Lucas Daniel Cavallini (born December 28, 1992) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Canadian Premier League side Forge FC.

Early life Cavallini was born in Canada to an Argentine father and an Italian mother. He played youth soccer in Canada with Club Uruguay, Weston Wolves SC, NY Hearts, and Clarkson Sheridan SC. He left Canada at age 16 and went to South America to develop his soccer talents. He began playing for Nacional's youth development squads in 2010 in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Club career Nacional In June 2011, he participated in the 2011 U-20 Copa Libertadores. In the first game, Nacional beat Libertad 1–0 with a goal by Romero. In the second match, they beat Jorge Wilstermann 3–1 with goals from Bueno, Marchelli and again Romero. In the third and final game, Nacional drew 0–0 with Universitario, and qualified for the quarterfinals. On June 20, they were defeated by Mexican side América 1–0, which led to their elimination.

His development in the youth squad lead him to sign a senior contract with the club in early 2012.

Loan to Juventud In mid-July 2012, he was loaned to Juventud de Las Piedras to make his professional debut and have more chances in the first team. In his second match with the club, he scored his first official goal in the 1–0 home victory against Central Español. On October 7, he was the man of the match against Bella Vista, assisting and scoring a goal in his team's 2–0 victory. His third goal came six days later, in a 1–1 away draw against Fénix.

CA Fénix After a slow start during his first season on loan with C.A. Fénix, Cavallini emerged as the club's most prolific goal scorer in the Apertura of the 2014–15 Uruguayan Primera División season. He joined them permanently before the start of the 2015 Apertura.

Peñarol Cavallini joined Peñarol on January 10, 2017. He scored his first goal against Montevideo Wanderers on February 26. He was loaned to Liga MX side Puebla on August 31, 2017.

Puebla Cavallini was loaned to Liga MX side Puebla on August 31, 2017, becoming the first Canadian to play in Mexico's top tier since Isidro Sánchez Macip in 2010. He debuted for the club against Cruz Azul on September 9, coming on in the 64th minute for Félix Micolta in a 0–0 draw. He scored his first goal for Puebla against Necaxa on September 16. After scoring 13 goals in 25 matches for Puebla in the 2017–18 season, the club would sign him to a four-year contract in June 2018.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC In December 2019, Puebla and Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps FC agreed to a transfer, with Cavallini signing a three-year deal with the club ahead of the 2020 MLS season. He made his debut in Vancouver's season-opening 3–1 loss to Sporting Kansas City on March 1, 2020. Cavallini scored his first regular-season goal for Vancouver on September 6, netting the opener in a 3–2 victory over Toronto FC In August 2022, he joined Whitecaps FC 2 on loan for a match in MLS Next Pro.

Tijuana In February 2023, Cavallini returned to Mexico and signed with Tijuana. On February 10 he made his debut for Xolos against Atlético San Luis, coming on as a substitute in an eventual 1-0 victory. Cavallini scored his first goal for Xolos on March 3 against Atlas.

Return to Puebla On January 5, 2024, Cavallini left Tijuana and returned to Puebla as a free agent. He began the Apertura 2024 tournament in strong form, scoring four goals in his first four league matches to sit among the joint leaders of the Liga MX scoring chart, alongside Raúl Zúñiga, Paulinho and Henry Martín. In August 2024, however, he suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during training, ruling him out for the remainder of the Apertura 2024 tournament, and he subsequently missed the entire Clausura 2025 tournament.

After nearly a year of rehabilitation, Cavallini returned to action in July 2025, appearing as a substitute against Mazatlán on July 19, 2025. Days later, he was diagnosed with a second rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in the same knee, requiring further surgery. In February 2026, Puebla left Cavallini off its Liga MX registration list for the Clausura 2026 tournament, ruling him out for the remainder of the season while he continued his recovery.

International career

Cavallini launched his international career for Canada at 18 years old, debuting for the U-20 team in 2011 during the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Guatemala. Cavallini earned three call-ups to Canada's U-23 National team.

Cavallini's performance, along with the fact that he "plays in a different type of league (down in Uruguay)", according to head coach Stephen Hart, earned him his first call up to the senior roster to face Trinidad & Tobago in a friendly match on August 13, 2012. Cavallini debuted for Canada as a second-half substitute for Terry Dunfield against Trinidad, a 2–0 victory.

