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Samy Merheg

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Merheg and the second or maternal family name is Enciso.
In this Lebanese name, the father's name is Habib and the family name is Merheg.
Samy Merheg
Personal information
Full name Samy Habib Merheg[1]
Birth name Samy Jr. Merheg Enciso[2]
Date of birth (2006-12-06) 6 December 2006 (age 17)
Place of birth Pereira, Colombia[1]
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-forward
Team information
Current team
 Deportivo Pereira
Number 38
Youth career
Koura Football Academy
Tecnofútbol
2021 Mi Nuevo Tolima
2022 Rosario Central
2023–2024 Deportivo Pereira
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Deportivo Pereira 3 (0)
International career‡
2022 Lebanon U16 1 (0)
2024– Lebanon U20 1 (0)
2024– Lebanon 2 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2024

Samy Habib Merheg[note 1] (Arabic: سامي حبيب مرهج; born 6 December 2006) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-forward for Colombian club Deportivo Pereira. Born in Colombia, he plays for the Lebanon national team.

Early and personal life

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Merheg was born in Pereira in the Risaralda Department of Colombia to businessman Habib Merheg [es] and Juliana Enciso, a politician who also played volleyball at a high level.[3][4] His maternal uncle is former professional footballer Leonardo Enciso, while his paternal uncle is politician Juan Samy Merheg.[4][5]

Club career

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As a child, Merheg played football in Lebanon and Spain, playing for Koura Football Academy and Tecnofútbol, respectively.[6][7] Having represented the Risaralda Department in both 2019 and 2020,[8] he scored six goals in ten games in the 2021 under-15 National Championship for Ibagué-based VyV (Vargas y Virviescas) Mi Nuevo Tolima.[9]

Despite signing with Argentinian side Rosario Central in 2022,[3] Merheg was unable to register with the club in AFA-affiliated competitions, and returned to Colombia the following year, joining Deportivo Pereira.[8] On 17 February 2024, he made his professional debut, starting and playing 58 minutes in a 1–0 win against Santa Fe, before being replaced by Andrés Ibargüen.[4]

International career

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Merheg is eligible to represent both Colombia and Lebanon at international level, due to his father having parents from the latter. He represented the Lebanese under-16 side in a friendly match against Malta in November 2022.[10]

In July 2024, he was called up to the Colombia under-20 side for a micro-cycle.[11] The following month he was called up to the Lebanon under-20 side for the first time.[12] He made his debut in 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification, playing 90 minutes in a 3–2 loss to the United Arab Emirates.[13]

Merheg was first called up to the Lebanon senior side on 5 November 2024, for friendly games against Thailand and Myanmar.[14] He made his debut on 14 November 2024, aged 17 years, 344 days, as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 0–0 friendly draw against Thailand.[15] Against Myanmar on 19 November, Merheg scored his first international goals with a brace, securing a 3–2 win for Lebanon.[16]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 21 October 2024[17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Deportivo Pereira 2024 Categoría Primera A 3 0 2[a] 0 – 0 0 5 0
Career total 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Notes
  1. ^ Appearances in the Copa Colombia

International

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As of match played 19 November 2024[18]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Lebanon 2024 2 2
Total 2 2
Scores and results list Lebanon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Merheg goal.
List of international goals scored by Samy Merheg
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 5 June 2021 Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar  Myanmar 2–2 3–2 Friendly
2 3–2

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ In Colombia, his full name is Samy Jr. Merheg Enciso.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Samy Merheg". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b Samy Merheg at WorldFootball.net
  3. ^ a b Rodríguez Hernández, Alvaro (8 April 2022). "Pereirano fichado por el club argentino Rosario Central" [Pereirano signed by Argentine club Rosario Central]. eje21.com.co (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Samy Merheg con sangre de deportista" [Samy Merheg with athlete's blood]. deportivopereira.com.co (in Spanish). 17 February 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  5. ^ Parra Cuenca, Daniel (22 May 2024). "El delantero de paso por América y Selección Colombia que le da empleo a 120 personas" [The forward who passed through América and the Colombian National Team and who employs 120 people]. noticiascaracol.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  6. ^ "El Cadete A golea antes de viajar a Dubai" [The Cadet A team scores a goal before travelling to Dubai]. fcbarcelona.es (in Spanish). 13 March 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  7. ^ "يواجه منتخب طاجيكستان اليوم: انطلاقة جديدة للبنان بعنوان التغيير" [Tajikistan national team faces today: A new start for Lebanon under the title of change]. al-akhbar.com (in Arabic). 4 September 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  8. ^ a b Campo, Hugo (20 February 2024). "Samy Merheg Enciso: debut profesional recién cumplidos los 17 años" [Samy Merheg Enciso: professional debut just after turning 17]. blogdelasestadisticas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  9. ^ Campo, Hugo (1 August 2023). "'Profe' Restrepo… atrévase con Samy Merheg y Enmanuel Marín" ['Profe' Restrepo… dares with Samy Merheg and Enmanuel Marín.]. blogdelasestadisticas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  10. ^ "فوز منتخب الناشئين على نظيره المالطي في الوديّة الأولى ضمن معسكره الخارجي" [The junior team defeated its Maltese counterpart in the first friendly match within its external camp]. alkalimaonline.com (in Arabic). 9 November 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Convocatoria de la Selección Colombia Masculina Sub 20 para microciclo de trabajo – julio 2024" [Call-up of the Colombian Men's Under-20 Team for a work microcycle – July 2024]. fcf.com.co (in Spanish). 15 July 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  12. ^ Arbelaez, Gustavo (24 August 2024). "Jugador de la Liga BetPlay fue convocado por exótica selección asiática; irá a microciclo" [BetPlay League player was called up by exotic Asian team; he will go to microcycle]. pulzo.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  13. ^ "لبنان يخسر أمام الإمارات 3-2 في تصفيات كأس آسيا للشباب" [Lebanon loses to UAE 3-2 in AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers]. the-lfa.com.lb (in Arabic). 21 September 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  14. ^ منتخب لبنان يستعيد حضوره الدولي و٣ مغتربين جدد ينضمون اليه [Lebanon national team regains its international presence and three new expatriates join it] (in Arabic). Lebanese Football Association. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Match Report of Thailand vs Lebanon". Global Sports Archive. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Match Report of Myanmar vs Lebanon". Global Sports Archive. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  17. ^ Samy Merheg at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Samy Merheg". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
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