Salomón Rondón

Venezuelan football player (born 1989) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Salomón Rondón

José Salomón Rondón Giménez (Spanish pronunciation: [saloˈmon ronˈdon]; born 16 September 1989) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Liga MX club Pachuca and captains the Venezuela national team.

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...
Salomón Rondón
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Rondón with CSKA Moscow in 2021
Personal information
Full name José Salomón Rondón Giménez[1]
Date of birth (1989-09-16) 16 September 1989 (age 35)[2]
Place of birth Caracas, Venezuela
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[3]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Pachuca
Number 23
Youth career
1996–2004 San José de Calasanz
2004–2005 Deportivo Gulima
2005–2006 Aragua
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 Aragua 49 (15)
2008–2010 Las Palmas 46 (10)
2010–2012 Málaga 67 (25)
2012–2014 Rubin Kazan 36 (13)
2014–2015 Zenit Saint Petersburg 37 (20)
2015–2019 West Bromwich Albion 108 (30)
2018–2019Newcastle United (loan) 32 (11)
2019–2021 Dalian Professional 27 (14)
2020–2021CSKA Moscow (loan) 10 (4)
2021–2022 Everton 27 (1)
2023 River Plate 31 (10)
2024– Pachuca 50 (25)
International career
2008–2009 Venezuela U20 11 (7)
2008– Venezuela 116 (46)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:28, 11 April 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 07:50, 25 March 2025 (UTC)
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After starting out at Aragua, Rondón went on to spend most of his career in Europe, appearing in La Liga with Málaga, the Russian Premier League with Rubin Kazan, Zenit Saint Petersburg (winning the 2015 national championship with the latter club) and CSKA Moscow, and the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle United and Everton. In 2023, he returned to the Americas, as he signed for the Argentine club River Plate, winning the Argentine Primera División title before joining a Mexican club Pachuca, four days after his departure from the club. While in Pachuca, he won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in his debut season, as well as finishing as the top scorer in the tournament.

A Venezuela international since 2008, Rondón has earned over 110 caps and is the country's all-time top goalscorer with 46 goals. He represented his country in five Copa América tournaments, helping them to fourth place in 2011.

Club career

Summarize
Perspective

Aragua

Born in Caracas, Rondón's sporting idols growing up were Ronaldo and Michael Jordan.[4] He made his debut in the Venezuelan Primera División at the age of 17, appearing for Aragua FC against Carabobo FC on 8 October 2006; on 8 April of the following year he scored his first goals for the club, in a 2–2 draw against Caracas FC.

Las Palmas

In the summer of 2008, Rondón was signed by UD Las Palmas in Spain, and made his official debut on 5 October in a 1–2 away loss against Deportivo Alavés in the Segunda División.[5] Almost a year after his arrival, on 2 September 2009, he netted his first goal, in a Copa del Rey match against Cádiz CF – becoming the youngest foreign player to ever score for the club, at the age of 19 years, 11 months and 17 days[6] – and finished the season with ten goals in 36 games, as the Canary Islands side narrowly avoided relegation.[7]

Málaga

On 19 July 2010, Málaga CF signed Rondón for a record 3.5 million transfer fee.[8] He scored his first goal for the Andalusians exactly two months later, in a 1–2 home defeat against Sevilla FC in La Liga.[9] Four days later, he opened the score in a 2–0 win at Getafe CF,[10] adding a third the following week in a 2–3 home loss to Villarreal CF.[11]

On 1 May 2011, Rondón contributed with one goal as Málaga came from behind at home to defeat Hércules CF 3–1.[12] That was his 13th goal of the campaign, with which he surpassed the record of goals from a Venezuelan footballer in the Spanish top flight previously held by Juan Arango;[13] the team finally escaped relegation, with the player finishing as their top scorer.[14]

Rondón started 2011–12 on the substitutes bench. He eventually beat competition from ageing Ruud van Nistelrooy,[15] again finishing as Málaga's best scorer – this included goals in narrow home wins against RCD Espanyol (2–1)[16] and Levante UD (1–0),[17] and a brace against Rayo Vallecano (4–2 success, also at La Rosaleda Stadium).[18]

Rubin Kazan

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Rondón with Rubin Kazan in 2012

In August 2012, Rondón signed for Russian Premier League team FC Rubin Kazan, for a reported fee of €10 million[19] which made him the most expensive Venezuelan player in history.[20] He made his league debut on the 12th in a 2–0 home win over FC Dynamo Moscow, and he scored his first goal against FC Terek Grozny on 1 September, albeit in a 1–2 home defeat.[21]

