Luciano Gondou Explained

Luciano Gondou
Fullname:Luciano Emilio Gondou Zanelli
Birth Place:Rufino, Santa Fe, Argentina
Height:1.89 m
Birth Date:22 June 2001
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Zenit Saint Petersburg
Clubnumber:32
Youthyears1:–2019
Youthclubs1:Sarmiento
Youthyears2:2019–2021
Youthclubs2:River Plate
Years1:2021–2023
Clubs1:Sarmiento
Caps1:82
Goals1:17
Years2:2023–2024
Clubs2:Argentinos Juniors
Caps2:39
Goals2:12
Years3:2024–
Clubs3:Zenit Saint Petersburg
Caps3:11
Goals3:6
Nationalyears1:2024–
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:4
Club-Update:1 December 2024
Ntupdate:9 August 2024

Luciano Emilio Gondou Zanelli (born 22 June 2001) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as an attacker for Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Club career

Born in Rufino, Santa Fe, Gondou was in the youth academy at Sarmiento before joining River Plate in 2019. He started his career as a left-sided midfielder before developing into a left-footed forward player. With River Plate, he reached the final of the 2020 U-20 Copa Libertadores, which they lost to Ecuadorean side Independentedel Valle. In March 2021, he returned to Sarmiento and signed a professional contract with the club. The following month he made his senior debut.[1] [2]

In July 2023, Gondou signed for Argentinos Juniors agreeing to a four-year contract with Argentinos Juniors reportedly paying a fee of $3,500,000 for 80% of his playing rights.[3] He made his debut in the Copa Libertadores against Fluminense in August 2023.[4] He scored his first goals for Argentinos Juniors on 21 August 2023, against his former club River Plate, scoring a brace as his side completed a comeback 3–2 league win.[5]

On 27 August 2024, Gondou signed a four-year contract with Russian Premier League champions Zenit St. Petersburg.[6] Four days later on his debut against Pari NN he scored twice in a 3–0 Zenit away victory.[7]

International career

In November 2023, Gondou was called up to the Argentina national under-23 football team by coach Javier Mascherano.[8] In January 2024, he scored in his first two appearances for Argentina U23, against Paraguay U23 and Peru U23.[9] He also scored the only goal of the game as Argentina beat Brazil U23 to secure qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games.[10]

In June 2024, he was named in the provisional Argentina squad for the 2024 Paris Olympics.[11]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sarmiento2020Primera Nacional001010
2021Argentine Primera División26610276
2022Argentine Primera División34510355
2023Argentine Primera División22610236
Total8217408617
Argentinos Juniors2023Argentine Primera División1491020179
2024Argentine Primera División1632131215
Total30123151003814
Zenit Saint Petersburg2024–25Russian Premier League11631147
Career total12335102510013838

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LUCIANO GONDOU – SARMIENTO'S RELENTLESS STRIKER. Leftbackfootball. 4 December 2023. July 15, 2021.
  2. Web site: Luciano Gondou, the scorer that River could have had will now face them in Sarmiento. TYC Sports. 4 December 2023. 30 April 2022.
  3. Web site: Argentines presented Luciano Gondou. Ole.com. 4 December 2023. Matias. Mancuso. 11 July 2023.
  4. Web site: Argentinos Juniors lost in Marcaná and was eliminated from the Libertadores. TNTSPORTS. 4 December 2023. 17 August 2023.
  5. Web site: Gondou, the Argentine figure who is "grateful" to River. Ole.com. 4 December 2023. 21 August 2023.
  6. Web site: FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. Лусиано Гонду — в "Зените"!. 27 August 2024. ru.
  7. Web site: Russian Premier League. Pari v Zenit game report. 31 August 2024.
  8. Web site: THE SENSITIVE LOSS SUFFERED BY JAVIER MASCHERANO'S SUB 23. 4 December 2023. elgrafico. 14 November 2023.
  9. Web site: Luciano Gondou's brutal mark in the soccer Pre-Olympic: two goals in 20 minutes to rescue Argentina. Clarin.com. 26 January 2024. 25 January 2024.
  10. Web site: Sub 23 Olympic Pre-Olympic: Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 and qualified for Paris 2024. Pagina12. 4 June 2024. 12 February 2024.
  11. Web site: Ryan. Smart. Argentina name 23-man provisional squad for the 2024 Olympics as two Premier League stars not included. Sportbible. 4 June 2024. 3 June 2024.