Last Updated on September 27, 2026 by Siara Costa
Andrés Herrera is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer. His full name is Marcelo Andrés Herrera Mansilla, and he was born on November 3, 1998, in Corrientes, Argentina. After beginning his professional career with San Lorenzo, Herrera moved to River Plate before taking his career to the United States with Columbus Crew.
Football runs deeply through Herrera’s family. His father, Marcelo Hugo Herrera, played extensively in the regional football scene in Corrientes, while his grandfather, Héctor Hugo Herrera, was another respected local footballer. Andrés has since formed a family of his own with his longtime partner, Micaela. The couple have a daughter named Pilar and became engaged after moving to the United States.
Andrés Herrera’s Partner: Micaela
Andrés Herrera is in a long-term relationship with a woman named Micaela. Argentine reporting has identified her as the footballer’s partner and the mother of his daughter, Pilar.
The couple were already together during Herrera’s time with River Plate. Micaela accompanied him during important stages of his career, and their relationship became more publicly visible as they prepared to become parents.
In 2024, while Herrera was still connected to River but preparing for his move to Major League Soccer, reports noted that he and Micaela were expecting their first child.
Their relationship subsequently entered another important stage after they relocated to the United States following Herrera’s move to Columbus Crew.
Andrés Herrera and Micaela’s Engagement
Andrés Herrera proposed to Micaela in the United States in November 2024.
The footballer announced the engagement through his social-media accounts and shared photographs from the proposal. Local media in Corrientes reported that Herrera accompanied the announcement with a romantic message declaring his commitment to Micaela.
The proposal came only weeks after the couple had welcomed their first daughter, making the period particularly significant for Herrera both personally and professionally.
As of now, reliable public reporting confirms that Herrera and Micaela became engaged. However, there is not enough dependable public evidence to confirm that they have subsequently held a wedding, so Micaela is best described as his partner or fiancée rather than definitively as his wife.
Andrés Herrera’s Children
Andrés Herrera and Micaela have one publicly documented child, a daughter named Pilar.
Pilar Herrera
Pilar is Andrés Herrera’s first daughter. She was born in 2024, around the period when her father was beginning a new chapter of his career with Columbus Crew in the United States.
Argentine media had already reported earlier that year that Herrera and his partner were expecting a daughter. Following Pilar’s arrival, local reporting in Corrientes described her as the couple’s first child.
Her birth coincided with an important change in Herrera’s professional life. After leaving River Plate on loan for Columbus Crew in August 2024, he was simultaneously adapting to a new league and country while becoming a father for the first time.
Pilar has occasionally appeared in stories surrounding her father’s MLS career. Argentine reporting even noted that Lionel Messi held her following a Columbus Crew match against Inter Miami, providing an unusual football-related memory for the family.
Despite those occasional public moments, Herrera and Micaela have generally avoided publishing excessive information about their daughter, allowing her to remain largely outside the public attention surrounding her father.
How Fatherhood Changed Andrés Herrera’s Life in the United States
Herrera’s move to Columbus represented more than simply a change of football clubs. It coincided with the beginning of a completely new family stage.
He arrived in Ohio in 2024, became the father of Pilar and then proposed to Micaela shortly afterward. Instead of experiencing the move alone, Herrera was building a family life in the United States at the same time as he tried to establish himself in MLS.
The importance of that family stability became particularly clear when Columbus Crew permanently acquired Herrera from River Plate in 2026.
After completing the transfer, Herrera said that both he and his family were very happy to continue their lives in Columbus. His comment suggested that remaining with the Crew was not only an important professional decision but also one that suited his family.
Andrés Herrera’s Parents
Andrés Herrera was raised in Corrientes in a family with a strong football tradition.
His father is Marcelo Hugo Herrera, a former footballer who spent many years competing for clubs in the province. Less reliable information is available about Andrés’s mother, whose first name and personal background have not been consistently documented by major public sources.
Herrera’s full surname, Herrera Mansilla, reflects both sides of his family under traditional Spanish naming customs, but that does not provide enough information to identify his mother by first name without additional reliable documentation.
Andrés Herrera’s Father: Marcelo Hugo Herrera
Andrés Herrera’s father is Marcelo Hugo Herrera.
Marcelo Hugo was himself a footballer in Corrientes and played primarily as a defender. His career included spells with several clubs in the region, giving Andrés an immediate football connection from childhood.
Reports from Corrientes list clubs including Huracán Corrientes, Boca Unidos, Sportivo Corrientes, Rivadavia, Cambá Cuá, Ferroviario, Curupay and Textil Mandiyú among the teams Marcelo Hugo represented during his playing years.
