.jpg) Lodeiro withHouston Dynamo in 2025 | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marcelo Nicolás Lodeiro Benítez[1] | |||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1989-03-21)21 March 1989 (age 36) | |||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Paysandú, Uruguay | |||||||||||||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[2] | |||||||||||||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | |||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||
Current team | Nacional | |||||||||||||
| Number | 14 | |||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||
| Barrio Obrero | ||||||||||||||
| 2003–2007 | Nacional | |||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||
| 2007–2010 | Nacional | 43 | (9) | |||||||||||
| 2010–2012 | Ajax | 21 | (2) | |||||||||||
| 2012–2014 | Botafogo | 47 | (7) | |||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Corinthians | 7 | (0) | |||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | Boca Juniors | 30 | (6) | |||||||||||
| 2016–2023 | Seattle Sounders | 191 | (41) | |||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | Orlando City | 34 | (1) | |||||||||||
| 2025 | Houston Dynamo | 16 | (1) | |||||||||||
| 2025– | Nacional | 13 | (0) | |||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Uruguay U20 | 11 | (5) | |||||||||||
| 2012 | Uruguay Olympic | 3 | (1) | |||||||||||
| 2009–2019 | Uruguay | 60 | (5) | |||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 30 November 2025 | ||||||||||||||
Marcelo Nicolás Lodeiro Benítez (Spanish pronunciation:[nikoˈlasloˈðejɾo]; born 21 March 1989), commonly known asNicolás Lodeiro, is a Uruguayan professionalfootballer who plays as anattacking midfielder forUruguayan Primera División clubNacional.
Lodeiro has played professionally in Uruguay, the Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina, and the United States, winning theEredivisie in both of his seasons atAjax, and winning the domesticdouble in 2015 withBoca Juniors. He also won titles withNacional andBotafogo, as well as the2016 and2019 MLS Cup withSeattle Sounders.
Lodeiro was called up theUruguay national team in 2009 and earned 60 caps through to 2019. He took part in twoFIFA World Cups with the national side, as well as four editions of theCopa América, the2012 Summer Olympics, and the2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, in which Uruguay finished fourth. He was also part of the teams which placed fourth in the2010 FIFA World Cup and won the2011 Copa América.
Lodeiro was born in 1989 inPaysandú, which borders Argentina. It was here that he made his first steps as a footballer in the youth sides of local club Barrio Obrero. It wasn't too long before his talent was recognised by a local scout called Daniel López who nurtured him to play for the youth team at Nacional Montevideo aged only 14 years old.[3]
Four years later, at the age of 18, Lodeiro made his debut for the Nacional first team against Fénix on 19 August 2007. Later on in the year he also scored his first senior goal and it was clear to see that in Lodeiro, there was a new star in the making.
A year later, Lodeiro continued to make progress, securing more playing time and even scored againstRiver Plate in the Pre-Libertadores playoff. But 2009 was the year that Lodeiro really began to make progress. His three goals and several assists in the Copa Libertadores helped Nacional to reach the semi-finals of the tournament. In April 2009 he was named 58th highest scorer in the world by theIFFHS following his performance in the Copa Libertadores[4]
Lodeiro played a vital role forNacional in the2008–09 Copa Libertadores, which saw Nacional reach the semi-finals. From then on, Lodeiro has been considered one of the best youth players in the country.[5]
In January 2010, Lodeiro signed a contract withAjax until June 2012 with option of 2 more years.[6] He joined his fellow UruguayansBruno Silva and his friendLuis Suárez at Ajax. His first appearance for Ajax was as a substitute in the match against FC Twente on 7 February 2010. He marked his first goal against Go Ahead Eagles with Ajax on 25 March in the KNVB Beker. Because of an injury he sustained during the World Cup he didn't play a single match for Ajax in the 2010/2011 Eredivisie season. He did however make 19 appearances for Ajax the following season, scoring twice in the regular season, and once againstDinamo Zagreb in theChampions League, all while helping Ajax to win their 31st league title.
On 20 July 2012 it was announced thatBotafogo had signed Lodeiro to a four-year contract, taking the young midfielder over toRio de Janeiro from Ajax for an undisclosed fee.[7] He was a key part of the squad that won the Campeonato Carioca in 2013 and qualified Botafogo for the2014 Copa Libertadores after 18 years absence of the tournament. During his time with Botafogo, Lodeiro was part of Uruguay's2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and2014 FIFA World Cup squad.
