Leandro Daniel Cabrera Sasía (born 17 June 1991) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays for La Liga club Espanyol. Mainly a central defender, he can also play as a left-back.

He spent the vast majority of his career in Spain, making 299 appearances in the Segunda División and more than 200 in La Liga. Other than in his own country, he also competed professionally in Italy.

Club career

Atlético Madrid

Born in Montevideo, Cabrera started his career with local Defensor Sporting, playing seven Primera División matches for the first team as they won the 2009 Clausura. In June 2009, he signed with La Liga club Atlético Madrid for €1.5 million, paid to former Uruguay international player Daniel Fonseca who owned his rights (and ceded 50% to Atlético).

In a strange first season, where he even failed to appear for the reserves, Cabrera's debut for the first team only took place on 2 May 2010, featuring as a left-back in a 3–1 away defeat against Sevilla FC. He was also booked in the game.

In the summer of 2010, Cabrera was loaned to Recreativo de Huelva for 2010–11, with the Andalusians in the Segunda División. He joined another second-tier side, CD Numancia, on loan for the next campaign. The following five years – the first two on loan – he continued competing at that level with Hércules CF, Real Madrid Castilla and Real Zaragoza.

Crotone

On 15 July 2017, free agent Cabrera joined FC Crotone on a three-year deal. His debut in the Serie A took place on 20 August, when he featured the full 90 minutes in the 3–0 home loss to AC Milan.

Getafe

Cabrera returned to the Spanish top flight on 15 January 2018, being loaned to Getafe CF. The move was made permanent on 7 July, and he rarely missed a match during his spell at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.

Espanyol

On 20 January 2020, Cabrera signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with RCD Espanyol after his €9 million release clause was paid. In March, he tested positive for COVID-19.

Following the departure of David López in the 2022 off-season, Cabrera was named captain while also agreeing to an extension until 2026. On 28 August, as his team had no more substitutions left (a reserve goalkeeper was on the bench, however), he played a couple of minutes in goal after Benjamin Lecomte was sent off already in injury time, conceding one goal from Karim Benzema in an eventual 3–1 home defeat to Real Madrid.

International career

Cabrera represented Uruguay in two editions of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, reaching the round of 16 in 2009. On 7 January 2022, aged already 30, he was called by the full side for the first time, for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Venezuela. In October, he was named in a 55-man preliminary squad for the finals in Qatar.

Career statistics

As of match played 9 February 2026

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Defensor2008–09Uruguayan Primera División700040–110
Atlético Madrid2009–10La Liga400000–40
Recreativo (loan)2010–11Segunda División11010––120
Numancia (loan)2011–12Segunda División33010––340
Hércules (loan)2012–13Segunda División39110––401
Real Madrid B2013–14Segunda División330–––330
Zaragoza2014–15Segunda División38110––391
2015–16Segunda División35210––362
2016–17Segunda División38200––382
Total111520––1135
Crotone2017–18Serie A5020––70
Getafe2017–18La Liga900000–90
2018–19La Liga3224000–362
2019–20La Liga1820031–213
Total5944031–665
Espanyol2019–20La Liga1700000–170
2020–21Segunda División3801000–390
2021–22La Liga3723000–402
2022–23La Liga3204000–360
2023–24Segunda División37120––391
2024–25La Liga334–––334
2025–26La Liga223–––223
Total2161010000–22610
Career total5182121071–54621

Honours

Defensor

Atlético Madrid

Espanyol

External links

  • at BDFutbol