He became known locally by the nickname “Gallina,” a nickname inherited from his own father, Héctor Hugo Herrera.
Andrés therefore grew up not simply as the son of a footballer but as part of a multi-generational football family.
How Andrés Herrera Followed His Father Into Football
Andrés began playing in the Corrientes football scene that his father already knew extremely well.
His youth career included Textil Mandiyú, Boca Unidos and Rivadavia before he eventually moved to Buenos Aires and entered San Lorenzo’s youth system.
Those early clubs are especially notable because some of them had also featured in his father’s career. Rivadavia and Textil Mandiyú, for example, formed part of Marcelo Hugo Herrera’s football history as well.
This made Andrés the third generation of his family to become closely involved in football in Corrientes.
Before he became known nationally as “Yacaré,” Andrés had another nickname in his hometown: “Gallinita.” The nickname literally continued the family tradition established by his grandfather and father, both of whom were known as “Gallina.”
Andrés Herrera’s Mother
Reliable public sources provide very little information about Andrés Herrera’s mother.
Her first name, profession and personal history have not been consistently documented by major Argentine sports publications or Herrera’s official club profiles.
Herrera has generally protected the privacy of relatives who are not directly connected with football. Because his father and grandfather both had documented playing careers, considerably more information has naturally been published about the paternal side of his family.
As of now, it is therefore more accurate to leave his mother’s name unconfirmed rather than rely on unsupported biographical claims.
Andrés Herrera’s Grandfather: Héctor Hugo Herrera
One of the most interesting figures in Andrés Herrera’s family history is his paternal grandfather, Héctor Hugo Herrera.
Héctor Hugo was a prominent midfielder in Corrientes football and became particularly associated with Huracán Corrientes.
He was widely known by the nickname “Gallina,” beginning the nickname tradition that would later pass to his son Marcelo Hugo and eventually influence Andrés’s childhood nickname.
Héctor Hugo’s reputation in local football remained strong even after his death. A neighborhood football field in the Unión area of Corrientes was named “Potrero Héctor Hugo ‘Gallina’ Herrera” in recognition of his connection with the local game.
His son Marcelo Hugo then followed him into football, and Andrés eventually became the third generation of the family to play competitively.
Three Generations of Football in the Herrera Family
The Herrera family’s football story is unusual because it extends across three generations.
Héctor Hugo Herrera established the tradition as a respected player in Corrientes. Marcelo Hugo Herrera followed his father and represented numerous local teams. Andrés then took the family name beyond provincial football and into Argentina’s biggest competitions and eventually Major League Soccer.
All three also played football in the Unión neighborhood environment in Corrientes, strengthening the family’s association with the local game.
This background explains why Andrés’s childhood nickname was “Gallinita.” It was not related to River Plate, even though River is popularly known as the “Gallinas.” Instead, the nickname existed long before Andrés joined River and originated from his father and grandfather.
After Andrés left Corrientes for Buenos Aires, another nickname became more common. Because people from Corrientes are frequently associated with the region’s famous caimans, he became known as “Yacaré Herrera.”
Andrés Herrera’s Siblings
There is limited reliable public information about Andrés Herrera’s brothers or sisters.
Major profiles discussing his football family concentrate primarily on his father, Marcelo Hugo, and his grandfather, Héctor Hugo. They do not provide a confirmed list of Andrés’s siblings.
His official biographies with San Lorenzo, River Plate and Columbus Crew similarly do not identify brothers or sisters.
As of now, there is therefore not enough dependable public evidence to state how many siblings Herrera has or provide their names.
Andrés Herrera’s Childhood in Corrientes
Herrera was born and raised in Corrientes, a province in northeastern Argentina with a strong football culture.
Growing up around a father and grandfather who had both played the sport naturally exposed him to football from an early age.
He developed locally through Textil Mandiyú, Boca Unidos and Rivadavia before a major opportunity took him away from home.
Herrera eventually joined San Lorenzo’s youth system in Buenos Aires, where he progressed into professional football.
Leaving Corrientes represented a significant step for a young player, but his connection with his home province remained strong. Even after joining River Plate, Herrera regularly returned to Corrientes during breaks in the football calendar.
Andrés Herrera’s Relationship With Corrientes
Corrientes continues to occupy an important place in Herrera’s personal identity.
During breaks from River Plate, Argentine sports media documented him returning to his home province and spending time around Paso de la Patria, including fishing and boating.
The return trips allowed him to reconnect with the environment in which both his family and football story began.
