Atlanta United and Designated Player Esequiel Barco “Santos”: What Fans in Atlanta Should Know

If you’re searching for “Atlanta United – Santos”, you’re probably trying to figure out how a player named Santos connects to Atlanta United FC, how it affects the team, and what it means for you as a supporter in Atlanta, Georgia.

Right now, there is no major first-team Atlanta United player whose primary last name is “Santos”. However, Atlanta United has had and faced several well-known players with “Santos” in their name, and there’s frequent confusion around:

• Visiting players named Santos who play at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium
• Players from clubs like Santos FC in Brazil
• Mis-heard or shortened names for Atlanta United players with similar-sounding surnames

This guide breaks down what “Santos” might refer to in an Atlanta soccer context, and how you can keep track of players and matches if you live in or are visiting Atlanta.

Understanding “Santos” in the Atlanta United Context

In global soccer, “Santos” is an extremely common last name and also the name of several clubs, including the famous Santos FC in Brazil (Pelé’s former club). When you combine that with Atlanta’s rapidly growing soccer scene, search terms like “Atlanta United – Santos” can point to a few different things.

1. Opposing Players Named Santos

Many fans search for “Atlanta United – Santos” after watching a match at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium or on TV and noticing a visiting player called Santos. Common scenarios:

• Atlanta United plays a MLS Eastern or Western Conference club whose striker or defender is named Santos.
• You’re looking up a match highlight involving a Santos scoring or conceding a goal against Atlanta.
• You heard the announcer say “Santos” and you want to know who they are and how they link to Atlanta.

Because MLS rosters change frequently, the best way to confirm which Santos you saw play in Atlanta is to check:

• The official Atlanta United matchday roster for that game
• The opponent’s roster for that date
• Recent match recaps or local sports coverage mentioning “Santos vs Atlanta United”

These sources clearly list which players were on the field at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium on a given night.

2. Confusion With Brazilian Club Santos FC

Another common angle is confusion involving Santos FC (Brazil):

• Atlanta fans may see transfer rumors mentioning a player from Santos FC potentially joining Atlanta United.
• Visitors to Atlanta sometimes search “Atlanta United Santos” after hearing about Brazilian clubs during soccer conversations in the city’s many soccer bars and viewing parties.
• Youth players or local academies in metro Atlanta occasionally reference Santos FC in training methods, branding, or tournament naming.

As of the latest widely known information, Atlanta United and Santos FC are separate clubs with no permanent, formal merger or rebranding. However, transfer links or friendly matches can pop up from time to time, so it’s common for the names to intersect in news, especially around:

• Transfer windows
• Preseason friendlies
• International tournaments where Brazilian players are scouted

How “Santos” Might Show Up at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium

If you’re watching Atlanta United in person at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta, here are practical ways you might actually encounter “Santos”:

On the field

• A visiting MLS player with the surname Santos in the starting XI or coming off the bench
• A CONCACAF Champions League or friendly opponent with a player called Santos
• A referee or assistant referee from another country whose last name is Santos (less common, but possible)

On the broadcast or scoreboard

• The stadium video boards and in‑stadium announcements may display:
  • “Goal – Santos” if a visiting player scores
  • Substitution notices when Santos checks in or out
  • Starting lineups listing Santos at a particular position

If you want confirmation during a game:

• Check the matchday program often available around club level or main concourses.
• Use your phone to look at the live match center on the league’s official platforms while you’re in your seat.
• Many fans in Atlanta also follow local sports radio coverage before or after games for player breakdowns, including any Santos who featured that day.

Following Atlanta United Player News (Including Anyone Named Santos)

To keep track of any current or future Santos-linked players associated with Atlanta United, Atlanta residents commonly rely on a mix of official and local sources.

Official club and league information

For the most up‑to‑date roster information (including whether anyone named Santos has joined the club), locals usually check:

• Atlanta United FC front office and team operations
  Mercedes‑Benz Stadium
  1 AMB Drive NW
  Atlanta, GA 30313
  Main stadium/venue inquiries typically go through the stadium’s general contact lines or the club’s official digital channels.

