Jesús Gómez (footballer, born 1984)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Gómez and the second or maternal family name is Mercado.

Jesús Javier Gómez Mercado (Spanish pronunciation: [xeˈsus ˈɣomeθ], born 6 August 1984) is a Venezuelan footballer as an attacking midfielder or also as a striker.

Jesús Gómez

Personal information
Full name	Jesús Javier Gómez Mercado
Date of birth	(1984-08-06) 6 August 1984 (age 41)
Place of birth	Maracay, Aragua, Venezuela
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
2000–2003	Estudiantes de Mérida
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2006	Estudiantes de Mérida	27	(13)
2006–2007	Raja Casablanca	10	(4)
2007–2008	Al-Ittihad	35	(11)
2008–2012	Caracas	55	(10)
2011	Lierse	0	(0)
2011	Wadi Degla	5	(2)
2012	Caracas	13	(1)
2012–2013	ACD Lara	30	(1)
2013–2014	Delfines	30	(8)
2014–2015	Dorados	31	(3)
2015–2016	Necaxa	40	(3)
2016–2017	Atlante	15	(2)
2017–2019	Estudiantes de Mérida	86	(14)
2020	Atlético Venezuela	10	(1)
2021–2023	Estudiantes de Mérida	67	(12)
International career‡
2005–	Venezuela	15	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 13:42, 10 May 2020 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 16 September 2007

Club career

Product of Estudiantes de Mérida youth ranks, Gómez made his professional debut in 2004, breaking out the first team in the 2005–06 season, where played very well, that sealed his sale to Moroccan side Raja Casablanca. However, failing to repeat his performances, he joined Syrian club Al-Ittihad, where he had rematch. On 12 March 2008, the player made his AFC Champions League debut in a 2–0 win over Sepahan, where scored the first goal after a free kick.

In June 2008, Gómez returned to Venezuela and joined powerhouse club Caracas, where he won his first professional title (2008–09 Primera División) and was part of the Copa Libertadores' historic squad nicknamed "Los Rojos de Ávila" that was the first Venezuelan team to reach the quarterfinals of the competition. Gómez was selected by the FVF, clubs and players as Primera División most valuable player.

In early 2011, Jupiler League club Lierse signed Gómez for an undisclosed fee. However, he failed to play at the Belgian club, joining Wadi Degla of Egypt on loan, where he scored two goals in five EPL games. After a frustrating spell abroad, he returned to Caracas, joining ACD Lara in mid-2012. After one season at the Lara–based club, on 13 June 2013, he rescinded his contract, and joined Mexican club Delfines del Carmen.^[1]

International career

In August 2005, Gómez received a call-up to the Venezuela squad from coach Richard Paez, making his debut on 17 August in a 3–1 friendly match defeat against Ecuador,^[2] and scoring his first goal on 1 March 2006 during another friendly against Colombia in a 1–1 draw played in Maracaibo at Pachencho Romero.

International goals

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	1 March 2006	José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela	Colombia	1–0	1–1	Friendly

Honours

Club

Caracas

• Primera División (2): 2008–09, 2009–10
• Copa Venezuela (1): 2009

Individual

• Venezuelan Primera División Most Valuable Player (1): 2009–10