His father and grandfather’s histories also mean that the Herrera surname already had a place in local football before Andrés reached the professional level.
Andrés Herrera’s Journey From San Lorenzo to River Plate
Herrera made his professional debut for San Lorenzo in September 2018 and gradually established himself as one of the club’s promising young right-backs.
His attacking qualities attracted wider attention, while his performances also earned him opportunities with Argentina’s youth national teams.
Herrera represented Argentina at the 2019 Pan American Games, where the team won the gold medal, and he was later selected for Argentina’s squad at the Tokyo Olympics.
River Plate signed Herrera from San Lorenzo in February 2022.
During his time at River, he was part of the squad that won the Argentine Primera División, the Trofeo de Campeones and the Supercopa Argentina in 2023.
Andrés Herrera’s Move to Columbus Crew With His Family
Columbus Crew acquired Herrera on loan from River Plate in August 2024.
The move proved important for him personally as well as professionally. His daughter Pilar was born around the beginning of this new stage, and Micaela joined him in the United States.
Herrera quickly found regular playing opportunities with Columbus and became increasingly settled in Ohio.
His positive experience ultimately resulted in the Crew extending his stay and then completing a permanent transfer from River Plate in July 2026.
After the permanent move was announced, Herrera specifically included his family when discussing his happiness about staying in Columbus.
He explained that he and his family were happy to continue that chapter of their lives with the club, offering a rare direct glimpse into how his professional future and family life had become connected.
Andrés Herrera’s Family Life Today
As of now, Andrés Herrera has built a family of his own while continuing the football tradition established by previous generations.
His partner is Micaela, to whom he proposed in the United States in November 2024. Together they have one publicly known daughter, Pilar, who was born in 2024.
His father is former Corrientes footballer Marcelo Hugo Herrera, while his late grandfather, Héctor Hugo “Gallina” Herrera, was another notable player in the province.
Reliable sources do not publicly identify Herrera’s mother by name or provide confirmed information about his siblings.
The available evidence nevertheless shows a particularly strong connection between Andrés, his family and football. From his grandfather and father playing in Corrientes to Andrés representing San Lorenzo, River Plate and Columbus Crew, football has remained part of the Herrera family across three generations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Andrés Herrera’s Family
Who is Andrés Herrera’s girlfriend?
Andrés Herrera’s longtime partner is Micaela. The couple became engaged in the United States in November 2024, so she is more accurately described as his fiancée.
Is Andrés Herrera married?
Reliable reporting confirms that Herrera proposed to Micaela in November 2024. As of now, there is insufficient dependable public information confirming that they have subsequently married.
Does Andrés Herrera have children?
Yes. Andrés Herrera and Micaela have one publicly known daughter named Pilar.
Who is Andrés Herrera’s daughter?
Herrera’s daughter is named Pilar. She was born in 2024 and is the first publicly documented child of Andrés and Micaela.
Who are Andrés Herrera’s parents?
Andrés Herrera’s father is Marcelo Hugo Herrera, a former footballer from Corrientes. His mother’s name has not been reliably documented by major public sources.
Who is Andrés Herrera’s father?
Andrés Herrera’s father is Marcelo Hugo Herrera. He played as a defender for numerous clubs in Corrientes and was known locally by the nickname “Gallina.”
Was Andrés Herrera’s father a footballer?
Yes. Marcelo Hugo Herrera played for several clubs in Corrientes, including Huracán Corrientes, Boca Unidos, Rivadavia, Ferroviario and Textil Mandiyú.
Who was Andrés Herrera’s grandfather?
His paternal grandfather was Héctor Hugo Herrera, a former midfielder associated with Huracán Corrientes. He was known as “Gallina Herrera,” and a local football field in Corrientes was later named in his honor.
Why was Andrés Herrera nicknamed Gallinita?
The nickname came from his family rather than River Plate. His grandfather Héctor Hugo and father Marcelo Hugo were both known as “Gallina,” so Andrés became known as “Gallinita” while growing up in Corrientes.
Does Andrés Herrera have siblings?
Reliable public sources do not currently provide enough information to confirm the names or number of Andrés Herrera’s siblings.
Where is Andrés Herrera’s family from?
The Herrera family is strongly associated with Corrientes, Argentina, where Andrés, his father and his grandfather all developed connections with local football.
Does Andrés Herrera still play for Columbus Crew?
Yes. Columbus Crew permanently acquired Herrera from River Plate in July 2026. His contract runs through the 2028-29 campaign, with a club option for the following season.
Siara Costa is a football editor and writer covering both European men’s and women’s football, with a focus on league competitions, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling.