Rondón made his first appearance in the UEFA Europa League against Inter Milan, and he scored once in a 2–2 group stage away draw, also playing the entire match.[22] In the second match between the two sides he netted a brace in the final three minutes, helping his team to a 3–0 win.[23]

On 10 March 2013, following the winter break in the Russian Premier League, Rondón scored the only goal of the match as Rubin claimed a home victory over reigning champions FC Zenit Saint Petersburg.[24] In continental competition, he opened up the scoring in the 100th minute of the round-of-16 clash against Levante, latching on to a cross from Bibras Natcho as the hosts won it 2–0 in that leg and on aggregate.[25]

Rondón opened the scoring for Rubin on 19 April 2013, as they could only manage a 1–1 draw at relegation-threatened FC Amkar Perm.[26] In the club's next league match, against PFC CSKA Moscow, he netted the first goal in a 2–0 victory over the league leaders and eventual champions.[27]

On 1 September 2013, Rondón scored a hat-trick in a 3–0 win against recently promoted FC Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast.[28]

Zenit

On 31 January 2014, Rondón underwent a medical and joined fellow league club Zenit Saint Petersburg, signing a five-year contract for a fee in the region of £15.8 million.[29] He played his first game for his new team on 25 February, scoring in an eventual 2–1 away win against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League's round of 16-second-leg (4–5 aggregate defeat).[30]

Again as a second-half substitute, Rondón scored a rare second-half hat-trick on 6 April 2014 in a 6–2 home routing of former team Rubin.[31] On 20 September he added another three, in a 5–0 win at FC Rostov.[32]

Rondón scored a brace at home against PSV Eindhoven on 26 February 2015, being essential in a 3–0 home victory for the Europa League round of 32 and a 4–0 aggregate triumph.[33]

West Bromwich Albion

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Rondón playing for West Bromwich Albion in 2016

On 10 August 2015, Rondón joined English club West Bromwich Albion on a four-year deal for a club-record fee of £12 million.[34] He made his debut in the Premier League five days later, replacing Craig Gardner in the 62nd minute of an eventual 0–0 away draw against Watford.[35] On 23 August, he made his first start, at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur-linked Saido Berahino, in a 2–3 home defeat to Chelsea, assisting James Morrison in his first goal and later being brought down by John Terry who received a straight red card.[36]

Rondón scored his first goal for the Baggies on 29 August 2015, netting the game's only in stoppage time of the first half of the away fixture against nine-man Stoke City.[37] On 19 December, he was sent off at the end of a 1–2 home loss to AFC Bournemouth for thrusting his head at Dan Gosling, with teammate James McClean also dismissed in the first half;[38] he finished his first season in English football with ten goals.[39]

Rondón began the 2016–17 campaign strongly, scoring the winner in the opening match win over Crystal Palace, then continued his impressive form in September with goals in consecutive matches against West Ham United[40] and Stoke.[41] On 21 November he netted once and provided an assist in a 4–0 victory over Burnley,[42] and on 14 December, against Swansea City, he scored his first Premier League hat-trick after netting three headers in a 3–1 win, which was only the second time this feat was achieved in the history of the competition, the first being Everton's Duncan Ferguson in 1997.[43]

Rondón's goal in a 1–1 draw with Tottenham, on 25 November 2017, made him the first Venezuelan to score at either the rebuilt Wembley Stadium or the original facilities,[44] as well as the first Albion player to score at the new ground. The following 20 January, early into the second half of the away fixture against Everton, he accidentally broke James McCarthy's leg, and was reduced to tears upon realising the extent of McCarthy's injury;[45] recalling the incident in an interview some months later also caused him to become upset.[46]

Newcastle United

On 6 August 2018, Rondón joined Newcastle United on a one-year loan swap, with Dwight Gayle heading in the opposite direction.[47] He made his debut five days later, in a 2–1 home loss against Tottenham on the opening day of the season.[48] He scored his first goal in a 3–1 EFL Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest on 29 August.[49]

Rondón opened his league account on 10 November 2018, scoring twice to help the hosts defeat Bournemouth 2–1.[50] In the second half of the season, his partnership up front with Ayoze Pérez began to take shape and the Venezuelan often assisted the Spaniard with his goals.[51] He also maintained a steady record in terms of goalscoring and was neck-and-neck with Pérez until the latter stages of the campaign, finishing with eleven league goals—just one behind his teammate.