• Official Atlanta United roster pages and press releases
  These list:

  • Full player names
  • Positions
  • Nationalities
  • Transfer status and loans

This is the most reliable way to confirm if a “Santos” is actually under contract with Atlanta United or simply an opponent or a transfer target.

Local Atlanta media and coverage

Atlanta has a growing soccer media scene. Residents frequently turn to:

• Local sports sections of major Atlanta newspapers for transfer rumors, match reports, and player profiles.
• Atlanta-based radio and sports talk shows, which often discuss:
  • New signings
  • Possible arrivals from South America or Europe
  • How new players might fit into Atlanta United’s system

If a notable player named Santos ever signs with the club, it will almost certainly be covered widely by these outlets, especially right after the announcement.

Practical Tips for Fans in Atlanta Searching “Atlanta United – Santos”

If you typed this phrase after watching a game or hearing a rumor, here’s how to quickly orient yourself.

Step-by-step: Figure out which “Santos” you’re dealing with

1. Note the match date and opponent.

   • Was it a regular MLS match?
   • A cup game?
   • A preseason friendly?

2. Check the lineups.

   • Look up the match lineups for that specific date.
   • Identify any player named Santos on the opponent’s team or among the substitutes.

3. Confirm whether they play for Atlanta or against Atlanta.

   • If Santos is listed under the opposing club, they’re not an Atlanta United player.
   • If Atlanta United ever signs a Santos in the future, they’ll show up on the home roster.

4. Look at local post‑match coverage.

   • Atlanta-based recaps often highlight key opponents by name, especially if:
     • Santos scored
     • Santos assisted a goal
     • Santos was at the center of a controversial moment

Quick reference: Common meanings of “Atlanta United – Santos”

Experiencing Atlanta United in Atlanta While Following Player Stories

Even if “Santos” turns out to be an opposing player, many people in Atlanta love learning more about the players they see on the pitch. If you’re in the city and want to deepen your connection to Atlanta United and match‑day stories:

Attend a match at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium

• Located in downtown Atlanta, the stadium is accessible from:
  • MARTA’s GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station (Blue/Green Line)
  • Nearby parking garages and rideshare drop‑off points
• Inside the stadium, you’ll find:
  • Large video boards with player names and stats
  • Matchday announcements highlighting goals, substitutions, and key moments for both teams (including any Santos on the field)

Join local Atlanta soccer watch parties

Around the city, especially in neighborhoods like Midtown, Buckhead, and East Atlanta, supporters often gather at pubs and restaurants that show MLS matches. These settings are useful if you:

• Want to ask other fans, “Who is this Santos playing against us today?”
• Prefer live commentary and discussion while watching on TV instead of at the stadium

When a Player Named Santos Joins (or Faces) Atlanta United

For anyone in Atlanta who wants to stay prepared in case an impactful player named Santos joins or frequently faces Atlanta United, a few habits help:

• Check rosters at the start of each season.
  MLS teams regularly adjust their squads in the off‑season. A Santos could appear as a new signing or as a new rival forward in the conference.

• Monitor transfer headlines around major windows.
  Many Brazilian and Latin American players with the surname Santos move to MLS clubs, occasionally including Eastern Conference rivals who will visit Atlanta.

• Use matchday apps or printed lineups at the stadium.
  These tools tell you exactly who is on the field and let you connect a name like Santos to a shirt number and position while you watch live.

In short, when you see or search “Atlanta United – Santos” in an Atlanta context, it almost always refers to:

• A player named Santos facing Atlanta United, or
• A transfer or rumor linking a Santos (often from clubs like Santos FC in Brazil) with Atlanta United

There is no permanent Atlanta United rebranding or official Atlanta club called simply “Santos” at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, so your best next step as a fan in Atlanta is to check recent rosters, match reports, and local coverage to see exactly which Santos you’re hearing about.