Junior Colina

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

Junior Alexander Colina Bracho (born 9 December 2006) is a Venezuelan footballer who currently plays as a forward for Portuguese club Rio Ave.

Junior Colina

Personal information
Full name	Junior Alexander Colina Bracho[1]
Date of birth	(2006-12-09) 9 December 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth	Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela[1]
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Rio Ave
Youth career
	Petroleros
2021–2023	Rayo Zuliano
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023–2025	Rayo Zuliano	21	(3)
2025–	Rio Ave	0	(0)
International career‡
2023	Venezuela U17	11	(2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:53, 21 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 16:53, 21 May 2025 (UTC)

Early life

Born in Maracaibo in the Venezuelan state of Zulia and raised in the Negro Primero neighbourhood, Colina worked a number of jobs during his youth. He helped his father, a bus driver, as a fare collector on his routes, as well as selling garlic and working in stores.^[2][3]

Club career

As a child, Colina would play on local farms and dirt fields of Los Cortijos in Maracaibo, as well as in San Francisco.^[4] At the age of six,^[5] his father took him to a club named Petroleros, where he met former Venezuelan international footballer Freddy Elie.^[3] After returning to street football, he received a call from Elie telling him to go to El Callao field the following day, where professional club Rayo Zuliano would be conducting trials.^[3]

Having attended the trial, he joined the academy of Rayo Zuliano at the age of fourteen in 2021, and just a year later he was the club's top scorer in the national youth league.^[6] The following year he made his professional debut, which he marked with a goal in Rayo Zuliano's 4–4 draw with Mineros de Guayana on 26 February 2023.^[4]

Having long been linked with a move to Europe, Colina joined Portuguese Primera Liga club Rio Ave in January 2025.^[4]

International career

Colina was first called up to the Venezuela under-17 side in March 2023.^[7] He remained in the squad for the 2023 South American U-17 Championship, and scored two goals, against Argentina and Ecuador, helping his side to a fourth-place finish.^[5] On his return to Venezuela following the tournament, he was greeted at La Chinita International Airport by dozens of fans, as well as youth and senior players of Rayo Zuliano.^[8][9]

Called up again to the squad for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Colina made little impact on Venezuela's unsuccessful campaign, highlighted by their 3–0 defeat to Germany, where Colina asked fans to "trust [them]", and that the squad would "bring the jersey forward for the country".^[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of 19 May 2025.^[11]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup[a]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Rayo Zuliano	2023	Venezuelan Primera División	11	2	0	0	–		0	0	11	2
	2024		10	1	0	0	5[b]	0	0	0	15	1
	Total		21	3	0	0	5	0	0	0	26	3
Rio Ave	2024–25	Primeira Liga	0	0	0	0	–		0	0	0	0
Career total			21	3	0	0	5	0	0	0	26	3

Notes

1. Includes Copa Venezuela and Taça de Portugal
2. Appearances in the Copa Sudamericana