Lucas Manuel Zelarayán (Armenian: Լուկաս Մանուել Զելարայան; born 20 June 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew. Born in Argentina, he represents the Armenia national team.
![]() Zelarayán with the Columbus Crew in 2022 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Lucas Manuel Zelarayán | ||
Date of birth | (1992-06-20) 20 June 1992 (age 30) | ||
Place of birth | Córdoba, Argentina | ||
Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Columbus Crew | ||
Number | 10 | ||
Youth career | |||
Belgrano | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2012–2015 | Belgrano | 75 | (10) |
2016–2020 | Tigres UANL | 113 | (21) |
2020– | Columbus Crew | 77 | (28) |
National team‡ | |||
2021– | Armenia | 6 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:50, 9 October 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 September 2022 |
Born in Córdoba, Argentina, Zelarayán was a Belgrano youth graduate. He made his senior debut on 25 April 2012, coming on as a second-half substitute for Lucas Parodi in a 2–1 away loss against Rosario Central, for the season's Copa Argentina.
Zelarayán made his Primera División debut on 1 March 2013, replacing Jorge Velázquez in a 2–0 away loss against Newell's Old Boys.[2] His first professional goal came on 7 April of the following year, as he scored the winner in a 2–1 home defeat of River Plate.[3]
On 5 December 2014, after becoming a regular starter, Zelarayán extended his contract until 2018.[4]
On 21 December 2015, Zelarayán agreed to a contract with Liga MX side Tigres UANL.[5] He debuted for the club the following 10 January, replacing Rafael Sóbis in a 1–0 loss at Toluca. Zelarayán scored his first goal abroad on 6 February 2016, netting the last in a 3–1 win at Chiapas. On 22 January 2017, he scored a brace in a 4–2 home win against América.
On 20 December 2019, Zelarayán moved to Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew for $8 million.[6][7] Zelarayán made his debut against New York City FC, scoring the match-winning goal in the 56th minute.[8] He was named the league's Newcomer of the Year at the end of the 2020 regular season. In the 2020 MLS Cup final, Zelarayán scored two goals and assisted on another in Columbus' 3–0 win over Seattle Sounders FC to help them win their second ever MLS Cup title. Zelarayán was named the MLS Cup Most Valuable Player after his performance.[9]
During the 2021 MLS season, Zelarayán scored a total of five free kick goals, with two of them coming in one game vs New York City FC. Both free kick goals turned out to be crucial for the Crew, as they ended up winning 2–1, with the game winning free kick coming in the 5th minute of second half stoppage time, which earned Zelarayán recognition as MLS Player of the Week.[10] Zelarayán was named MLS Player of the Week a second time in the 2021 season after scoring 2 goals in a 3–1 victory against DC United.[11] Zelarayán finished the year leading the club in both goals and assists with twelve and seven respectively.[12]
On 2 December 2021, it was announced that Zelarayán had signed a contract extension with the Crew, keeping him with Columbus through the 2024 Major League Soccer season with an option for 2025.[13]
On 30 March 2022, Zelarayán was voted MLS Player of the Month.[14]
Born in Argentina, Zelarayán is of Armenian descent through his father. He received an invitation to represent the Armenia national team in June 2018.[15] He accepted the invitation to play for Armenia national team in October 2021.[16] He debuted with Armenia in a 1–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification tie with Iceland on 8 October 2021.[17]
Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Belgrano | 2011–12 | Argentine Primera División | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
2012–13 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||||
2013–14 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 1 | ||||
2014 | 19 | 4 | — | — | — | 19 | 4 | |||||
2015 | 30 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | — | 33 | 5 | |||
Total | 75 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 81 | 10 | |||
Tigres UANL | 2015–16 | Liga MX | 15 | 1 | — | 4[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 20 | 1 | |
2016–17 | 40 | 8 | — | 7[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 48 | 8 | |||
2017–18 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4[lower-alpha 2] | 1 | 2[lower-alpha 4] | 1 | 29 | 5 | ||
2018–19 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 5] | 0 | 28 | 5 | ||
2019–20 | 15 | 4 | — | — | — | 15 | 4 | |||||
Total | 113 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 140 | 23 | ||
Columbus Crew | 2020 | Major League Soccer | 16[lower-alpha 6] | 6 | — | — | 5[lower-alpha 7] | 2 | 21 | 8 | ||
2021 | 32 | 12 | — | 3[lower-alpha 2] | 1 | 1[lower-alpha 8] | 0 | 36 | 13 | |||
2022 | 29 | 10 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 10 | ||||
Total | 77 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 86 | 31 | ||
Career total | 265 | 59 | 8 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 307 | 64 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
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Armenia | 2021 | 4 | 0 |
2022 | 2 | 0 | |
Total | 6 | 0 |
UANL
Columbus Crew
Individual
Columbus Crew – current squad | |
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MLS Cup MVP | |
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MLS Newcomer of the Year | |
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