Gustavo Gómez

Gustavo Gómez
Gustavo Raúl Gómez Portillo (born 6 May 1993) is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for and captains both Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Palmeiras and the Paraguay national team.
Club career
Lanús
Gómez is considered one of the most promising defenders of Paraguay, who began his playing career at Libertad. In the summer of 2014, Gómez left Libertad to play for Argentine Primera División side Lanús. Gustavo Gomez's Lanus conceded a mere 10 goals in 17 games en route to securing 2016 Argentine Primera Division title.
AC Milan
On 5 August 2016, Gómez completed a move to AC Milan for a fee reported to be in the region of €8.5 million, signing a 5-year contract. He is the first ever Paraguayan footballer to play for Milan. After joining the club he chose number 15, in tribute of his former Lanús teammate, Diego Barisone who died in a car accident.
On 27 August 2016, he made his full debut for Milan in Serie A against Napoli, where Napoli beat Milan 4–2.
Palmeiras
On 2 August 2018, Gómez was announced for Palmeiras on a one year loan deal. Being considered by supporters as one of the best centerbacks of Palmeiras history, he helped the team win two Campeonatos Brasileiro in 2018 and 2022, two Copas Libertadores in 2020 and 2021, three Campeonatos Paulista in 2020, 2022 and 2023, one SouthAmerican Recopa in 2022, one Supercopa do Brasil in 2023 and the Copa do Brasil in 2020.
International career
Gustavo's first selection to the Paraguay national team was for a friendly against Germany in August 2013.
On 7 September 2013 he debuted against Bolivia at the age of 20 years old
. In that game he scored his first international goal.
He has since been a regular fixture for Paraguay. He played for Paraguay in the Copa América Centenario in 2016, where he started all the 3 games for them.
Style of play
Gustavo is a strong defender capable of playing in any position at the back. He is a hard tackler and good in the air. He was instrumental in Lanus's style of building attacks from behind.
Career statistics
Club
International
Honours
Club
Libertad
Paraguayan Primera División (2): 2012C, 2014A
Lanus
Argentine Primera División (1): 2016
Milan
Supercoppa Italiana (1): 2016
Palmeiras
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (2): 2018, 2022
Campeonato Paulista (3): 2020, 2022, 2023
Copa do Brasil (1): 2020
Copa Libertadores (2): 2020, 2021
Recopa Sudamericana (1): 2022
Supercopa do Brasil (1): 2023
Individual
U-20 South American Championship Team of the Tournament: 2013
Paraguayan Primera División Team of the Season: 2013
Copa Argentina Team of the Season: 2014–15
Argentine Primera División Team of the Season: 2016
Bola de Prata: 2019, 2020, 2022
Copa Libertadores Team of the Tournament: 2020, 2021, 2022
Best Centre-back in Brazil: 2020
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2020, 2021, 2022
Copa do Brasil Team of the Season: 2020
South American Footballer of the Year Bronze Ball: 2020, 2021
South America Team of the Year: 2020, 2021, 2022
South American Defender of the Year: 2020, 2021
Paraguayan Footballer of the Year: 2021
IFFHS CONMEBOL Team of the Year: 2021
Campeonato Paulista Team of the Year: 2022, 2023
Notes
In isolation, Gómez is pronounced .
References
External links
1993 births
Living people
People from Misiones Department
Paraguayan men's footballers
Men's association football central defenders
Club Libertad footballers
Club Atlético Lanús footballers
AC Milan players
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras players
Paraguayan Primera División players
Argentine Primera División players
Serie A players
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players
Paraguay men's under-20 international footballers
Paraguay men's international footballers
Copa Libertadores-winning players
Copa América Centenario players
2019 Copa América players
2021 Copa América players
Paraguayan expatriate men's footballers
Paraguayan expatriate sportspeople in Argentina
Paraguayan expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Paraguayan expatriate sportspeople in Brazil
Expatriate men's footballers in Argentina
Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Expatriate men's footballers in Brazil