 Pizarro withInter Miami in 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Rodolfo Gilbert Pizarro Thomas[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1994-02-15)15 February 1994 (age 31)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Tampico,Tamaulipas, Mexico | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Juárez | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | Orinegros Ciudad Madero | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | Pachuca | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2016 | Pachuca | 134 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Guadalajara | 45 | (13) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Monterrey | 51 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2023 | Inter Miami | 59 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | →Monterrey (loan) | 30 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | AEK Athens | 16 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | Mazatlán | 21 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Juárez | 10 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Mexico U21 | 3 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | Mexico U23 | 8 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2022 | Mexico | 37 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 2 March 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 11 June 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rodolfo Gilbert Pizarro Thomas (born 15 February 1994) is a Mexican professionalfootballer who plays as anattacking midfielder forLiga MX clubJuárez.
Pizarro made his professional debut withPachuca, where he spent four years before transferring toGuadalajara. Although his time at the club was brief, he achieved notable success. Just eighteen months later, he joinedMonterrey in a move that set a new record as the most expensive signing in the league’s history. Pizarro later continued his career withInter Miami,AEK Athens andMazatlán.
He has participated for theU-21, theU-23, and thesenior levels of Mexico's national team. He has represented Mexico at the2016 Summer Olympics and the2017,2019, and2021 CONCACAF Gold Cups.
Pizarro started his youth career withOrinegros Ciudad Madero, and joined thePachuca Youth System in 2011.[2] Pizarro made his debut with thesenior team on 14 September 2012 coming in on as a substitute in the 71st minute in a 3–2 win overMorelia.[3] At the time of his debut, he played as aright-back.[4]
On 19 February 2013, during aCopa MX group stage match againstDorados de Sinaloa, he would score his first goal in a 5–2 loss.[3]
Pizarro, along with fellow youth system teammatesHirving Lozano andÉrick Gutiérrez, proved to be vital in Pachuca's winning of theClausura 2016 championship.[5][6]
In December 2016, Pachuca announced the transfer of Pizarro to Guadalajara in a deal reportedly worth up to $15 million, which also involvedVíctor Guzmán permanently joining Pachuca.[7][8] On 7 January 2017, Pizarro made his debut againstClub Universidad Nacional, playing the whole match in which Guadalajara won 2–1.[9] A week later, Pizarro scored his first goal for Guadalajara againstMonterrey from a long range shot, the game ended 2–2.[10]
In April, Guadalajara won theClausura Copa MXfinal against Morelia.[11][12] The following month, Pizarro would prove to be vital during theClausura championship, managing to score in the first leg of the final againstTigres UANL as Guadalajara would go on to win the title, finishing an eleven-year-long drought of league titles.[13][14][15] As a result, Guadalajara won their firstDouble since the1969–70 season.[16]
In the first leg of the2018 CONCACAF Champions League Finals againstMajor League Soccer teamToronto FC, Pizarro scored the first goal of the match within the second minute, in an eventual 2–1 victory,[17] also being namedMan of the Match.[18] As Guadalajara went on to win the finals following apenalty shoot-out victory of 4–2,[19][20] Pizarro won the Best Young Player award[21] and was listed on the Best XI of thetournament.[22]
On 4 June 2018, after much media speculation, Guadalajara sporting directorFrancisco Gabriel de Anda officially announced that Pizarro was being transferred to fellow league clubMonterrey,[23] for a reported $16 million, making him the costliest interleague transfer in Liga MX history.[24] Rejoining former Pachuca managerDiego Alonso, Pizarro would make his debut with Monterrey on 21 July 2018 in a 1–0 victory against his youth club, Pachuca.[25] On 5 November, he would score his first goal with the team in a 2–0 win overVeracruz.[26]
