Following his move to Sarmiento Junin, Zabala's current-season form is up 144% on last season (Season 16→39), while his Rating eased 49→41. 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	25	1	1	6.99	41	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 41.4 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 230th of 528 on scout potential in the Liga Profesional Argentina. An experienced operator, he has been an ever-present this season (95.2% 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 39 — an excellent campaign that ranks top 6% of the 74 defensive midfielders in the Liga Profesional Argentina, on 1 goal, 1 assist and 4.041 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 16 → 39).

On long-term talent our Rating reads 41, 35th of 74 of the 74 defensive midfielders in the Liga Profesional Argentina. At 28 Zabala is in his prime years, and a market index of 10.3 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 potential35th of 74 defensive midfielders · Liga Profesional Argentina Current seasonTop 6% defensive midfielders · Liga Profesional Argentina 4th-best defensive midfielder in the Liga Profesional Argentina 230th in the Liga Profesional Argentina · potential 35th-highest potential defensive midfielder in the Liga Profesional Argentina

41.4

Ratingi

35th of 74 defensive midfielders

38.6

Seasoni

developing / rotation level

95.2%

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

Apps

4.04

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

4.04 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 8 clean sheets across 25 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 95.2% 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 41.4, Zabala carries the 35th-highest potential of the defensive midfielders in the Liga Profesional Argentina of 74. 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 %95.2%

Available fixtures26 of 26

Goals / 900.04

Assists / 900.04

Goal contribution / 900.081

Defensive actions / 904.041

Player flow

Goal involvements2

Shot conversion %50

Shot accuracy %20

Pass accuracy %80

Dribble success %46.5

Cards / 900.242

Foul involvement / 901.778

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 (~17), then tapers with age. At 28, Zabala sits on 10.3, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Zabala's projected Rating — 41.4 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

Shots10

Passing

Assists1

Chances created21

Passes1,084

Pass accuracy80%

Possession

Successful dribbles20

Dribble success46.5%

Duels won149

Duels won %55.6%

Fouls won19

Penalties won1—

Defending

Tackles65

Interceptions31

Blocks4

Fouls committed25

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards6

Red cards0

Transfer history

Sarmiento JuninJan 2026 – nowFree

IndependienteJan 2024 – Jan 2026

TigreOct 2020 – Jan 2024Free

Quilmesuntil Oct 2020

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 25 appearances with 1 goal and 1 assist across 2,227 minutes, averaging a 6.8 match rating over his last 10 rated games, with 6 yellow cards.

When C. Zabala plays, Sarmiento Junin's record this season is 10W-2D-13L — and his match ratings average 7.05 at home against 6.75 on the road.

Recent matches

September 19, 2026: 1-3 loss away at Racing Club (90 minutes, 6.6 rating)
September 13, 2026: 1-1 draw at home vs Belgrano Cordoba (90 minutes, 6.56 rating)
September 4, 2026: 2-0 win away at Estudiantes de Rio Cuarto (90 minutes, 6.34 rating)
August 28, 2026: 1-4 loss away at Union Santa Fe (94 minutes, 6.3 rating)
August 23, 2026: 2-0 win at home vs Estudiantes L.P. (90 minutes, 7.5 rating)
August 8, 2026: 2-1 win away at Atletico Tucuman (96 minutes, 7.2 rating)
August 3, 2026: 2-1 win at home vs Independ. Rivadavia (96 minutes, 7 rating)
July 28, 2026: 2-3 loss away at Banfield (90 minutes, 6.6 rating)
July 23, 2026: 2-3 loss at home vs Argentinos JRS (90 minutes, 1 assist, 7.9 rating)
May 3, 2026: 0-4 loss away at Belgrano Cordoba (90 minutes, 6 rating)

C. Zabala's next match is on October 4, 2026, when Sarmiento Junin face River Plate at home in the Liga Profesional Argentina.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates C. Zabala at 41.4 with a Season form score of 38.6, ranking 230th of 528 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 194 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, 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