Following his move to Sarmiento Junin, Zabala's current-season form is up 156% on last season (Season 16→41), while his Rating eased 49→42. That makes this his strongest season for form to date.

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Sarmiento Junin · 8th	19	1	1	6.94	42	41
2024/25	Independiente del Valle	32	4	0	7.14	—	—
2023/24	Tigre	40	1	1	6.75	—	—
2022/23	Tigre · 7th	38	0	2	6.76	49	16
2021/22	Tigre	27	2	0	—	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 3 earlier seasons in the full career.

Scout report

Project playerBall-winning Defensive midfielder

C. Zabala is a 28-year-old defensive midfielder at Sarmiento Junin, rated 41.8 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 215th of 518 on scout potential in the Liga Profesional Argentina. An experienced operator, he has been an ever-present this season (97.8% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 4.04 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Zabala.

Judged on this season alone, Zabala graded 41 — an excellent campaign that ranks top 9% of the 62 defensive midfielders in the Liga Profesional Argentina, on 1 goal, 1 assist and 4.037 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 16 → 41).

On long-term talent our Rating reads 42, 26th of 62 of the 62 defensive midfielders in the Liga Profesional Argentina. At 28 Zabala is in his prime years, and a market index of 11 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

A career still climbing — Zabala is at his peak right now, and the curve hasn't flattened.

Peak: 2026/27Trending upBreakout: 2026/27

Current potential26th of 62 defensive midfielders · Liga Profesional Argentina Current seasonTop 9% defensive midfielders · Liga Profesional Argentina5th-best defensive midfielder in the Liga Profesional Argentina215th in the Liga Profesional Argentina · potential26th-highest potential defensive midfielder in the Liga Profesional Argentina

41.8

Ratingi

26th of 62 defensive midfielders

41.2

Seasoni

developing / rotation level

97.8%

Minutes

near ever-present

4.04

Def. actions / 90

solid defensive volume

Output in context · Sarmiento Junin finished 8th of 15 · a mid-table side

4.04

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

4.04 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 5 clean sheets across 19 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 97.8% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Defensive volume. 4.04 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 41.8, Zabala carries the 26th-highest potential of the defensive midfielders in the Liga Profesional Argentina of 62. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (4.04 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1.2× now → 0.9× projected in three years).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %97.8%

Available fixtures19 of 19

Goals / 900.054

Assists / 900.054

Goal contribution / 900.108

Defensive actions / 904.037

Player flow

Goal involvements2

Shot conversion %50

Shot accuracy %25

Pass accuracy %81

Dribble success %44.7

Cards / 900.269

Foul involvement / 901.992

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~18), then tapers with age. At 28, Zabala sits on 11, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Zabala's projected Rating — 41.8 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among defensive midfielders in the Liga Profesional Argentina with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Shots on target2

Shots8

Passing

Assists1

Chances created19

Passes893

Pass accuracy81%

Possession

Successful dribbles17

Dribble success44.7%

Duels won111

Duels won %52.9%

Fouls won16

Defending

Tackles45

Interceptions26

Blocks4

Fouls committed21

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards5

Red cards0

Transfer history

Sarmiento Junin2025/26 – nowFree

Independiente del Valle2023/24 – 2025/26

Tigre2020/21 – 2023/24Free

Quilmesuntil 2020/21

About C. Zabala

Cristian Exequiel Zabala is a 28-year-old defensive midfielder who plays for Sarmiento Junin, born on March 4, 1998 in Buenos Aires, standing 187 cm tall. He is from Argentina. Sarmiento Junin currently sit 8th of 15 in the Liga Profesional Argentina.

This season

In the current season, C. Zabala has made 19 appearances with 1 goal and 1 assist across 1,672 minutes, with 5 yellow cards.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates C. Zabala at 41.8 with a Season form score of 41.2, ranking 215th of 518 defensive midfielders in the Liga Profesional Argentina. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

Career

Across 8 recorded seasons, C. Zabala has totalled 188 club appearances with 9 goals and 4 assists for 4 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2023/24, with 40 appearances for Tigre.

C. Zabala's career has also included time at Independiente del Valle, Tigre and Quilmes.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Sarmiento Junin finished 8th of 15 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points