# Mauricio Lemos

Paolo Mauricio Lemos Merladett (born 28 December 1995) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Vasco da Gama and the Uruguay national team.

## Club career
### Defensor

Born in Rivera, Lemos was a Defensor Sporting youth graduate. On 6 January 2014, aged 18, he was promoted to the main squad.
Lemos made his professional debut on 11 May 2014, starting in a 2–1 home loss against Montevideo Wanderers. After appearing in only two matches during his debut campaign, he was more regularly used in his second; however, his appearances were limited due to an appendicitis and call-ups to the under-20 national team.

### Rubin Kazan

On 3 July 2015, Lemos was loaned to Russian Premier League side FC Rubin Kazan, for one year. He made his debut for the club on 3 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 away defeat to Spartak Moscow.
After appearing in eight matches for the club (four in the league), Lemos was bought outright.

### Las Palmas

On 28 January 2016, Lemos was loaned to La Liga side UD Las Palmas, with a buyout clause. He made his debut in the competition on 20 February, coming on as a second-half substitute for Jonathan Viera in a 1–2 home loss against FC Barcelona.
On 6 May 2016, after appearing in nine matches for the Amarillos, Lemos signed a permanent five-year deal with the club effective in July. He scored his first goal in the main category of Spanish football the following 30 January, netting his team's second in a 3–1 home win against Valencia CF.
On 10 March 2017, Lemos scored a brace in a 4–3 away win against RCD Espanyol.

#### Sassuolo (loan)

On 22 January 2018, Las Palmas announced they had reached an agreement with Italian club Sassuolo for the loan of Lemos.

### Fenerbahçe

On 26 August 2020, Fenerbahçe announced the signing of Lemos on a three-year contract.

#### Beerschot (loan)

On 31 August 2021, Lemos was loaned to Belgian club K Beerschot VA for the 2021–22 season.

### Atlético Mineiro

On 16 February 2023, Lemos joined Brazilian club Atlético Mineiro on a ten-month deal.

### Vasco da Gama

On 15 January 2025, Lemos signed a one-year deal with Vasco da Gama.

## International career

Lemos has represented Uruguay with the U23 team at 2015 Pan American Games, winning the gold medal.
He received maiden call-up to senior team in October 2017 and was included in the squad to play friendlies against Poland and Austria. He made his debut on 10 November 2017, playing 90 minutes in a 0–0 draw against Poland.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 15 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Defensor | 2013–14 | Uruguayan Primera División | 2 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | – | – | 2 | 0 |
| Defensor | 2014–15 | Uruguayan Primera División | 7 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7 | 0 |
| Defensor | Total | Total | 9 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | – | – | 9 | 0 |
| Rubin Kazan | 2015–16 | Russian Premier League | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 7 | 0 |
| Las Palmas | 2015–16 | La Liga | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 10 | 0 |
| Las Palmas | 2016–17 | La Liga | 23 | 5 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 26 | 5 |
| Las Palmas | 2017–18 | La Liga | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 18 | 0 |
| Las Palmas | 2019–20 | Segunda División | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 27 | 1 |
| Las Palmas | Total | Total | 75 | 6 | 6 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 81 | 6 |
| Sassuolo (loan) | 2017–18 | Serie A | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 8 | 1 |
| Sassuolo (loan) | 2018–19 | Serie A | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 4 | 0 |
| Sassuolo (loan) | Total | Total | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 12 | 1 |
| Fenerbahçe | 2020–21 | Süper Lig | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 10 | 0 |
| Fenerbahçe | 2022–23 | Süper Lig | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 5 | 0 |
| Fenerbahçe | Total | Total | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 15 | 0 |
| Beerschot (loan) | 2021–22 | Belgian First Division A | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 16 | 1 |
| Atlético Mineiro | 2023 | Série A | 27 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 41 | 1 |
| Atlético Mineiro | 2024 | Série A | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 2 |
| Atlético Mineiro | Total | Total | 35 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 57 | 3 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 159 | 9 | 15 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 197 | 11 |
* ↑ Includes Russian Cup, Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia, Turkish Cup, Belgian Cup
* 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
* 1 2 Appearances in Copa Libertadores
* 1 2 Appearances in Campeonato Mineiro

### International

    As of 30 June 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Uruguay | 2017 | 1 | 0 |
| Uruguay | 2018 | 1 | 0 |
| Uruguay | 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 3 | 0 |

## Honours

Atlético Mineiro
* Campeonato Mineiro: 2023, 2024