On 29 May 2014, Lodeiro signed a four-year deal withCorinthians, for aR$4.5 million fee.[8]
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In 2015, Lodeiro signed with Argentinian clubBoca Juniors. In September 2015, Lodeiro scored againstRiver Plate in theSuperclásico.[9] On 4 November 2015, Lodeiro scored a penalty in the2015 Copa Argentina Final helping Boca defeatRosario Central 2–0, and secure their domesticdouble.[10]
In the summer of 2016, Lodeiro was widely rumored to be moving toMajor League Soccer clubSeattle Sounders.[11] Lodeiro began discussing a transfer with Sounders general managerGarth Lagerwey during theCopa America Centenario, using teammate Luis Suarez as a translator.[12] Lodeiro bid farewell to the Boca Juniors fans in late July amid reports that he would join the Sounders pending his physical. He officially signed with the Sounders on 27 July 2016.[13]
Lodeiro made his club debut on 31 July 2016, starting in the midfield and playing the full 90 minutes of a 1–1 home draw againstLA Galaxy.[14] In his first match, Lodeiro recorded 124 total touches, the fourth-highest total of the 2016 season for the Sounders, and 94 passes, the most for Seattle.[15] He scored his first goal for the Sounders on 14 August 2016, at home againstReal Salt Lake in the 24th minute of a 2–1 win atCentury Link Field.[16]
Lodeiro was also instrumental to the team's MLS Cup run in 2016 under caretaker managerBrian Schmetzer. He scored four goals and provided eight assists in 13 games in theregular season to help Seattle qualify for the playoffs; in the post-season, he scored four more goals in six play-off games as he led the team to the championship. In theMLS Cup Final againstToronto FC atBMO Field on 10 December, following a 0–0 draw after extra time, Lodeiro notched a penalty kick in the resulting shoot-out to keep the Sounders hopes alive;Justin Morrow then missed Toronto's next spot kick, which allowedRomán Torres to win the first MLS Cup for the Sounders after netting his kick. When Lodeiro arrived, the Sounders were at the bottom of the league, but because of his ability to create and make others around him better, the Sounders were able to turn their season around.[17][18] For his performances, he was named the2016MLS Newcomer of the Year.[19]
On 9 December 2017, Lodeiro started in the2017 MLS Cup Final, which was once again held at BMO Field against Toronto FC; on this occasion, however, Seattle lost 2–0, failing to defend their title.[20]
On 10 November 2019, Lodeiro assistedVíctor Rodríguez's goal in a 3–1 home win over Toronto FC in theMLS Cup Final.[21]
In the2022 CONCACAF Champions League Final, he scored two penalties in the first leg in a 2–2 draw againstUNAM,[22] then another goal in a 3–0 win in the second leg, in which his club secured their first title in the competition by winning 5–2 on aggregate.[23]
On 21 October 2023, in an interview, Lodeiro announced he would not be returning to the Sounders once his contract expired at the end of the season.[24] His departure was confirmed on 12 December.[25]
On 4 January 2024, Lodeiro signed as a free agent withOrlando City on a one-year contract with an option for a further year.[26] On 27 February, Lodeiro scored his first goal for the club in the second leg of their tie againstCavalry FC in the2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, helping to secure a 3–1 win.[27] Later on 23 March, Lodeiro scored his first regular season goal for the Lions in a 2–0 win overAustin FC.[28] On 11 May, Lodeiro would get a hat-trick of assists by assisting inDuncan McGuire's opening strike andLuis Muriel's brace in a 3–2 win overPhiladelphia Union.[29] Lodeiro finished the season with two goals and thirteen assists across 46 appearances in all competitions, tying him withMartín Ojeda for the most assists for the club.[30]
On 18 February 2025, Orlando City and Lodeiro mutually agreed to terminate his contract with the club.[31]
