# Christian Santos

Christian Robert Santos Kwasniewski (born 24 March 1988) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Rayo Majadahonda.

## Club career
### Early career

Born in Ciudad Guayana, Bolívar, Santos moved to Germany at the age of six as his father received a new job in the country. After starting his career at SV Lippstadt he moved to Arminia Bielefeld in 2003, and made his senior debut for the latter's reserve team on 6 May 2007, coming on as a late substitute in a 3–0 Oberliga Westfalen home win against Sportfreunde Lotte.
Santos scored his first senior goal on 1 April 2009, netting his team's second in a 3–1 away win against Delbrücker SC. After failed to make a single appearance with the first team, he left the club in 2011.

### Belgium

On 9 August 2011, Santos signed for KAS Eupen in the Belgian Second Division. He scored a 15 goals during his first season, and added a further ten in his second.
In April 2013, Santos moved to Belgian Pro League club Waasland-Beveren, but failed to appear in a single match due to a severe knee injury.

### NEC

In July 2014, Santos signed a one-year contract with Dutch Eerste Divisie side NEC Nijmegen, after impressing on a trial basis. He made his professional debut on 10 August, starting in a 3–1 home win against FC Eindhoven.
Santos scored his first professional goal on 15 August 2014, netting the last in a 2–0 win at FC Volendam. He finished the campaign with 23 goals in only 34 appearances, as his side achieved promotion to Eredivisie as champions; highlights included braces against FC Den Bosch, MVV Maastricht and FC Oss.
Santos made his debut in the main category of Dutch football on 12 August 2015, starting in a 1–0 home win against SBV Excelsior. He scored his first goals in the division on 18 September, netting all his team's goals in a 2–0 success over SC Heerenveen.
Santos added another doubles against ADO Den Haag (4–1 home win) and De Graafschap (2–0 home win), totalling 16 goals in 30 matches.

### Alavés

On 12 July 2016, free agent Santos signed a three-year deal with Deportivo Alavés, newly promoted to La Liga. He made his debut in the league on 21 August, replacing Gaizka Toquero in a 1–1 away draw against Atlético Madrid.

### Deportivo La Coruña

On 28 June 2018, Santos signed a two-year deal with Deportivo de La Coruña, after cutting ties with Alavés. He scored his first goal in an away match against Gimnàstic de Tarragona on 1 October 2018, one minute after entering as a substitute in 85th minute. On 27 January 2019, he scored a decisive goal in 2–1 away victory against Sporting de Gijón. On 18 August 2019, he scored a decisive goal in 88th minute after coming from the bench three minutes earlier in a 3–2 victory against Real Oviedo.

### VfL Osnabrück

In September 2020, Santos returned to Germany joining 2. Bundesliga club VfL Osnabrück on a two-year contract.

### Colo-Colo

In September 2021, Santos joined Colo-Colo in the Chilean Primera División. In June 2022, he ended his contract after making thirteen appearances and scoring a goal.

### Juve Stabia

On 12 October 2022, Santos signed with Juve Stabia in the Italian third-tier Serie C until the end of the 2022–23 season.

### Unionistas

On 1 February 2023, Santos joined Unionistas in the Spanish third-tier Primera Federación.

### Rayo Majadahonda

On 12 September 2024, Santos joined Rayo Majadahonda on a one-year deal.

## International career

After being allowed to play for Venezuela in January 2015, Santos made his full international debut on 27 March of that year, starting and being booked in a 2–1 friendly loss against Jamaica. He scored his first international goal on 13 October, but in a 3–1 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers loss against Brazil.
Santos was also included in Rafael Dudamel's 23-man list ahead of the Copa America Centenario. His first and only appearance of the tournament occurred on 13 June 2016, in a 1–1 draw against Mexico.

### International goals

    Scores and results list Venezuela's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Santos goal.
List of international goals scored by Christian Santos :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 13 October 2015 | Castelão, Fortaleza, Brazil | Brazil | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers |

## Honours

NEC
* Eerste Divisie: 2014–15