He was an integral part of the team as he helped Monterrey win the2019 CONCACAF Champions League Finals title againstcrosstown rivals Tigres UANL, their fourth title.[27] This made Pizarro alongside teammateAngel Zaldívar the first players to win the tournament in back–to–back years with two different teams.[28] Following the end of his first season with Monterrey, he was listed in the Best XI of theClausura.[29]
Following an impressive campaign with Mexico over the summer,Sky Sport Italia linked Pizarro withA.C. Milan.[30] On 14 December, following Monterrey's 3–2 quarter-final victory overAl Sadd at the2019 FIFA Club World Cup, he was namedMan of the Match.[31] At the end of the month, he would win theApertura championship againstAmérica, with Pizzaro being handed a starting berth in both legs of the final.[32]
On 14 February 2020, Pizarro left Monterrey forMajor League Soccer expansion sideInter Miami, following a protracted dispute between the clubs about the activation of his release clause, rejoining head coach Diego Alonso for a third time, his coach at both Pachuca and Monterrey.[33] The following day, despite not officially being announced as a signing for the club, Pizarro scored the first goal for Miami in a 2–1 preseason friendly loss toPhiladelphia Union.[34] That same day, Monterrey filed a complaint withFIFA against Pizarro and Inter Miami for improper contact between the player and Inter Miami co-ownerDavid Beckham while Pizarro was still under contract with Monterrey. FIFA's investigation was still on-going when news of the complaint broke on 4 March.[35]
On 17 February, Pizarro's move to Miami was made official, labeled as the club's secondDesignated Player.[36] Pizarro played in the team's league debut on 1 March, in a 1–0 loss toLos Angeles FC.[37] The following week, he scored the team's first league goal in a 1–2 loss againstD.C. United.[38] Toward the end ofhis first season, he, alongside teammateLewis Morgan, was nominated for theLandon Donovan MVP Award.[39]
On 4 January 2022, Pizarro returned toMonterrey on a one-year loan.[40] On 14 July 2023, Inter Miami and Pizarro agreed to mutually terminate their contract.[41]
On 17 July 2023, Pizarro signed a two-year contract withSuper League Greece clubAEK Athens with an option to extend his contract for another year.[42] The move had him rejoin former Guadalajara manager Matías Almeyda and former Guadalajara teammateOrbelín Pineda.[43]
On 16 September 2024, Pizarro returned to México to joinMazatlán. On 13 June 2025, Pizarro signed withJuárez.
Pizarro was included byRaúl Gutiérrez to participate in the2014 Toulon Tournament.[44][45] Mexico would fail to qualify to the next round after placing third in the group stage.[46]
On 18 September 2015, Rodolfo Pizarro was selected by coach Raúl Gutiérrez to play in theCONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship.[47] Mexico went on to win the tournament and qualified for the2016 Summer Olympics as Pizarro was named to the tournament's Best XI.[48]
On 7 July 2016, Pizarro was named in Mexico's 18-man squad that would participate in the 2016 Summer Olympics inRio de Janeiro, Brazil.[49] In Mexico's first group stage match againstGermany, he scored Mexico's second goal to make the game 2–1 but was eventually tied 2–2.[50] In Mexico's second group stage match againstFiji, Pizarro along with teammateOribe Peralta, would pick up injuries.[51] They were subsequently replaced byCarlos Fierro andRaúl López Gómez.[52]
On 29 January 2014, Pizarro made hissenior national team debut in a friendly game againstSouth Korea, playing all 90 minutes.[53] On 10 February 2016, Pizarro scored his first goal for Mexico in the 87th minute of the friendly match againstSenegal, with the match finishing 2–0.[54][55]
On 28 June 2017, Pizarro was called up to participate in the2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[56] In thequarter-final match againstHonduras, he scored the only goal of the match at the 4th minute, winning 1–0.[57]
Pizarro was controversially[58][59] left out of the 23-man squad for the2018 FIFA World Cup.[60]
With the arrival ofGerardo Martino as Mexico's new coach, Pizarro has been given precedence.[61][62] In March 2019, Pizarro declared that it was a motivating gesture that Martino treated the domestic league players with the same importance and opportunity as those based in Europe.[63] He was included in Mexico's preliminary list for the2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup[64] and was eventually in the final list.[65] Prior to the start of the Gold Cup, he picked up a minor injury and did not appear in the tournament until the finalgroup stage match againstMartinique,[66][67] coming on as a half-time substitute and contributing an assist toRaúl Jiménez for Mexico's second goal in a 3–2 victory.[68][69] In thefinal against theUnited States, during the first half he would bend his left elbow in an apparent injury but managed to play in the second half as well, managing to contribute in Mexico's build up play for the winning goal as they won the tournament.[70]