A day after Lodeiro's contract was terminated with Orlando City, fellow Major League Soccer clubHouston Dynamo signed Lodeiro to a one-year contract with a club option for 2026.[32] Three days after signing with Houston Dynamo, Lodeiro made his debut in the opening match of the season, coming on as a 62nd-minute substitute forIbrahim Aliyu in a 2–1 loss to rivalsFC Dallas.[33][34] On 2 March, Lodeiro scored his first goal for the Dynamo, the fifth goal of a 4–1 loss toInter Miami.[35] On 28 June, Houston Dynamo announced that Lodeiro's final match with the club would be in their following home match againstSt. Louis City SC that same day and that he would be given a farewell ceremony.[36][37] During his short tenure with the club, Lodeiro contributed a single goal and assist across 16 appearances.[38]
On 11 July, Lodeiro signed with his boyhood club, Nacional.[39] Lodeiro announced that he intended Nacional to be his final club before retirement and that he wished to contribute to the club in a different capacity after he retired.[40] On 2 August, Lodeiro made his first appearance for the club since his return as he came on as an 83rd-minute substitute forJuan Cruz de los Santos as Nacional defeatedMontevideo City 5–2.[41] On 12 October, Lodeiro received a red card in the second half of a scoreless draw withDanubio, a game which Nacional needed to win in order to have an opportunity to place first in the Clausura ahead ofPeñarol and faceLiverpool in the championship playoff.[42] Nacional managerPablo Peirano said after the match that he didn't see Lodeiro's expulsion and therefore could not give an opinion on it, but praised his team for managing to hang onto a draw.[43] Nacional would win the2025 Liga AUF Uruguaya at the year's end. Lodeiro would come on as a substitute in the 102nd minute in the second leg of the final againstPeñarol, with the team winning 1–0 in added extra time; the 3–2 aggregate score secured Nacional the title.[44]
During 2009, Lodeiro also progressed on the international scene with good performances for the Uruguay under-20 national team. This included outstanding performances at a South American under-20 tournament in Venezuela where he scored three goals and led Uruguay to third place.[3] He also contributed impressively at the FIFA under-20 tournament in Egypt,[45] scoring two goals in four matches.
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Lodeiro's senior international debut forUruguay came againstCosta Rica, in theCONCACAF-CONMEBOL 2010 World Cup Play-Off. He played both legs of the play-off and, in the second leg at home, was named player of the match for Uruguay.[46]
Lodeiro played for Uruguay in the2010 FIFA World Cup finals and, in Uruguay's opening match againstFrance, was the first player to receive ared card at the tournament.[47]
Lodeiro scored his first international goal on 23 June 2011, in a 3–0 friendly home win overEstonia.[48] He was a member of the Uruguay national team that won the2011 Copa América in Argentina.[49]
Lodeiro was part of Uruguay's team at the2012 Summer Olympics.[50]
Lodeiro took part at the2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, where Uruguay finished in fourth place.[51] During the tournament, he scored in an 8–0 win overTahiti on 23 June, in Uruguay's final group match.[52]
Lodeiro was a member of the Uruguay national team that participated in the2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.[53] He started two matches and came in as a substitute in a third.
In May 2015, Lodeiro was included by managerOscar Tabárez in the final 23-man Uruguay squad for theupcoming Copa América.[54]
Lodeiro was a member of the Uruguay national team that participated in the2016 Copa América Centenario in the United States. Lodeiro started two matches and came in as a substitute in a third, acquiring one assist in total.