In May 2019, Rondón was named Newcastle's player of the year, becoming the first forward to win the award since Alan Shearer in 2003.[52]

Dalian Professional

On 19 July 2019, Rondón signed with Dalian Yifang of the Chinese Super League, reuniting with manager Rafael Benítez who had joined the club two weeks before and reportedly activated the player's release clause of £16.5 million.[53][54]

CSKA Moscow

On 15 February 2021, Rondón joined Russian Premier League side CSKA Moscow on loan.[55] In his first match at Arena CSKA, Rondón scored his first goal for the Moscow team and also gave an assist, merits that led him to be named the best player of the match.[56] Furthermore, he was voted the best CSKA player of the month of March.[57] Rondón ended his time at CSKA becoming one of the most valuable players in the Russian competition after participating in 37.5% of the team's goals since his arrival with four goals and two assists of the team's 16 goals in that time.[58]

Everton

On 31 August 2021 Rondón joined Everton on a free transfer, reuniting with his former Newcastle and Dalian Pro manager Rafael Benítez. He signed a two-year contract with the option for a third season.[59] He scored his first goal for the club on 12 December against Crystal Palace in a 3–1 loss at Selhurst Park.[60]

On 3 March 2022, he scored both goals in a 2–0 victory over National League side Boreham Wood at Goodison Park in the fifth round of the FA Cup.[61] With Jarrad Branthwaite already sent off, he was shown a red card on 15 May in a 3–2 home loss to Brentford for a foul on Rico Henry within four minutes of entering the pitch; he wrote an apology.[62] Everton announced that Rondón had left on 16 December "with immediate effect after reaching an agreement with the club to terminate his contract".[63]

River Plate

On 31 January 2023, Rondón signed for River Plate in Argentina, on a contract until December 2025.[64] He played 34 games overall in his first year in Buenos Aires, scoring 10 goals, one behind club top scorer Miguel Borja; the team won the Argentine Primera División title.[65] His tally started on 9 April with two goals in a 3–0 win at Club Atlético Huracán,[66] and included the opener of a 2–0 victory away to Boca Juniors in the Superclásico on 1 October.[67] On 26 December 2023, Rondón and River Plate reached an agreement to terminate the player's contract.[68]

Pachuca

On 30 December 2023, Rondón joined Mexican club Pachuca.[69] On 2 June 2024, Rondón scored 2 goals for Pachuca in a 3–0 win against Columbus Crew in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final. He was also the tournament's top goal scorer, with 9 goals.

International career

Summarize
Perspective

Youth

Rondón appeared for the Venezuela under-20 side in the 2009 FIFA World Cup in Egypt. He scored four times during the competition – as teammate Yonathan del Valle, with both netting hat-tricks in the 8–0 group stage routing of Tahiti – as the former managed to qualify for the Round of 16 stage.[70]

Senior

Previously, on 3 February 2008, 18-year-old Rondón made his debut for the senior team in a friendly with Haiti,[71] scoring his first goal on 23 March against El Salvador (another exhibition match, another 1–0 win).[72] In the 2011 Copa América in Argentina, the team came fourth and received copper medals;[73] he scored to open a 3–3 draw with Paraguay that saw both teams advance.[74]

Selected by manager Noel Sanvicente to the 2015 Copa América, he scored in La Vinotinto's first game of the tournament to help defeat Colombia 1–0;[75] later that year, he was among 15 national players who threatened to quit the team after the president of the Venezuelan Football Federation accused them of conspiring to get the manager sacked.[76]

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Rondón playing for Venezuela in 2019

On 5 June 2016, during the 2016 Copa América Centenario, Rondón earned his 50th cap, starting in a 1–0 group stage win against Jamaica in Chicago.[77] He scored the only goal of the following game against Uruguay to become the first Venezuelan player to find the net at three tournaments,[78] and repeated the feat in the quarter-finals, a 1–4 defeat to Argentina.[79]

On 10 June 2019, after his brace in a 3–0 friendly victory over the United States in Cincinnati, Rondón surpassed former holder Juan Arango to become Venezuela's all-time top scorer at 24 goals.[80] He scored a hat-trick on 19 November in a 4–1 win over hosts Japan at the 2019 Kirin Challenge Cup,[81] and netted another treble on 28 January 2022 in the unsuccessful qualification campaign for the year's World Cup, defeating Bolivia by the same score in Barinas.[82] He had missed the 2021 Copa América due to strict COVID-19 regulations in his country of residence, China.[83]

