| Cristian Medina | |
| Fullname: | Cristian Nicolás Medina |
| Birth Date: | 1 June 2002 |
| Birth Place: | Moreno, Argentina |
| Height: | 1.78 m[1] |
| Position: | Central midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Boca Juniors |
| Clubnumber: | 36 |
| Youthclubs1: | Rayo de Malaver |
| Youthyears2: | 2012–2020 |
| Youthclubs2: | Boca Juniors |
| Years1: | 2020– |
| Clubs1: | Boca Juniors |
| Caps1: | 156 |
| Goals1: | 9 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2017 |
| Nationalteam1: | Argentina U15 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2018–2019 |
| Nationalteam2: | Argentina U17 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 13 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 1 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2023– |
| Nationalteam3: | Argentina U23 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 10 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
| Nationalyears4: | 2024– |
| Nationalteam4: | Argentina Olympic Team |
| Nationalcaps4: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals4: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 8 September 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 8 September 2024 |
Cristian Nicolás Medina (born 1 June 2002) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Boca Juniors.[2]
In 2012, he was chosen for a player trial at the Social and Sports Club El Fortín in Moreno at the age of 10. He joined Boca Juniors to become a member of the club's junior divisions, under the leadership of Diego Mazzilli and Hugo Perotti.[3] In 2013, Medina was already training with his division, where he discovered his position as a midfielder, although he also played as a forward and attacking midfielder.[4]
He debuted for Boca Juniors' first squad on February 14, 2021, against Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata.[5] In April of the same year, he scored his first goal for Xeneize against Club Atlético Tucumán, assisted by Carlos Tévez. Boca won the match 3–1.[6] In that year, he joined Agustín Almendra and Alan Varela in the starting midfield, nicknamed MVA by supporters.[7] [8]
In October 2022, Medina renewed and improved his contract with Boca until December 2026.[9] That same month, he won his fourth title, the 2022 Argentine Primera División championship.[10] He finished 2023 with five goals and four assists in 50 games played. On February 25, 2024, he scored his first goal in the Argentine football Superclásico against River Plate, resulting in a 1–1 draw at Estadio Monumental.[11] [12] In August of that year, he scored a last-minute header to earn a draw with Independiente de Mendoza.[13]
Medina was part of Argentina's U15 squad that won the 2017 South American Championship under manager Diego Placente on home soil, as they defeated Brazil in the final.[14] [15] Two years later, Medina was selected by Pablo Aimar's U17s for the 2019 South American Championship in Peru and the 2019 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.[16] [17] He scored once, versus Paraguay, in seven matches as they won the former competition, prior to featuring three times at the latter; as they reached the round of sixteen.[2]
Medina is primarily a central midfielder, though is capable of playing in various positions across the midfield.[16] [18] [19] He was dubbed the next Fernando Gago by some Argentine media.[16] [14] [15] [20] [21]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Boca Juniors | 2021 | Primera División | 15 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 7[23] | 0 | — | 39 | 1 | ||
| 2022 | 18 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 0 | |||
| 2023 | 23 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 5 | |||
| 2024 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 | |||
| Total | 60 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 46 | 4 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 149 | 8 | |||
| Career total | 60 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 46 | 4 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 149 | 8 | |||
Boca Juniors
Argentina U15[15]
Argentina U17[2]