Carlos Vela

Carlos Vela
Vela with Mexico at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Carlos Alberto Vela Garrido[1]
Date of birth (1989-03-01) 1 March 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Cancún, Mexico
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Forward, winger, attacking midfielder
Youth career
2002–2005 Guadalajara
2005–2006 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2012 Arsenal 29 (3)
2005–2006Celta Vigo (loan) 0 (0)
2006–2007Salamanca (loan) 31 (8)
2007–2008Osasuna (loan) 33 (3)
2010–2011West Bromwich Albion (loan) 8 (2)
2011–2012Real Sociedad (loan) 35 (12)
2012–2018 Real Sociedad 184 (54)
2018–2023 Los Angeles FC 152 (78)
International career
2005 Mexico U17 8 (5)
2007 Mexico U20 8 (0)
2007–2018 Mexico 72 (19)
Medal record
Representing  Mexico
Winner FIFA U-17 World Championship 2005
Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2009
Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2015
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 October 2023

Carlos Alberto Vela Garrido (born 1 March 1989) is a Mexican professional footballer who is a free agent. A versatile offensive player, Vela has been deployed as a forward, winger, and attacking midfielder.[3][4]

Vela started his career at Mexican club Guadalajara, where he caught the eye of various European clubs after finishing as the top scorer at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship, eventually joining Premier League club Arsenal that year. After joining Arsenal, he had loan spells at Spanish clubs Salamanca and Osasuna, as well as fellow English club West Bromwich Albion, settling with Real Sociedad in 2011, initially on loan and then permanently the following season. In his six-year spell with La Real, Vela played in 250 matches and scored 73 goals. In January 2018, he joined Los Angeles FC, winning the Supporters' Shield and the MLS Golden Boot in his second year, and setting a new league record for most goals in a season, with 34. He was also voted Most Valuable Player. In 2022, Vela would win a second Supporters' Shield as well as lift the MLS Cup.

Vela made his debut with the senior Mexico national team in 2007 in a friendly match against Brazil, and scored his first goal for his country in a friendly against Guatemala. He participated in Mexico's CONCACAF Gold Cup victory in 2009, and participated in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Vela rejected all subsequent call-ups for more than three years, including friendlies, World Cup qualifiers, and various major tournaments including the 2014 FIFA World Cup, citing various reasons for his refusals. In November 2014, Vela made his return to the national team and participated in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2018 FIFA World Cup.

  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 5 July 2007. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Carlos Vela Player Profile". Los Angeles FC. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  3. ^ Marshall, Tom (6 November 2017). "Carlos Vela is leaving Europe for the U.S.: what does that mean for Mexico?". ESPN.
  4. ^ Davis, Jason (4 September 2019). "LAFC with and without Carlos Vela". USSoccerPlayers.com.

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