings; popular among them is Walter Acuna, his brother.
Marcos Acuna’s Brother is three years older than him. Aside from Walker, other Siblings (born to his Mum, Sara) include Jessica and Fabiana.
Do you know?… Walter Acuña, who is Marcos’ brother, was as good as him in football. In fact, Walker could have had a career very similar to Marcos.
Although elegant and talented, things didn’t work out for him as he had expected. Marcos Acuna, as seen here, became the breadwinner of his family.
The boyhood years of Marcos Acuna.
Sara del Prado always highlights the personality of her two football sons – persons who have always filled her with pride.
She praised them for being good children, very respectful, always listening, and never deviating. Unfortunately, only the youngest (Marcos) made it as a successful footballer.
Walker, the oldest of the brothers, didn’t progress in football because of a lack of money to travel for travel and manage life in Burnes Aries.
Marcos Acuna Family Background:
In an interview with El Gráfico, the 2021 COPA America winner once revealed the details of his humble beginnings.
Truth be told, Acuna’s early years at Zapala were filled with family issues, struggles, and overcoming. First, Marcos Acuna’s Parents separated when he was around 4 or 5 years old.
Following the dissolution of the marriage between his Mum and Dad, poor Marcos was forced to live with his grandmother.
Grandma (as pictured here) never made Acuna go hungry) and she truly made him feel blessed despite the pains of his parent’s separation.
Here is Marcos Acuna’s Grandmother, a woman who housed him after his parents’ separation.
Unfortunately, Marcos Acuna’s grandmother’s finances were limited to cater for a long period of stay at her house.
For this reason, the youngster sometimes would go live with Sara del Prado, his Mother. Speaking about his early childhood struggles, Acuna once said,
After my parents separated, the situation of my childhood became difficult.
I took turns between house and house – from my grandmother to my mum.
Marcos Acuna’s Mum, Sara del Prado, successfully raised her four children without her husband.
Despite the challenges caused by marital breakdowns, she strived to see them become successful.
Again, Sara del Prado was a hardworking mother (a great cook) who ensured Marcos, Jessica, and Fabiana never went hungry.
A rare photo of Sara del Prado frying one of her son’s favourites.
Marcos Acuna Family Origin:
Research carried out to know about Athlete’s roots reveals that he (who holds Argentine nationality) is a bonafide La Albiceleste. Our research points to Zapala as the part of Argentina from which Marcos Acuna’s family comes.
The Left Back’s origin (Zapala) is a touristic town (with about 32,000 inhabitants) situated in the Patagonian province of Neuquén. The photo below shows a map of Zapala and the entrance to the city – which is a 1,329.6 kilometres car drive via RN5 to Buenos Aires.
This map gallery hopes to aid your understanding of Marcos Acuna’s Origins.
Ethnicity:
Where Marcos Acuna’s Parents come from (Argentina) is often called a “melting pot.” The reason is that many races in the country are subsumed into one national identity.
Argentina is a mix of Italian, Native American, and Spanish (including Galicians and Basques).
Results from our research suggest that Marcos Acuna identifies with the mestizo Argentine ethnicity. This ethnic group is a mix of European and Amerindian ancestry, and it comprises about 97.2% of Argentine people.
Marcos Acuna Education:
The Athlete from Neuquén Province attended primary education at school 114 in Olimpo. While there, Marcus Acuna played lots of football with his school team in neighbourhood tournaments.
In the small field of his primary school, Marcos Acuna was used to having an excessive outward display of his talent. For those who know him, the youngster was more showy because he was left-handed.
Marcos Acuna Biography – Football Story:
As early as age six, the youngster began his sports training at the Don Bosco Club in Zapala. Marcus Acuna’s good performance earned him a top spot in the watchful eyes of scouts.
Before moving to find a big academy to further his development, Marcus Acuna prepared himself by honing his skills in the field of Neuquén.
It was through this field that scouts who found him knew that his talent would be best suited for some of the top academies in the country.
These football scouts met Sara del Prado, his Mum, and advised that she send her son to attempt trials at different clubs in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital.
Marcos Acuna’s Mum took him by hand. And both made a long 15 hours 30 minutes journey to the country’s capital.
