# Nelson Bonilla

Nelson Wilfredo Bonilla Sánchez (born 11 September 1990) is a Salvadoran professional footballer who plays as a striker for Malaysia Super League club Terengganu and captains the El Salvador national team.

## Club career
### Club
#### Alianza

Bonilla scored his first goal for Alianza against Atlético Marte on 13 August 2011. He scored both goals against Águila on 11 September 2011, the match ended 2–1 to Alianza. He scored the only goal against Juventud Independiente on 2 November 2011. On 27 November 2011 he scored a 54th-minute equaliser against Firpo in a match that ended 1–1. On 22 January, he scored the winning goal against Juventud Independiente in the 60th minute, the match ended 2–1. On 5 February 2012, he scored the first goal in a 3–1 defeat against Águila.

#### Viitorul

In July 2014, Bonilla signed with Romanian club Viitorul Constanța.

#### Zira

On 31 August 2015, Bonilla signed a two-year contract with Zira FK of the Azerbaijan Premier League. On 23 May 2016, Zira announced that Bonilla had extended his contract with the club for an additional season.

#### Nacional

On 16 June 2016, it was announced that Bonilla would leave Zira to join Portuguese club Nacional.

#### Terengganu FC

In August 2024, it was announced the Bonilla had agreed to sign contract with Terengganu FC.

## International career

Bonilla made his debut for El Salvador on 23 May 2012 in a 2–2 away draw against New Zealand. Bonilla scored his first goal for El Salvador on 27 May 2012 against Moldova, with his team going on to win 2–0.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 12 May 2023.
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Alianza | 2011–12 | Salvadoran Primera División | 29 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | 7 |
| Alianza | 2012–13 | Salvadoran Primera División | 25 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 9 |
| Alianza | 2013–14 | Salvadoran Primera División | 23 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | 4 |
| Alianza | Total | Total | 77 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 77 | 20 |
| Viitorul Constanța | 2014–15 | Liga I | 25 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 7 |
| Zira | 2015–16 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 29 | 14 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 31 | 17 |
| Nacional | 2016–17 | Primeira Liga | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 2 |
| Gaziantep B.B. | 2016–17 | TFF First League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Sukhothai | 2018 | Thai League 1 | 32 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 33 | 27 |
| Bangkok United | 2019 | Thai League 1 | 20 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 17 |
| Port (loan) | 2020–21 | Thai League 1 | 20 | 6 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 23 | 9 |
| Port | 2021–22 | Thai League 1 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 7 |
| Alianza | 2022–23 | Salvadoran Primera División | 7 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| Chiangrai United | 2022–23 | Thai League 1 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 4 |
| Terengganu | 2024-25 | Malaysia Super League | 12 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 18 | 4 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 260 | 102 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 276 | 111 |

### International

    As of match played 9 June 2024.
El Salvador :
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2012 | 7 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 | 1 |
| 2015 | 10 | 3 |
| 2016 | 6 | 3 |
| 2017 | 9 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 | 1 |
| 2019 | 6 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 |
| 2022 | 8 | 3 |
| 2024 | 5 | 1 |
| Total | 62 | 20 |

#### International goals

    Scores and results list El Salvador's goal tally first.
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition :
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 26 May 2012 | Cotton Bowl, Dallas, United States | 2 | Moldova | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 11 August 2012 | StubHub Center, Carson, United States | 5 | Guatemala | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 3 | 27 January 2013 | Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica | 10 | Belize | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2013 Copa Centroamericana |
| 4 | 18 November 2014 | Dennis Martínez National Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua | 13 | Nicaragua | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 5 | 11 June 2015 | Warner Park Sporting Complex, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis | 18 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 6 | 16 June 2015 | Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador | 19 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7 | 16 June 2015 | Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador | 19 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8 | 25 March 2016 | Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador | 24 | Honduras | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 9 | 28 May 2016 | RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., United States | 26 | Peru | 1–2 | 1–3 | Friendly |
| 10 | 6 September 2016 | BC Place, Vancouver, Canada | 29 | Canada | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 11 | 9 July 2017 | Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, United States | 34 | Mexico | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 12 | 16 July 2017 | Alamodome, San Antonio, United States | 36 | Jamaica | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 13 | 13 October 2018 | Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador | 39 | Barbados | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification |
| 14 | 23 March 2019 | Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador | 40 | Jamaica | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification |
| 15 | 17 June 2019 | Independence Park, Kingston, Jamaica | 42 | Curaçao | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 16 | 7 September 2019 | Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador | 45 | Saint Lucia | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League B |
| 17 | 30 January 2022 | Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras | 51 | Honduras | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 18 | 4 June 2022 | Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador | 54 | Grenada | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A |
| 19 | 4 June 2022 | Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador | 54 | Grenada | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A |
| 20 | 9 June 2024 | Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion, Paramaribo, Suriname | 62 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |