Gustavo Leonardo Cuéllar Gallegos (born 14 October 1992) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Saudi Professional League club Al-Shabab and the Colombia national team.[2]

Gustavo Cuéllar
Cuéllar with Colombia in 2022
Personal information
Full name Gustavo Leonardo Cuéllar Gallegos[1]
Date of birth (1992-10-14) 14 October 1992 (age 32)[1]
Place of birth Barranquilla, Colombia
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Al-Shabab
Number 6
Youth career
2008–2009 Deportivo Cali
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2016 Deportivo Cali 118 (2)
2014–2016Junior (loan) 49 (0)
2016–2019 Flamengo 113 (0)
2019–2023 Al-Hilal 98 (0)
2023– Al-Shabab 36 (0)
International career
2009 Colombia U17 7 (2)
2011 Colombia U20 5 (0)
2015–2022 Colombia 24 (1)
Medal record
Representing  Colombia
Men's football
Copa América
Third place 2021
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 October 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:41, 25 March 2022 (UTC)

Career

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Deportivo Cali

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Cuéllar began playing for the Deportivo Cali youth setup and made his professional debut in 2009. He scored his first professional goal in the first match of the 2013 Categoría Primera A season Apertura tournament against Once Caldas. It was the winning goal of a 2-1 victory. Cuéllar formed a key part of the 2013 squad that finished runners-up in 2013 Torneo Finalización, losing in the finals to Atlético Nacional.

Junior (loan)

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Cuéllar was loaned to Atlético Junior from mid-2014 to mid-2016. Junior were eliminated in the round-robin stage of the 2014 Torneo Finalización. With the arrival of Alexis Mendoza as manager in 2015 Cuéllar established himself as one of the team's best players, participating in nearly 50 matches.

Flamengo

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On January 20, 2016 Deportivo Cali confirmed that Cuéllar would be transferred to Brazilian giants Flamengo. The transfer fee was reported to be close to R$8 million for 70% of his economic rights.[3]

In his first season with the Brazilian club he could not establish himself as a regular starter. Cuéllar played 16 Brazilian Série A matches, only four as a starter, and managed to play a total 33 matches throughout the season.

During the beginning of the 2017 Brazilian Série A season rumors in the Brazilian media linked Cuéllar with Vitória on a possible loan.[4] Despite the interest from other clubs, Cuéllar started to receive more chances in the first team, including playing as a starter. Flamengo won the 2017 Campeonato Carioca with 6 appearances by Cuéllar. On June 28, 2017 in a Copa do Brasil match against Santos at Ilha do Urubu, Cuéllar scored his first goal for Flamengo in a 2-0 victory.[5]

Only after Flamengo signed compatriot Reinaldo Rueda[6] as head coach did Cuéllar manage to take a starting position in the midfield. He played a total of 51 matches in the season scoring two goals, including 25 Brazilian Série A matches.

On June 8, 2018 Cuéllar extended his contract with Flamengo until June 2022, this new contract raised his release clause from 50m to 70m.[7][8]

Cuéllar continued to be a star player for Flamengo in central midfield, helping to capture the 2019 Campeonato Carioca. He continued to be a transfer target for some European clubs.[9] In August 2019, Cuéllar was suspended from club activities indefinitely for refusing to travel with the team for the following league match, citing family matters.[10] He was reintegrated into the squad ahead of Flamengo's Copa Libertadores quarter-final match against Internacional, which would be his final match for the club.[11]

Al-Hilal

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O August 30, 2019, Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal announced the signing of Cuéllar from Flamengo.[12] The fee was reported to be 7.5m.[13]

Al-Shabab

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On 4 July 2023, Cuéllar joined Al-Shabab on a three-year deal.[14]

International career

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Gustavo played for Colombia U17 in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, he appeared in all seven matches and scored two goals, both against Gambia in a 2–2 draw,[15] as the team finished the tournament in fourth place.

He also represented Colombia U20 in the 2011 South American U-20 Championship, he had five appearances and the team finished the tournament in the sixth place.

On September 8, 2015 Gustavo debuted for Colombia as a starter in a 1–1 draw against Peru in Harrison, United States.