Marcos Acuna Bio – Road to Fame Story:
The Zapala native successfully carried out tests in top clubs like River Plate, Quilmes, and Tigre. Unfortunately, Marcos was rejected by the above clubs.
Acuna’s rejection didn’t end there, as he (at 13) failed to get accepted by San Lorenzo de Almagro and Boca Juniors.
At Quilmes Atlético Club, Marcus Acuna passed the test. Unfortunately, the club told him that there were no accommodations.
During that time, football trials had around 50 kids who fought for their futures, with many ending up being disappointed.
Speaking about his rejection, Acuna once said;
“I didn’t cry, but I got angry each time i got rejected.
And I had the thought that:
‘I come from so far away and these clubs almost didn’t look at me despite my efforts on the field…’ ”
It got to a time that Marcos Acuna felt so pity for his Mother and begged her not to spend any more money on him.
This sad conversation came just after the Academy of Buenos Aires, the champion of America, has just rejected him after a hard-fought trial with them.
Going alone to find success:
Upon travelling alone, Marcos Acuna slept in a hotel in the country’s capital. He went to the train station the next day – for a short journey to Ferro Carril Oeste. This was a club that had invited him for trials.
With this club, Marcus Acuna, who was on the verge of giving up on his career, labelled his trial as “His last chance”. Upon reaching the club, the youngster was attended to by a man with a moustache who confirmed he was part of the kids for trials and wished him luck.
With Ferro Carril Oeste, Marcus Acuna attended their trials for a week – which he passed with flying colours.
First, he rented a little room in Floresta where he stayed alone. Truth be told, living alone in a city as big as Buenos Aires was difficult for the boy who came so far.
To make matters worse, during Acuna’s first few months of living alone, thieves stole his properties three times. In addition to the demand of his training with his new club, Marcos had to deal with these episodes of insecurity. In his words;
The first time they robbed me, I made up my mind to go back. My mother, family and friends convinced me to stay back.
When I took the train in Floresta, they robbed me before arriving at the station.
It was very difficult for me. I got up at 5am every morning to go to Caballito, and from there, i will take a bus for Pontevedra.”
Marcos Acuna Biography – Success Story:
The club that accepted him, Ferro Carril Oeste, opened the doors for him to become a professional. After impressing his coach in Ferro’s reserve team, the energetic Acuna got a promotion to the club’s first team.
In the 2013-2014 season, Marcus stood out for his ability to provide killer passes and assists. It took as many as 23 assists before the youngster caught the attention of major clubs in Argentina.
On 18 July 2014, his dream to join Racing Club came to reality. Acuna made his name with this club, especially in the knockout phase of the 2013–14 Copa Argentina. In that match against San Martín de San Juan, he scored the winning goal.
Acuna’s fine form in a Racing shirt saw him becoming part of the 2014 Argentine Primera División champions. Do you know? Marcos helped cut a streak of 13 years without titles for the Avellaneda side.
European Journey:
The success Acuna achieved with Racing Club earned him a deserved transfer to Sporting CP. Acuna joined Sporting CP at the same time as Bruno Fernandes.
While there, he played alongside notable names like William Carvalho, João Palhinha, Speedy Rafael Leão and Rui Patricio.
On 15 May 2018, Acuña was among those who got injured in an attack by about 50 of the club’s supporters.
These supporters attacked them at their club’s training ground simply because they finished third in the league, which made them miss out on the Champions League.
Despite being one of the victims of the attack, Acuna (a man with a kind heart) agreed to continue playing for the club.
Before finally departing the club in 2020, the Argentine helped Sporting CP win three trophies. Acuna was a two-time Taça da Liga winner and a one-time Taça de Portugal winner.
The Egg won this trophy alongside others during his stay with Sporting CP.
Rise to Global Fame:
Acuna joined Matheus Pereira and Raphinha, who moved to open new chapters of their career in other top Leagues.
When the Argentine joined Spanish club Sevilla in 2020, he had cemented his place as a regular in the Argentine national team.
Marcos was called up by coach Lionel Scaloni as a competitor to Nicolás Tagliafico in the 2021 Copa América.
He, alongside Nahuel Molina, Football’s GOAT Lionel Messi, etc, was part of those who helped Argentina win the trophy against Brazil, thanks to a goal from Ángel Di María.
