Mario González (footballer, born 1996)

Mario González Gutiérrez (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmaɾjo ɣonˈθaleθ]; born 25 February 1996) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Segunda División club Burgos. Mainly a forward, he can also play as a winger.

Mario González
González training with Tenerife
Personal information
Full name Mario González Gutiérrez
Date of birth (1996-02-25) 25 February 1996 (age 30)
Place of birth Villarcayo, Spain
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Positions
Team information
Current team
Burgos
Number 20
Youth career
Villarcayo Nela
Burgos
Atlético Madrid
2012–2015 Villarreal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 Villarreal C 57 (25)
2015–2019 Villarreal B 86 (16)
2016–2017 Villarreal 4 (0)
2019–2020 Clermont 18 (3)
2020–2021 Villarreal 0 (0)
2020–2021Tondela (loan) 27 (15)
2021–2023 Braga 14 (2)
2022Tenerife (loan) 16 (6)
2022–2023OH Leuven (loan) 22 (13)
2023–2025 Los Angeles FC 11 (1)
2024Sporting Gijón (loan) 18 (2)
2024–2025Famalicão (loan) 16 (2)
2025Lech Poznań (loan) 6 (1)
2025– Burgos 25 (4)
International career
2013 Spain U17 3 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 6 June 2026

Club career

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Villarreal

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Born in Villarcayo de Merindad de Castilla la Vieja, Province of Burgos, Castile and León, González joined Villarreal CF's youth system in 2012.[1] On 30 August 2014, he made his senior debut for the C team, starting in a 3–1 home loss against CD Castellón in the Tercera División.

González scored his first senior goal on 5 October 2014, the third in a 4–0 home victory over FC Jove Español San Vicente. He added a brace against Orihuela CF on 14 December,[2] two more against UD Benigànim and Ontinyent CF in the following season,[3][4] and a hat-trick in a 6–1 rout of CD Acero on 28 November 2015.[5]

González made his first-team debut on 17 August 2016, coming on as a second-half substitute for Rafael Santos Borré in a 2–1 home loss to AS Monaco FC in the play-off round of the UEFA Champions League.[6] His first match in La Liga was three days later, when he replaced Alexandre Pato in the 1–1 draw at Granada CF.[7]

In July 2019, González signed a one-year deal with French Ligue 2 club Clermont Foot.[8] A year later, after exercising an option in his contract, he returned to Villarreal on a two-year deal.[9]

González went on loan to Portugal's C.D. Tondela in the summer of 2020.[10] He scored a career-best 15 times during his spell (ranking fourth in the Primeira Liga individual charts for the campaign), including three in 12 minutes in a 3–2 away win against Moreirense FC.[11][12]

Braga

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On 1 July 2021, González joined S.C. Braga of the same country and league on a four-year contract, for a reported €1.5 million.[13][14] The following 31 January, he returned to his home country after agreeing to a six-month loan with CD Tenerife.[15]

González was loaned to Belgian Pro League side Oud-Heverlee Leuven for 2022–23, with an option to buy.[16] Although he scored 15 goals in 24 appearances in all competitions, the clause was not exercised and he returned to the Estádio Municipal de Braga.[17]

Los Angeles FC

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On 22 July 2023, Braga sold González to Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC for a reported fee of €2.3 million.[18][19] He scored his only goal on 26 August, in a 2–1 defeat at Charlotte FC.[20]

González returned to the Spanish Segunda División in January 2024, on a five-month loan at Sporting de Gijón.[21] On 2 August that year, also on loan, he joined F.C. Famalicão with a purchase option.[22]

On 11 February 2025, González was loaned to Ekstraklasa's Lech Poznań until the end of the season.[23] Despite limited minutes, he played a crucial role in the latter stage of a title-winning campaign, scoring an equaliser in a 2–2 draw against GKS Katowice on 18 May to keep his team at the top of the table prior to the last matchday,[24] where he cleared the ball in injury time of the 1–0 win over Piast Gliwice.[25][26]

Later career

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On 13 August 2025, González returned to Spain and signed a one-year contract with Burgos CF as a free agent.[27]

Career statistics

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As of match played 24 May 2025[28][29][30]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Villarreal C 2013–14 Tercera División 5151
2014–15 Tercera División 249249
2015–16 Tercera División 28152815
Total 57255725
Villarreal B 2015–16 Segunda División B 100100
2016–17 Segunda División B 325325
2017–18 Segunda División B 2246[c]0284
2018–19 Segunda División B 2272[c]1248
Total 8616819417
Villarreal 2016–17 La Liga 20001[d]030
2017–18 La Liga 20001[e]030
Total 40002060
Clermont 2019–20 Ligue 2 1831021214
Villarreal 2020–21 La Liga 00000000
Tondela (loan) 2020–21 Primeira Liga 2715102815
Braga 2021–22 Primeira Liga 14231106[e]11[f]0254
Tenerife (loan) 2021–22 Segunda División 166004[g]0206
OH Leuven (loan) 2022–23 Belgian Pro League 2213222415
Los Angeles FC 2023 Major League Soccer 81004[h]0121
Sporting Gijón (loan) 2023–24 Segunda División 182002[g]0202
Famalicão (loan) 2024–25 Primeira Liga 16220182
Lech Poznań (loan) 2024–25 Ekstraklasa 6161
Career total 2928693318119133192