Pizarro is a player with vast experience playing in various positions. He started off in Pachuca as aright-back,[4] and eventually shifted into a highly versatile and multifacetedmidfielder, playing as adefensive midfielder,central midfielder, and eventually settling aswinger andattacking midfielder.[71][72][73][74][75][76][77] During his time at Guadalajara, managerMatías Almeyda opted at times to use him as a "goal poacher."[78]
He has been described as "A classy operator of the ball, Pizarro can pick a pass, unlock tightest of defenses and has the guile to operate as anumber 10. The Mexican star can spark creativity from midfield and add [fluency in the] build-up play in the final third. He is tenacious and hard-working, whilst also possessing the ball retention skills and the intelligence to get into promising goalscoring positions. Not only that, but the Tampico-born star also has a hammer of a right foot that is capable of delivering rockets from long distances. He has the ability to hold the ball in tightest of situations and his wonderful technique allows him to run comfortably with it."[79] Various outlets have described him as a difference maker in critical moments.[70][78] He also plays as aninverted winger, having the tendency to move to the inside of the pitch as the full-backs move upward so he can thrive.[62][80]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Pachuca | 2012–13 | Liga MX | 16 | 0 | 9 | 1 | — | — | 25 | 1 | ||
| 2013–14 | 39 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 0 | ||||
| 2014–15 | 35 | 2 | — | 4[b] | 0 | — | 39 | 2 | ||||
| 2015–16 | 37 | 6 | 4 | 1 | — | 1[c] | 0 | 42 | 7 | |||
| 2016–17 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 134 | 8 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 155 | 10 | ||
| Guadalajara | 2016–17 | Liga MX | 16 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 18 | 7 | ||
| 2017–18 | 29 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 8[b] | 1 | — | 40 | 8 | |||
| Total | 45 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 1 | — | 58 | 15 | |||
| Monterrey | 2018–19 | Liga MX | 30 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 8[b] | 1 | 1[d] | 0 | 40 | 7 |
| 2019–20 | 21 | 2 | — | — | 3[e] | 0 | 24 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 51 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 64 | 9 | ||
| Inter Miami | 2020 | MLS | 19[f] | 4 | — | — | 1[g] | 0 | 20 | 4 | ||
| 2021 | 27 | 3 | — | — | — | 27 | 3 | |||||
| 2023 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 59 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 62 | 7 | |||
| Monterrey (loan) | 2021–22 | Liga MX | 11 | 1 | — | — | 2[e] | 0 | 13 | 1 | ||
| 2022–23 | 19 | 0 | — | — | — | 19 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 30 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 32 | 1 | ||||
| AEK Athens | 2023–24 | Super League Greece | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 22 | 0 | |
| Mazatlán | 2024–25 | Liga MX | 21 | 0 | — | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 356 | 37 | 26 | 3 | 24 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 414 | 42 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 2014 | 4 | 0 |
| 2016 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 9[a] | 2 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 37 | 5 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 February 2016 | Marlins Park, Miami, United States |  Senegal | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 1 July 2017 | CenturyLink Field,Seattle, United States |  Paraguay | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 20 July 2017 | University of Phoenix Stadium,Glendale, United States |  Honduras | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 4 | 5 June 2019 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium,Atlanta, United States |  Venezuela | 2–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 5 | 15 October 2019 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico |  Panama | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A |
Pachuca
Guadalajara
Monterrey
Mexico U23
Mexico
Individual
Mexico squads | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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