The rest, as we say, is history.
Julia Silva – Marcos Acuna’s Wife:
Just after becoming a professional footballer with Ferro Carril Oeste, the Argentine fell in love with him.
Marcos Acuna found his wife in 2012, the year she became his girlfriend. At that time, both lovers (Egg and Julia) were in their twenties.
Let’s introduce you to Julia Silva. She is Marcos Acuna’s Wife.
Julia Silva was born on the 3rd day of August 1993. By implication, Acuna is two years older than his wife.
After four years of being together (including having children), both lovers decided to tie the knot in the month of September 2016.
The wedding ceremony of Julia Silva and her Husband.
Marcos Acuna Children:
The relationship between Julia Silva and her footballer husband has produced a son and two daughters. Mora Jazmin is Acuna’s first child, and she (his daughter) was born in 2014.
In the year the Argentine Left-Back and his wife Julia Silva got married, they had their second child, a son. Marcus Acuna’s first son goes by the name Benjamin.
A rare image of Acuna Benjamin just after his birth.
A year after Julia Silva’s husband won the COPA America title with Argentina, she gave birth to their third child.
In 2022, Martina Acuna, the second daughter and third child of the family, arrived in the world. Here is a lovely photo of Martina and the rest of her family.
On this day, the Argentine Defender celebrated his 30th birthday.
Personal Life:
Who is Marcos Acuna?
Away from his activities on the pitch, the Egg is both quiet, funny and annoying at the same time. But we wouldn’t fail to mention the fact that Acuna is a Great Dad.
Away from football, he is someone who loves to laugh, have fun and chase after the simple things in life. For a man who grew up in a poor family, he never stops losing his humility. The 2021 COPA America winner does this for his workout routine.
Marcos Acuna Lifestyle:
From the moment he achieved success with Racing, his Defender got grounded by his Mum on how to manage fame. Even to this day, Marcus Acuna still has his feet on the ground, and he does not stop losing that humility.
About the Lifestyle of the Egg, he is someone who spends his monies quietly. Acuna does not approve of the exotic way of living, which revolves around him displaying expensive cars, big houses, and making self-satisfaction talks about his fat football salaries.
Marcos Acuna Car:
At the time he had his first child, Mora Jazmin, he was known to be driving a Volkswagen car. At that time, Acuna, who had just achieved lots of success with Ferro Carril Oeste, had just joined Racing Club. Mora Jazmin should be a few months old when her Dad took this photo with her.
Mora Jazmin has always been a Daddy’s Girl.
Marcos Acuna Family Life:
A close-knit household has different meanings for everyone. For this set of persons, it is not just blood ties and DNA but support, affection, closeness and trust. Now, let’s tell you more about the family members of the Zapala native.
Marcos Acuna’s Mother:
Sara del Prado was mostly there for her son during the saddest and most frustrating period of his youth career life. During those times, she always reminded him of his ultimate dream – that he should remain steadfast and that one day, he would wear the national team shirt.
It got to a time when Acuna felt he had stretched his Mum so much. He labelled those moments as “the last chance” to succeed in his great football passion. Here, we talk about a time (after several rejections). A time, he and his Mum took a bus from Zapala to Buenos Aires for him to have trials with many clubs.
In fact, Sara del Prado took her little boy (Marcus Acuna) by hand to find greener pastures. It got to the point that Marcos once told her, “mom, don’t spend more money on me again“, simply because Boca Juniors (the champion of South America) had just rejected him.
Marcos Acuna’s Brother:
Walter sacrificed his career so his youngster sibling (whom this Biography is about) would progress. It is quite similar to the case of Darwin Nunez and his older brother, Junior. Walter Acuña was a central or right midfielder who once played for Olimpo de Zapala.
Walter is pictured alongside his brother, Marcos.
Walker was supposed to join his brother, Marcus, to have trials with top clubs in Burnes Aries. Due to a lack of finances, Sara del Prado, their Mum, could only afford to support only one of her sons. Waker knew Marcos was more talented, so he allowed him to go with their Mum.