Cavallini made his World Cup qualifying debut in Canada's 8–1 loss to Honduras. Following that match, he declined a call-up from interim coach Colin Miller for the 2013 Gold Cup, citing personal reasons. Then coach Benito Floro gave an interview in October 2014 where he elaborated on Cavallini, saying that he had reached out to the player and had not heard back from him. Floro however pointed out that there is a place in the team for him in the future. In May 2015, Cavallini stated in an interview with Tenfield that he regretted becoming cap-tied to Canada.

Despite his comments, Cavallini was called up to face Ghana in an October 2015 friendly. In an interview regarding his return to the national team, Cavallini stated that he did not say he would never play for Les Rouges again, and that his comments were wrongly translated. He mentioned that his lack of appearances were related to personal matters and timing including the birth of his daughter.

Cavallini was named to the Canadian 40-man provisional team for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup by Canada coach Octavio Zambrano on June 6, 2017. He was confirmed as part of the final 23-man squad on June 27.

Cavallini scored his first goals for Canada on September 9, 2018, netting a brace in an 8–0 victory over the U.S. Virgin Islands in a CONCACAF Nations League qualifier. On May 30, 2019, Cavallini was named to the final squad for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He scored a hat-trick in a 7–0 win over Cuba during the group stage on June 23, and had a chance to score his fourth goal from a penalty spot, but his panenka went over the crossbar. On March 29, 2021, Cavallini scored his second hat-trick with Canada, as a substitute, in an 11–0 win over Cayman Islands in the team's second 2022 World Cup qualifying match.

In July 2021 Cavallini was named to the Canadian squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. In November 2022, Cavallini was called-up to Canada's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He made one appearance for Canada in Qatar, in Canada's second match on November 27 against Croatia.

In June 2023, Cavallini was named to the final 23-man squad for Canada ahead of the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals. On June 19, he was named to the squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Style of play Cavallini plays as a forward. He is known for his aerial ability.

Personal life Cavallini has been married and has three children. He has been nicknamed "El Tanque".

Honours Peñarol Uruguayan Primera División: 2017

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Canadian Championship: 2022

Career statistics Club

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsNacionalUruguayan Primera División4000000040Juventud (loan)2012–13Uruguayan Primera División25100000002510Fénix (loan)2013–14Uruguayan Primera División1320000001322014–1527140000002714Total40160000004016Fénix2015–16Uruguayan Primera División2570000002572016115002000135Total36120020003812Peñarol2017Uruguayan Primera División166001000176Puebla (loan)2017–18Liga MX25131000002613Puebla2018–19Liga MX331141000037122019–20175100000185Total75296100008130Vancouver Whitecaps FC2020MLS18600000018620212130000102232022249400000289Total63184000106818Whitecaps FC 2 (loan)2022MLS Next Pro10———10Tijuana2022–23Liga MX122———1222023–24121——10131Total243000010253Puebla2023–24Liga MX163———1632024–2544——20642025–2610———10Total217000020237Career total3051011013040322102

Notes

International

+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsCanada2012202013002014002015102016002017402018332019782020002021115202272202351Total4019

Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Cavallini goal.

+ List of international goals scored by Lucas CavalliniNo.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 IMG Academy, Bradenton, United States 8 2–0 8–0 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification2 5–03 October 16, 2018 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada 9 3–0 5–0 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification4 March 24, 2019 BC Place, Vancouver, Canada 11 2–1 4–1 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification5 4–16 June 20, 2019 13 1–2 1–3 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup7 June 23, 2019 Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, United States 14 2–0 7–0 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup8 3–09 4–010 June 29, 2019 NRG Stadium, Houston, United States 15 2–0 2–3 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup11 October 15, 2019 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada 16 2–0 2–0 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A12 March 29, 2021 IMG Academy, Bradenton, United States 19 8–0 11–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification13 10–014 11–015 June 5, 2021 IMG Academy, Bradenton, United States 20 1–0 7–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification16 3–017 June 9, 2022 BC Place, Vancouver, Canada 32 4–0 4–0 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A18 November 17, 2022 Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 34 2–1 2–1 Friendly19 June 27, 2023 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada 37 1–1 2–2 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup

Notes

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