In May 2018 he was named in Colombia's preliminary 35 man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[16] However, he did not make the final cut to 23.[17]

On May 30, 2019, Cuéllar was named by manager Carlos Queiroz to the 23-man squad for the 2019 Copa América in Brazil.[18] He made one appearance in the group stage, appearing in the starting lineup and scoring the winning goal against Paraguay.[19]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 22 September 2023
Club Season League State league[a] National cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Deportivo Cali 2009 Primera A 1 0 1 0
2010 12 0 12 0
2011 20 0 6 0 1[c] 0 27 0
2012 37 0 4 0 41 0
2013 38 2 3 0 41 2
2014 10 0 2 0 5[d] 0 17 0
Total 118 2 15 0 6 0 139 2
Junior (loan) 2014 Primera A 15 0 10 0 25 0
2015 34 0 9 0 4[c] 0 47 0
Total 49 0 19 0 4 0 72 0
Flamengo 2016 Série A 16 0 8 0 4 0 3[c] 0 2[e] 0 33 0
2017 25 0 6 0 7 1 11[f] 1 2[e] 0 51 2
2018 28 0 11 0 6 0 6[d] 0 51 0
2019 9 0 10 0 3 0 10[d] 0 32 0
Total 78 0 35 0 20 1 30 1 4 0 167 2
Al-Hilal 2019–20 Saudi Pro League 26 0 5 0 3[g] 0 34 0
2020–21 25 0 1 0 1[h] 0 27 0
2021–22 23 0 3 0 4[i] 0 3[g] 0 33 0
2022–23 24 0 2 0 3[j] 0 29 0
Total 98 0 11 0 4 0 10 0 123 0
Career total 343 2 35 0 65 1 44 1 14 0 501 4
  1. ^ Includes Campeonato Carioca
  2. ^ Includes Copa Colombia, Copa do Brasil, King Cup
  3. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
  4. ^ a b c Appearances in Copa Libertadores
  5. ^ a b Appearances in Primeira Liga
  6. ^ Two appearances in Copa Libertadores, nine appearances and one goal in Copa Sudamericana
  7. ^ a b Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
  8. ^ Appearance in Saudi Super Cup
  9. ^ Appearances in AFC Champions League
  10. ^ One appearance in Saudi Super Cup, two appearances in FIFA Club World Cup

International

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As of match played 24 March 2022[20]
National team Year Apps Goals
Colombia 2015 1 0
2016 1 0
2017 1 0
2018 1 0
2019 3 1
2021 14 0
2022 2 0
Total 23 1
Colombia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Cuéllar goal.

Honours

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Deportivo Cali

Junior

Flamengo

Al-Hilal

Individual

  • Campeonato Carioca Team of the Year: 2019

References

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  1. ^ a b c "FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019: List of Players: Al Hilal SFC" (PDF). FIFA. 5 December 2019. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 December 2019.
  2. ^ "Gustavo Cuellar". Weltfussball.de. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  3. ^ "Deportivo Cali confirma venda de Gustavo Cuéllar para o Flamengo". globoesporte.com. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Sinval Vieira: Cuéllar e Lucas Fernandes na pauta; faltam detalhes por Neilton". globoesporte.com. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Mesmo com Vanderlei em noite especial, Fla supera Santos com dois passes de Guerrero e dois golaços". espn.com.br. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Flamengo, enfim, anuncia colombiano Reinaldo Rueda como novo treinador". globoesporte.com. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Volante Cuéllar renova contrato com o Flamengo até junho de 2022". Extra. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Renovação aumenta para mais de R$ 300 milhões multa rescisória de Cuéllar no Fla". globoesporte.com. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Ciente de mercado aquecido, Flamengo aguarda propostas com estratégia por futuro de Cuéllar". Globoesporte (in Brazilian Portuguese). 21 May 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  10. ^ "Nota oficial - Departamento de Futebol Profissional - Flamengo". www.flamengo.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 23 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Nota oficial - Departamento de Futebol Profissional - Flamengo". www.flamengo.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 26 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  12. ^ السعودي, نادي الهلال (30 August 2019). "Assinou pic.twitter.com/abOxJR3Vpj". @Alhilal_FC. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  13. ^ "Flamengo acerta venda de Cuéllar para o Al Hilal por R$ 34 milhões". Globoesporte (in Brazilian Portuguese). 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  14. ^ "الشباب يعلن تعاقده رسمياً مع كويلار". 4 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Gambia vs Colombia match report". FIFA. 31 October 2009. Archived from the original on 3 November 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  16. ^ "REVEALED: EVERY WORLD CUP 2018 SQUAD – 23-MAN & PRELIMINARY LISTS & WHEN WILL THEY BE ANNOUNCED?". goal.com. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez named in Colombia's World Cup squad | Goal.com". Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  18. ^ "Lista Selección Colombia: Convocatoria para Copa América". AS Colombia (in Spanish). 30 May 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  19. ^ "HTML Center". estadisticas.conmebol.com. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Gustavo Cuellar". National Football Teams. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  21. ^ "Final - 2nd Leg: Al Dawsari, Gomis strikes seal Al Hilal title". Asian Football Confederation. 24 November 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  22. ^ "Al Hilal power past Pohang Steelers to create history". Asian Football Confederation. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  23. ^ "Al Hilal SFC seal 16th Saudi Pro League title". Asian Football Confederation. 30 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  24. ^ "Al-Hilal beat Riyadh rivals Al-Nassr to clinch King's Cup and unique treble". Arab News. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
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