Best-Named Soccer Player In The World Scores A Game-Winner For Atlético Madrid

This is Thomas Partey, aka Party Tom, aka Tomás de la Fiesta. He’s a 22-year-old Ghanaian holding midfielder for Atlético Madrid who’s seen a lot of playing time lately since Tiago Mendes broke his leg in November. He also has the best name in La Liga and probably the world, unless you’re more partial to Isaac Success.

In the last two games, Atléti have brought the Partey to their opponents and subbed Thomas on late in tied-up games. Both times, they’ve raged ahead and won. On Wednesday against Rayo, Partey came on for Fernando Torres and assisted Angel Correa on the go-ahead goal.

Today, he one-upped himself and scored a winner of his own against Levante, his first goal for Atléti. The win was pretty crucial, as it lifted Los Colchoneros two points clear of Barcelona atop the La Liga table. They have the best backline in Europe, one of the best coaches in the game, and they absolutely could win the league again.

But Atléti’s strikers still learning to play together and reinforcements finally on the way for Barça, so it’s way too early to call, and still probably the Catalans’s trophy to lose. Still, the emergence of Partying Tommy is a welcome surprise for Atléti, and a delight to all fans of soccer and merrymaking everywhere.

Photo via Getty