Germán Alejo Pezzella (; born 27 June 1991) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Uruguayan Primera División club Peñarol. A former international for the Argentina national team, Pezzella was part of the team who won the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Club career Early career After impressing with the former's reserves he was called up to the pre-season in Canada, appearing in friendlies against Toronto FC, Montreal Impact and Everton.
River Plate Upon being an unused substitute in a goalless away draw against Club Atlético Huracán on 18 October 2009, Pezzella made his senior debut on 7 December 2011, starting in a 1–0 home victory against Defensores de Belgrano for the season's Copa Argentina. His league debut came on March 2, 2012, where he played the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 home draw against Quilmes Atlético Club.
Pezzella scored his first professional goal on September 2, 2012, in a 1–1 draw against Club Atlético Colón. He also scored the equalizer in a 1–1 Superclásico home draw against Boca Juniors, just three minutes after coming off the bench.
On 10 December 2014, Pezzella scored the last in a 2014 Copa Sudamericana final 2–0 win against Atlético Nacional, as his side won its first international title after a 17-year absence.
Playing abroad On 10 July 2015, Pezzella signed a five-year contract with Real Betis, newly promoted to La Liga. He made his debut for the club on 23 August, starting in a 1–1 home draw against Villarreal CF.
After a loan spell with Serie A club Fiorentina during the 2017–18 season, Pezzella signed a five-year contract with the club that runs through the end of the 2021–22 season for an €11m transfer fee. Ahead of the 2018–19 season, he was named the club's new captain. On August 19, 2021, Pezzella returned to Betis after signing a four-year deal.
Return to River Plate On 5 August 2024, Pezzella returned to River Plate after nine years abroad.
International career Youth On 1 September 2011, Pezzella was called up to that year's Pan American Games,
Senior In October 2017, Pezzella received his first call-up to Argentina national team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification against Peru and Ecuador, respectively the same year on 5 and 10 October. On 11 November, he debuted in a 1–0 friendly draw against Russia. In May 2018, Pezzella was named in the Argentina national team's preliminary 35-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, but did not make the final 23.
On 27 March 2019, Pezzella served as captain of Argentina in an away 1–0 friendly win against Morocco. He was included in Argentina's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, coming on as a substitute in extra-time of the final as his country won a third world title by defeating France on penalties.
In June 2024, Pezzella was included in Lionel Scaloni's final 26-man Argentina squad for the 2024 Copa América.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsRiver Plate2011–12Primera B1050––102012–13Argentine Primera División10100––1012013–1415000501121120141012082–203201571104010131Total4338017221656Real Betis2015–16La Liga25340––2942016–1736110––371Total61450––665Fiorentina (loan)2017–18Serie A34110––351Fiorentina2018–19Serie A32230––3522019–2033310––3432020–2132110––3312021–220010––10Total97660––1036Real Betis2021–22La Liga2314070–3412022–233101060103902023–243211070–401Total86260200101132Career total320162603723138219
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsArgentina20172020184120191012021100202290202341202430Total423
Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Pezzella goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Germán PezzellaNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 11 October 2018 Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 3–0 4–0 2018 Superclásico Championship2 13 October 2019 Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, Alicante, Spain 4–1 6–1 Friendly3 15 June 2023 Workers' Stadium, Beijing, China 2–0 2–0
Honours River Plate Primera División: 2014 Final Copa Campeonato: 2014 Copa Sudamericana: 2014 Recopa Sudamericana: 2015 Copa Libertadores: 2015
Real Betis Copa del Rey: 2021–22
Argentina FIFA World Cup: 2022 Copa América: 2021, 2024 CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions: 2022
References
External links
Profile at the Real Betis website
[Category:Uruguayan Primera División players]]