Honours

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Lech Poznań

Individual

References

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  1. Fernández, Dani (30 March 2013). "Mario González, un goleador internacional en Villarreal" [Mario González, an international goalscorer at Villarreal] (in Spanish). Marcadorint. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  2. Roca, Juan Francisco (14 December 2014). "Mario González dispara al Villarreal C" [Mario González propels Villarreal C] (in Spanish). Golsmedia. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  3. Roca, Juan Francisco (19 October 2015). "El Villarreal C llega al gol 500" [Villarreal C reach 500th goal]. Levante-EMV (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  4. Roca, Juan Francisco (13 December 2015). "Nadie frena a este Villarreal C" [No one stops this Villarreal C] (in Spanish). Golsmedia. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  5. "El Villarreal C deslumbra ante el Acero (1–6)" [Villarreal C amaze against Acero (1–6)] (in Spanish). Villarreal CF. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  6. "Monaco grab advantage with victory at Villarreal". UEFA. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  7. Callero, Borja Luis (20 August 2016). "Empate justo en Los Cármenes" [Fair draw at the Los Cármenes]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  8. Le Bihan, Eric (16 July 2019). "Mercato: l'attaquant espagnol Mario González (Villarreal) 8e recrue du Clermont Foot" [Transfer market: Spanish forward Mario González (Villarreal) 8th addition of Clermont Foot] (in French). France Bleu. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  9. "El Villarreal repesca al delantero Mario González del Clermont francés" [Villarreal bring back forward Mario González from France's Clermont]. El Periódico Mediterráneo (in Spanish). 5 July 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  10. "Mario González é auriverde" [Mario González is white-and-green] (in Portuguese). C.D. Tondela. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  11. "Imparável: o hat-trick de Mario González em 12 minutos no Moreirense-Tondela" [Unstoppable: Mario González's 12-minute hat-trick in Moreirense-Tondela]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 17 April 2021. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Espanhol Mario González, do Tondela, eleito melhor avançado do mês" [Spaniard Mario González, of Tondela, voted best forward of the month] (in Portuguese). EFE. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  13. Rocha, Pedro (1 July 2021). "Mario González oficializado no Braga e com contrato de quatro épocas" [Mario González confirmed at Braga and with four-season contract]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  14. "Mario González assina por quatro épocas pelo Sp. Braga" [Mario González signs for four seasons with Sp. Braga]. Público (in Portuguese). 1 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  15. "Mario González, nuevo refuerzo ofensivo para el CD Tenerife" [Mario González, new attacking addition for CD Tenerife] (in Spanish). CD Tenerife. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  16. "Mario González cedido ao OH Leuven" [Mario González loaned to OH Leuven] (in Portuguese). S.C. Braga. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  17. Cadima, Pedro (30 June 2023). "Mario González foi a surpresa no início da pré-época do Braga" [Mario González was the surprise at the beginning of Braga's pre-season]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  18. "Mario González sai do Braga e vai jogar na MLS" [Mario González leaves Braga and will play in MLS]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 22 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  19. "LAFC acquires Mario González from Sporting Clube de Braga". Los Angeles FC. 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  20. "Arfield's first career goal lifts Charlotte over LAFC 2–1". CBS News. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  21. "Mario González, nuevo jugador del Real Sporting" [Mario González, new Real Sporting player] (in Spanish). Sporting Gijón. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  22. "LAFC loans forward Mario González to F.C. Famalicão of Portugal". Los Angeles FC. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  23. Świderski, Damian (11 February 2025). ""Kolejorz" wreszcie ma napastnika. Mario Gonzalez grał w kilku silnych ligach" ["Railwayman" finally have a striker. Mario González has played in several strong leagues] (in Polish). Gol 24. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
  24. Wieczorek, Bartosz (18 May 2025). "Lech Poznań krok od mistrzostwa Polski. Thriller w Katowicach" [Lech Poznań are all but Polish champions. Thriller in Katowice] (in Polish). TVP Sport. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  25. Kowalski, Jakub (24 May 2025). "Wszystko jest już jasne! Lech Poznań przypieczętował mistrzostwo Polski" [Everything clear now! Lech Poznań confirmed Polish championship] (in Polish). Sportowe Fakty. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  26. Czaplewski, Jacek (25 May 2025). "Oto cichy bohater mistrzostwa dla Lecha Poznań. Mario Gonzalez przybył jako ostatni. Powinien zostać?" [Here is the unsung hero of the championship for Lech Poznań. Mario González was the last to arrive. Should he stay?] (in Polish). Gol 24. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  27. "'El pistolero', Mario González, regresa al Burgos CF" ['Hitman', Mario González, returns to Burgos CF] (in Spanish). Burgos CF. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  28. Mario González at Soccerway
  29. Mario González at BeSoccer
  30. Mario González at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)
  31. Laudański, Radosław (24 May 2025). "Oto mistrzowie Polski! Dzięki tym piłkarzom Lech zdobył dziewiąty tytuł w historii" [Meet the Polish champions! Thanks to these players Lech conquered the ninth title in their history] (in Polish). TVP Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
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