In May 2018, he was named in Uruguay's provisional 26-mansquad for the2018 FIFA World Cup inRussia;[55] he missed out on the final 23-man squad for the tournament, however.[56]
In March 2019, Lodeiro was included in the final 23-man Uruguay squad for the2019 Copa América in Brazil.[57] On 16 June, he scored the first goal in a 4–0 win overEcuador in the team's opening group match of the tournament;[58] this was Uruguay's 400th goal in the competition.[59] Uruguay were eliminated byPeru in the quarter-finals of the tournament on 29 June, as a result of a 5–4 penalty shoot-out defeat, following a 0–0 draw after regulation time; Lodeiro did not appear during the match, however, and remained on the bench.[60]
A diminutive, dynamic, talented, and technically giftedmidfielder, with a stocky build, Lodeiro was regarded as a promising prospect as a youngster. He is known for his ability to get past defenders due to his speed, close control, anddribbling skills, which earned him comparisons with compatriotEnzo Francescoli in his youth, as well as the nickname "the UruguayanMessi."[61][62][63] He also possesses good vision, creativity, and passing ability, which enables him to link-up with other players, create chances for teammates, and be involved in the build-up of his team's attacking plays. A versatileplaymaker, Lodeiro likes to function in a free role in the centre of the pitch, and usually plays in the number 10 role as an attacking midfielder; in this position, he is given licence to drop deep and come towards a teammate in order to receive the ball and subsequently dictate play with his passing in midfield. However, he also likes to move wide towards the wings in order to overload flanks, and can often be found operating on either side of the pitch as well as in the middle during the course of the same match; as such, he is also capable of playing in several other positions, and has even been deployed as awinger on occasion, or even as acentral midfielder, or also as asecond striker.[17][61][62][64][65] Moreover, he is a very energetic player, known for his defensive work-rate off the ball, longevity, tactical intelligence, and ability to mark opponents; his fitness, coupled with his excellent movement across the field enables him to press opposing players, create space by dragging opponents out of position, or make attacking runs from behind into the opposing penalty area.[17][61][62][66][67][68] Lodeiro is naturally left footed, and is known for his powerful and accurate striking ability with his stronger foot, which also enables him to score goals, in addition to creating them;[69][70] however, he is capable of playing off of either foot.[69] Furthermore, he is a dangerousfree kick taker, and is also known for his delivery from set pieces.[71][72]
In February 2018, Lodeiro earned aU.S. green card which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[73]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Nacional | 2007–08 | Uruguayan Primera División | 15 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09 | 20 | 2 | — | 10[b] | 4 | — | 30 | 6 | ||||
| 2009–10 | 8 | 7 | — | — | — | 8 | 7 | |||||
| Total | 43 | 9 | — | 10 | 4 | — | 53 | 13 | ||||
| Ajax | 2009–10 | Eredivisie | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 10 | 1 | ||
| 2010–11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5[c] | 1 | — | 19 | 3 | |||
| Total | 21 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 4 | ||
| Botafogo | 2012 | Série A | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1[d] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 |
| 2013 | 26 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16[e] | 8 | 50 | 14 | ||
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8[b] | 0 | 5[e] | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| Total | 47 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 21 | 8 | 85 | 17 | ||
| Corinthians | 2014 | Série A | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Boca Juniors | 2015 | Argentine Primera División | 21 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 5[b] | 1 | — | 31 | 6 | |
| 2016 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9[b] | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 5 | ||
| Total | 30 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 11 | ||
| Seattle Sounders | 2016 | Major League Soccer | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 6[f] | 4 | 19 | 8 | |
| 2017 | 33 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | 5[f] | 0 | 38 | 7 | |||
| 2018 | 27 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3[g] | 2 | 2[f] | 1 | 32 | 11 | ||
| 2019 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | 4[f] | 2 | 32 | 9 | |||
| 2020 | 20[h] | 7 | — | 0 | 0 | 5[i] | 1 | 25 | 8 | |||
| 2021 | 9 | 0 | — | — | 2[j] | 1 | 11 | 1 | ||||
| 2022 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6[g] | 5 | — | 34 | 12 | |||
| 2023 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6[k] | 1 | 40 | 2 | ||
| Total | 191 | 41 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 30 | 10 | 231 | 58 | ||
| Orlando City | 2024 | Major League Soccer | 34 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4[g] | 1 | 8[l] | 0 | 46 | 2 |
| Houston Dynamo | 2025 | Major League Soccer | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | |
| Nacional | 2025 | Uruguayan Primera División | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 402 | 67 | 21 | 4 | 51 | 17 | 59 | 18 | 533 | 106 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uruguay | 2009 | 2 | 0 |
| 2010 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2012 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 6 | 1 | |
| Total | 60 | 5 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 July 2012 | Old Trafford, Manchester, England |  United Arab Emirates | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2012 Olympic Games |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 June 2011 | Estadio Atilio Paiva Olivera,Rivera, Uruguay |  Estonia | 3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 23 June 2013 | Itaipava Arena Pernambuco,Recife, Brazil |  Tahiti | 5–0 | 8–0 | 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 3 | 13 November 2013 | Amman International Stadium,Amman, Jordan |  Jordan | 3–0 | 5–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 6 October 2016 | Estadio Centenario,Montevideo, Uruguay |  Venezuela | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 16 June 2019 | Estádio Mineirão,Belo Horizonte, Brazil |  Ecuador | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2019 Copa América |
Nacional
Ajax
Botafogo
Boca Juniors
Seattle Sounders FC
Uruguay
Individual
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