To this day, Marcos Acuna’s Mum still criticises and blames herself for not extending the opportunity to her older sons. In Sara del Prado words;
Economically, I couldn’t bank the two of them in Buenos Aires. That made it very difficult for me.
I am the mother of four children, and I raised them alone, but thank God I managed to get on.
Marcus Acuna Father:
As noticed in this Bio, he appears to be absent at those moments his son suffered and survived the complexities of his early career years. Even to this day, Acuna hardly mentions his Dad. This is quite similar to the case of the Hernandez brothers – Theo and Lucas.
Marcos Acuna’s Grandparents:
There is a saying that every family needs grandparents, and we tell you that the Argentine and Thiago Almada are among the few persons whose Nan greatly influenced their lives. Both footballers were partly raised by their grandmum, who gave them the freedom to participate in sports.
Untold Facts:
In the final section of Marcos Acuna’s Biography, we’ll tell you truths you might not know about him. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
Marcos Acuna Salary:
The February 2021 contract he extended with Spanish club Sevilla sees him earning around €2,844,401. Converting this money into local Argentine currency, we have 505,274,370 pesos.
How rich is the Sevilla Left Back?
Where Marcos Acuna’s family comes from, the average Argentine makes approximately 542,400 Argentine pesos per year. Such a citizen would need 18 years to make the Athlete’s weekly salary (9,701,888 pesos) with Sevilla.
Marcos Acuna FIFA:
The Egg is very much similar to Pervis Estupinan and Luke Shaw. They are energetic left-backs who excel in all areas of football, ranging from Defending, Mentality, Skill, Power, Movement and Attacking. Here is a view of
Balance, Stamina, Ball Control, Curve, and Composure are his most valuable assets.
Marcos Acuna Religion:
The son of Sara del Prado is a devoted Christian. In fact, Marcos Acuna’s family members are Catholics. In the photo below, the Athlete’s wife, Julia Silva and their daughter, Mora Jazmin, are pictured receiving a Reverend Father’s blessings.
Marcos Acuna’s wife and daughter are receiving Father’s blessings.
EndNote:
The Athlete bears the nickname the Egg and Full Name – Marcos Javier Acuna del Prado. He was born to his Mother, Sara del Prado, on the 28th day of October 1991 in Zapala, Argentina.
Marcus Acuna has four siblings. They are two females and one male. Marcus Acuna sisters are Jessica and Fabiana Acuna. The Athlete has only one male sibling. Walter Acuna is the older brother of Marcos.
The Argentine footballer joins the likes of Swiss’ Breel Embolo, Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere, Danish Thomas Delaney, and Ruben Vargas, whose parents separated during their childhood. For Acuna, his Dad and Mum dissolved their marriage when he was around 5 or 6 years old.
Following his parents’ marriage dissolution, Marcos was forced to live with his Grandmother. Sometimes, he would shuttle between saying in her Nan’s house and that of his Mum. Sara del Prado raised her four children (Marcus, Walter, Jessica and Fabiana) without her ex-husband.
Young Acuna, alongside his older brother (Walker), had taken a likeness for football since their early years. In the field of his primary school, he honed his skills and later began playing for Don Bosco Club in Zapala.
The quest to find a football academy that would enhance his career growth became difficult. Poor Acuna was rejected by top Argentine clubs, namely, River Plate, Quilmes, Tigre, San Lorenzo de Almagro and Boca Juniors. In the end, he found favour with Ferro Carril Oeste.
Acuna became a professional with Ferro. After achieving a meteoric rise with Racing Club, following a transfer, he found himself in Europe. Marcos with Sporting CP won trophies. With the Argentine national team, he helped Lionel Messi win his first COPA AMERICA. Aside from Marcos Acuna’s Bio, we’ve other great Argentine Soccer Stories that’ll excite your reading pleasure. Have you read the Life History of Giovanni Simeone and Enzo Fernandez?
Appreciation Note:
Thank you for taking the time to read our version of Marcos Acuna’s Biography. We care about accuracy and fairness in obeying the clarion call of delivering stories about the Albicelestes. Acuna’s Bio is part of our wider version of North and South American Soccer Stories.
Please let us know via comment if you find anything that doesn’t appear right in our story of the Albiceleste. We’d also like to hear what you think about Acuna and his amazing career story.
