# Santiago Mele

Santiago Andrés Mele Castañero (born 6 September 1997) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Categoría Primera A club Atlético Junior and the Uruguay national team.

## Club career

A youth academy graduate of Fénix, Mele made his professional debut on 30 August 2016 in a 1–0 loss against Cerro.
On 4 September 2017, Turkish top division club Osmanlıspor announced the signing of Mele on a five-year deal. He was immediately loaned out to second division club Ankaragücü for 2017–18 season. However, with Korcan Çelikay and Altay Bayındır ahead of him in pecking order, he didn't receive any playing minutes.
Mele's loan was cut short in following January and he subsequently got loaned out to Spanish third division side Lleida Esportiu. With Diego Rivas Rego as first-choice goalkeeper, Mele failed to find playing minutes again.
Two years after joining the club, Mele made his debut for Osmanlıspor on 17 August 2019 in a 2–1 win against Boluspor.

## International career

Mele is a former Uruguay youth international. He was part of Uruguay under-20 team which won the 2017 South American U-20 Championship and finished fourth at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He was also part of the Uruguay under-22 team which finished fourth at the 2019 Pan American Games.
On 21 October 2022, Mele was named in Uruguay's 55-man preliminary squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He made his senior team debut on 28 March 2023 in a 2–1 win against South Korea.
In June 2024, Mele was named in Uruguay's 26-man squad for the 2024 Copa América.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 13 December 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Fénix | 2013–14 | Uruguayan Primera División | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Fénix | 2014–15 | Uruguayan Primera División | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Fénix | 2015–16 | Uruguayan Primera División | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Fénix | 2016 | Uruguayan Primera División | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Fénix | 2017 | Uruguayan Primera División | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Fénix | Total | Total | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Osmanlıspor | 2018–19 | TFF First League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osmanlıspor | 2019–20 | TFF First League | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 0 |
| Osmanlıspor | Total | Total | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Ankaragücü (loan) | 2017–18 | TFF First League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Lleida Esportiu (loan) | 2017–18 | Segunda División B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Plaza Colonia | 2020 | Uruguayan Primera División | 20 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 0 |
| Plaza Colonia | 2021 | Uruguayan Primera División | 20 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Plaza Colonia | Total | Total | 40 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| Unión (loan) | 2022 | Argentine Primera División | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 41 | 0 |
| Unión (loan) | 2023 | Argentine Primera División | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 0 |
| Unión (loan) | Total | Total | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 58 | 0 |
| Atlético Junior (loan) | 2023 | Categoría Primera A | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 22 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 117 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 142 | 0 |

### International

    As of match played 26 March 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Uruguay | 2023 | 3 | 0 |
| Uruguay | 2024 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 4 | 0 |

## Honours

Atlético Junior
* Categoría Primera A (1): 2023-II
Uruguay U20
* South American Youth Football Championship: 2017
Uruguay
* Copa América third place: 2024
Individual
* Uruguayan Primera División Team of the Year: 2021