Tomás Eduardo Rincón Hernández (; born 13 January 1988) is a Venezuelan former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
Rincón played for the Venezuela national team between 2008 and 2025, featuring at five Copa América tournaments. With 143 caps, he is the nation's record appearance holder.
Club career Early career Born in San Cristóbal, Táchira, Rincón started his career with the youth sides of EF Monsenor Arias Blanco. In 2004, aged 16, he moved to UA Maracaibo, and made his senior debut during the 2006–07 season, playing with the B-team in the Venezuelan Segunda División and scoring two goals.
Rincón joined Venezuelan Primera División club Zamora in January 2007, and made his top tier debut on 25 March, starting in a 2–0 away loss against Carabobo. He became a regular starter in the 2007–08 season, and scored his first goal for the club on 30 September 2007, in a 4–0 home victory against his former club Macaribo. With Zamora, Rincón also took part in the club's first-ever continental appearance, playing in both matches of the 2007 Copa Sudamericana as they were knocked out by Ecuadorian club Olmedo.
Rincón left Zamora in July 2008 after scoring once in 33 league matches, and moved to Deportivo Táchira on a contract until 2010.
Hamburger SV
Rincón, then 22 years old, played on loan for German Bundesliga club Hamburger SV. On 30 January 2009, he signed a contract until 31 December 2009. Rincón played his first match for Hamburg on 4 March 2009 against Wehen Wiesbaden in the DFB-Pokal. He made his Bundesliga debut on 4 April as a substitute in the 87th minute in a 1–0 victory against 1899 Hoffenheim. On 10 December 2009, Hamburger SV purchased him from his former club Deportivo Táchira. Rincón signed a contract until 30 June 2014.
Genoa
On 31 July 2014, Rincón was signed by Italian club Genoa on a free transfer. On 24 August, he played his first official match with the Gialloblu, a 1–0 away victory against Lanciano in third qualifying round of the Coppa Italia. He made his debut in Serie A on 31 August against Napoli. Although Genoa finished sixth place and qualified for the Europa League, it failed to obtain a UEFA license.
The following season, on 30 August 2015, Rincón made his debut in the league in the second round in a 2–0 victory against Hellas Verona. On 22 November 2015, he scored his first goal for Genoa in the game won against Sassuolo. Overall, he made 83 appearances and scored three goals with Genoa.
Juventus, Torino, and Sampdoria In the middle of the 2016–17 Serie A, Rincón was linked with a move to defending Serie A champions Juventus during the January transfer window. He signed a three-and-a-half year contract with the Turin-based club on 3 January 2017 for a reported fee of €8 million, becoming the first Venezuelan ever to represent the Bianconeri, and was given the number 28 shirt. He made his Serie A debut 8 January, coming on as a substitute for Sami Khedira in a 3–0 home victory against Bologna. On 14 March, Rincón made his UEFA Champions League debut with the club — coming on as a substitute for Paulo Dybala in a 1–0 home victory against Porto — the second leg of the round of 16.
On 11 August 2017, Rincón moved to Torino on loan for the 2017–18 Serie A for €3 million, with a €6 million conditional obligation to buy. After the player had reached the condition on appearance for Torino, the club bought him outright on 6 January 2018. The deal was officially confirmed by Juventus on 5 February.
On 8 January 2022, Rincón joined Sampdoria on loan. On 5 July 2022, he returned to Sampdoria on a permanent basis with a one-year contract.
Santos
On 15 August 2023, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A side Santos confirmed the signing of Rincón, pending on medical examinations. He made his debut for the club five days later, replacing Joaquim Henrique in a 2–1 home victory against Grêmio.
Rincón scored his first goal for Peixe on 1 October 2023, netting his club's second in a 4–1 home victory against Vasco da Gama. One week later, he scored the equalizer in a 2–1 away victory against rivals Palmeiras.
Despite being a part of the club which suffered the club's first-ever relegation from the top tier, Rincón agreed to a cut his wages to remain at the club in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B. He spent the 2024 season as a backup to João Schmidt and Diego Pituca as the club achieved immediate promotion as champions, and switched between a first choice and back-up footballer in 2025. On 6 July 2026, having experienced limited playing time, Rincón announced his departure from Santos.
Retirement On 16 September 2026, Rincón announced his retirement from professional football through a video posted to his social channels. He thanked his former teammates, coaches, and fans in the video.
International career
Rincón represented Venezuela at under-17 level in the 2005 South American U-17 Championship, and at under-20 level in the 2007 South American U-20 Championship. He played his first senior international game for the full side on 3 February 2008, starting in a 1–0 friendly victory against Haiti at the Estadio Monumental de Maturín.
On 22 July 2011, Rincón was voted Adidas' Best Player at the 2011 Copa América in Argentina, receiving 65% of the total votes against ten candidates. Venezuela finished the tournament in fourth place. He also played at the 2015 Copa América, and the Copa América Centenario in 2016 with Venezuela, serving as his team's captain in the latter tournament.
Rincón scored his first international goal on 16 November 2018, netting the equalizing goal from the penalty spot in a 1–1 friendly away draw against Japan. He was also a member of the Venezuela national team that took part at the 2019 Copa América in Brazil, and made his 100th international appearance for Venezuela against Trinidad and Tobago on 14 October 2019.
On 11 September 2025, Rincón announced his retirement from the national team following his country's 6–3 home loss against Colombia during 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, which led Venezuela to be eliminated from contention for the tournament.
Style of play Nicknamed el general (), Rincón was usually deployed in the centre, as a defensive midfielder in front of the back-line; he was also capable of playing as a full-back, wing-back, or wide midfielder along the right flank. He was also deployed in a box-to-box role on occasion, or as an offensive-minded central midfielder, known as the mezzala role in Italy.
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueState leagueNational cupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsZamora2006–07Venezuelan Primera División20—00—202007–08311—2220353Total331—2220373Deportivo Táchira2008–09Venezuelan Primera División180—00—180Hamburger SV2008–09Bundesliga10—1020402009–10170—001102802010–11190—20—2102011–12270—20—2902012–13200—00—2002013–14220—40—260Total1060—901301280Genoa2014–15Serie A290—20—3102015–16333—10—3432016–17170—10—180Total793—40—833Juventus2016–17Serie A130—3030190Torino (loan)2017–18Serie A361—20—381Torino2018–19Serie A343—31—3742019–20321—20503912020–21361—30—3912021–2270—20—90Torino total1456—121501627Sampdoria (loan)2021–22Serie A170—10—180Sampdoria2022–23Serie A340—30—370Sampdoria total510—40—550Santos2023Série A162———1622024Série B140140——2802025Série A17012020—31020262010000030Total4922702000782Career total4941227036323058015
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsVenezuela200813020091002010602011140201240201370201420201511020161402017502018512019100202030202190202290202380202490202540Total1431
Scores and results list Venezuela's goal tally first. + List of international goals scored by Tomás Rincón No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 16 November 2018 Ōita Bank Dome, Ōita, Japan 1–11–12018 Kirin Challenge Cup
Honours Juventus Serie A: 2016–17 Coppa Italia: 2016–17
Santos Campeonato Brasileiro Série B: 2024
Venezuela Kirin Challenge Cup: 2019 Copa América fourth place: 2011
Individual Adidas' Best Player of the Copa América: 2011
See also List of footballers with 100 or more caps
References
External links