# Óscar Romero (footballer)

Óscar David Romero Villamayor (Spanish pronunciation:; born 4 July 1992) is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Botafogo and the Paraguay national team. He is the twin brother of Ángel Romero.

## Career

Romero was in the youth ranks of Boca Juniors when he was a Sub 15, but could not continue at the club for a matter of paperwork, therefore he did not play for the Xeneize.

### Cerro Porteño

Romero joined the youth ranks of Cerro Porteño at the age of 14. He debuted in the First Division of Paraguay on 15 May 2011 in a 1–0 defeat against General Caballero SC of Zeballos Cue. He scored his first goal on 1 December 2012 against Sportivo Luqueño. His good performances attracted many European teams, such as Spanish clubs Real Madrid B and Valencia Football Club.
In 2013, like his brother Angel, he had more opportunities, since the club decided to give chance to the youth. With the new DT Francisco Arce, Oscar impressed, attracting interest from clubs like Baniyas SC of United Arab Emirates and also being summoned to the Selection Paraguay.
In October 2014, after his good performances in the knockout round of the Copa Sudamericana against Lanús Argentina, in which he scored three goals, he was said to be worth $3 to 6 million. He was targeted by major European clubs, such as Atlético Madrid.

### Racing Club

On 28 January 2015, Romero was signed by Racing Club for $2.7 million. He debuted on 18 February against Deportivo Tachira in Copa Libertadores. On 13 March 2015, Romero scored his first competitive goal for the club against Club Atlético Colón. On 15 August 2015, Romero scored his second goal against Union de Santa Fe.

### Shanghai Shenhua

Romero played for Shanghai Shenhua of the Chinese Super League from 2017 to 2019. He won one title with the club; the Chinese FA Cup in 2019.

### San Lorenzo

In 2019, San Lorenzo signed Romero on a two-year contract. He left the club in 2021.

### Boca Juniors

Romero joined Boca Juniors in February 2022 on a free transfer, and signed a two-year contract.

### Pendikspor

On 9 August 2023, he signed with Süper Lig club Pendikspor.

### Botafogo

On March 18, 2024, he was announced by Botafogo with a contract until the end of the season. The player received the number 70 shirt to play for the club. On April 2, the Paraguayan was listed for the first time, for the match against Junior Barranquilla in the Libertadores. The Paraguayan debuted against the Colombians at Nilton Santos. Romero entered in the 39th minute of the final stage, replacing Marlon Freitas.
On May 13, 2024, after an act of indiscipline, Óscar Romero was cut from Botafogo's trip to Peru, where the team would face Universitario in the fifth round of Group D of the Libertadores group stage. According to the specialized press, the midfielder took, along with clubmate Diego Hernández, women to the concentration after the match against Fortaleza.
The following day, the Paraguayan spoke out, saying he accepted Botafogo's punishment, but denied that he had taken women to the team hotel.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 17 January 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 |
| Cerro Porteño | 2011 | Paraguayan Primera División | 10 | 1 | – | – | 0 | 0 | – | – | 10 | 1 |
| Cerro Porteño | 2012 | Paraguayan Primera División | 7 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7 | 1 |
| Cerro Porteño | 2013 | Paraguayan Primera División | 35 | 6 | – | – | 8 | 0 | – | – | 43 | 6 |
| Cerro Porteño | 2014 | Paraguayan Primera División | 38 | 5 | – | – | 16 | 4 | – | – | 54 | 9 |
| Cerro Porteño | Total | Total | 90 | 13 | – | – | 24 | 4 | – | – | 114 | 17 |
| Racing Club | 2015 | Argentine Primera División | 24 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | – | – | 36 | 4 |
| Racing Club | 2016 | Argentine Primera División | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 1 | – | – | 22 | 6 |
| Racing Club | 2016–17 | Argentine Primera División | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 13 | 1 |
| Racing Club | Total | Total | 47 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 18 | 1 | – | – | 71 | 11 |
| Alavés (loan) | 2016–17 | La Liga | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 15 | 0 |
| Alavés (loan) | 2017–18 | La Liga | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 5 | 0 |
| Alavés (loan) | Total | Total | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 20 | 0 |
| Shanghai Shenhua | 2018 | Chinese Super League | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 17 | 4 |
| Shanghai Shenhua | 2019 | Chinese Super League | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 11 | 2 |
| Shanghai Shenhua | Total | Total | 26 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 28 | 6 |
| San Lorenzo | 2019–20 | Argentine Primera División | 21 | 2 | 1 | 2 | – | – | 1 | 2 | 23 | 6 |
| San Lorenzo | 2020–21 | Argentine Primera División | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | – | – | 15 | 3 |
| San Lorenzo | 2021 | Argentine Primera División | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 17 | 1 |
| San Lorenzo | Total | Total | 46 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 55 | 10 |
| Boca Juniors | 2022 | Argentine Primera División | 32 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 2 |
| Boca Juniors | 2023 | Argentine Primera División | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 2 |
| Boca Juniors | Total | Total | 48 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 65 | 4 |
| Pendikspor | 2023–24 | Süper Lig | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 14 | 4 |
| Botafogo | 2024 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 287 | 38 | 17 | 6 | 60 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 367 | 52 |
* ↑ Includes Copa Argentina, Copa del Rey, Chinese FA Cup, Turkish Cup
* ↑ Six appearances in Copa Libertadores, two appearances in Copa Sudamericana
* ↑ Eight appearances in Copa Libertadores, eight appearances and four goals in Copa Sudamericana
* 1 2 3 4 Appearances in Copa Libertadores
* ↑ Appearance in Copa de la Superliga
* ↑ Two appearances in Copa Libertadores, five appearances and one goal in Copa Sudamericana
* ↑ Appearance in Trofeo de Campeones de la Liga Profesional
* ↑ Appearance in Supercopa Argentina

### International

    Scores and results list Paraguay's goal tally first.
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 29 May 2014 | Kufstein Arena, Kufstein, Austria | Cameroon | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 2. | 1 September 2016 | Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay | Chile | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3. | 12 June 2018 | Tivoli-Neu, Innsbruck, Austria | Japan | 1–0 | 2–4 | Friendly |
| 4. | 10 September 2019 | Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan | Jordan | 1–2 | 4–2 | Friendly |
| Correct as of 10 September 2019 |||||||

## Honours

Cerro Porteño
* Primera División: 2012 Apertura, 2013 Clausura
Shanghai Shenhua
* Chinese FA Cup: 2019
Boca Juniors
* Primera División: 2022
* Copa de la Liga Profesional: 2022
* Supercopa Argentina: 2022
Botafogo
* Copa Libertadores: 2024
* Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2024