BTN News: This Sunday at 3 PM, the Argentine men’s hockey team will play against Germany in the quarterfinals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This match is very important for both teams, but there is one player everyone will be watching closely. Gonzalo Peillat, who helped the Leones win in Rio 2016, is now a key player for Germany. Peillat, once a hero for Argentina, is now playing against his former team. This adds a lot of drama to the game.
Gonzalo Peillat, who is now 31 years old, was a star for the Argentine national hockey team. He played in 153 games and 31 competitions, becoming the top scorer in 17 of those competitions. He scored a total of 352 goals. His biggest achievement was winning the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he was also the top scorer. Despite his success, Peillat decided to leave the Argentine national team. In 2019, he had a disagreement with the Argentine Hockey Confederation and chose to step away from the team. Later, while playing for Mannheimer HC in Germany, he accepted an offer to become a German citizen and play for Germany.
In an interview with ESPN, Peillat talked about his difficult decision. “Part of me wanted to keep playing for Argentina, but another part knew it wouldn’t work out. You get tired of hitting your head against the wall. I had to think about it many times with my family, but I couldn’t talk to many people about it. It wasn’t easy because I worried about what people would say or what a German player would think about me playing for them,” he explained.
When Peillat received his German passport in 2020, he said on his club’s website, “Just because I have a passport now doesn’t mean I’m part of the team. To really play, I have to bring value and earn my place. I had already decided to play internationally again. It’s surprising that this opportunity came up.”
Peillat’s journey from Argentina to Germany includes playing for several clubs and leagues. He started at Club Mitre in Argentina, where he won the Metropolitan Tournament in 2010. Then, he moved to the Kalinga Lancers in the Hockey India League. After that, he played in the Hoofdklasse Hockey in the Netherlands and Mannheimer HC in Germany. He also played for Terengganu in the Malaysia Hockey League and Mohammedan Sporting Club in the Premier Division Hockey League in Bangladesh.
When the news came out that Argentina would play Germany in the Olympics, many people reacted on social media. Some called Peillat a “traitor,” while others supported his decision. This isn’t the first time Peillat has played against his old teammates. In May 2022, Argentina played Germany in the Pro League in Berlin. Germany won 6-3, and Peillat was a big part of that win. He scored twice from penalty corners and assisted Raphael Hartkopf for another goal. His celebrations for Germany, just two months after getting his passport, caught a lot of attention.
As the game approaches, the story of Peillat’s role adds more excitement to the match. Once a symbol of success for Argentine hockey, Peillat now stands as a strong opponent. His journey shows the challenges and changes in professional sports, where personal choices can change careers and national teams.
This game is not just about moving forward in the Olympics. It is a story full of personal and national importance. Gonzalo Peillat’s change from an Argentine champion to a German star shows the unpredictable nature of sports. Alliances can change, and new stories are written. The world will be watching to see how this story unfolds on the field in Paris.