In the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match on 17 October 2023, Rondón earned his 100th cap in which he scored a goal in a 3–0 win against Chile.[84]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 16 March 2025[1]
More information Club, Season ...
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aragua 2006–07 Venezuelan Primera División 21700217
2007–08 288933711
Total 4915935818
Las Palmas 2008–09 Segunda División 10000100
2009–10 3610123712
Total 4610124712
Málaga 2010–11 La Liga 3014223216
2011–12 3711304011
Total 6725527227
Rubin Kazan 2012–13 Russian Premier League 2570012[c]63713
2013–14 116008[c]61912
Total 36130020125625
Zenit Saint Petersburg 2013–14 Russian Premier League 1072[d]1128
2014–15 26132116[e]64420
2015–16 101[f]020
Total 372021187105828
West Bromwich Albion 2015–16 Premier League 34951104010
2016–17 3781010398
2017–18 37722213910
Total 10824834112028
Newcastle United (loan) 2018–19 Premier League 321100113312
Dalian Professional 2019 Chinese Super League 11510125
2020 16900169
Total 2714102814
CSKA Moscow (loan) 2020–21 Russian Premier League 10430134
Everton 2021–22 Premier League 2012210233
2022–23 70001080
Total 2712220313
River Plate 2023 Argentine Primera División 3110402[g]03710
Pachuca 2023–24 Liga MX 21107[h]92819
2024–25 25106[i]23112
Total 462079625931
Career total 516167351372472872612212
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  1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. Ten appearances and three goals in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and three goals in UEFA Europa League
  4. Appearance in Russian Super Cup
  5. Appearances in Copa Libertadores
  6. Appearances in CONCACAF Champions Cup
  7. Three appearances and one goal in Leagues Cup, three appearances and one goal in FIFA Intercontinental Cup

International

As of match played 25 March 2025[85]
More information National team, Year ...
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Venezuela 200831
200931
201030
2011113
201285
201362
201420
2015102
2016114
201791
201842
2019109
202021
202100
2022107
2023103
2024124
202521
Total11646
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As of match played 25 March 2025[85]
Scores and results list Venezuela's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rondón goal.
More information No., Date ...
List of international goals scored by Salomón Rondón
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 23 March 2008José Antonio Anzoátegui, Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela3 El Salvador1–01–0Friendly
2 11 February 2009Estadio Monumental, Maturín, Venezuela4 Guatemala2–12–1
3 9 February 2011José Antonio Anzoátegui, Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela10 Costa Rica1–12–2
4 2–2
5 13 July 2011Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta, Argentina13 Paraguay1–03–32011 Copa América
6 24 May 2012Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela22 Moldova2–04–0Friendly
7 4–0
8 2 June 2012Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay23 Uruguay1–11–12014 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 11 September 2012Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay25 Paraguay1–02–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
10 2–0
11 26 March 2013Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela29 Colombia1–01–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
12 10 September 2013José Antonio Anzoátegui, Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela33 Peru1–13–22014 FIFA World Cup qualification
13 14 June 2015El Teniente, Rancagua, Chile38 Colombia1–01–02015 Copa América
14 8 September 2015Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela43 Panama1–11–1Friendly
15 27 May 2016Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica48 Costa Rica1–01–2Friendly
16 1 June 2016Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States49 Guatemala1–11–1Friendly
17 9 June 2016Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, United States51 Uruguay1–01–0Copa América Centenario
18 18 June 2016Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, United States53 Argentina1–31–4Copa América Centenario
19 28 March 2017Monumental David Arellano, Santiago, Chile59 Chile1–31–32018 FIFA World Cup qualification
20 11 September 2018Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama68 Panama1–02–0Friendly
21 2–0
22 22 March 2019Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid, Spain71 Argentina1–03–1Friendly
23 9 June 2019Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, United States73 United States1–03–0Friendly
24 3–0
25 10 October 2019Estadio Olímpico, Caracas, Venezuela78 Bolivia3–04–1Friendly
26 4–1
27 14 October 2019Estadio Olímpico, Caracas, Venezuela79 Trinidad and Tobago1–02–0Friendly
28 19 November 2019Panasonic Stadium Suita, Suita, Japan80 Japan1–04–12019 Kirin Challenge Cup
29 2–0
30 3–0
31 17 November 2020Estadio Olímpico, Caracas, Venezuela82 Chile2–12–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
32 28 January 2022Estadio Agustín Tovar, Barinas, Venezuela83 Bolivia1–04–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
33 2–0
34 4–1
35 1 June 2022National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta87 Malta1–01–0Friendly
36 27 September 2022Stadion Wiener Neustadt, Wiener Neustadt, Austria90 United Arab Emirates2–04–0Friendly
37 15 November 2022Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium, Al Hamriyah, United Arab Emirates91 Panama1–22–2Friendly
38 20 November 2022Rashid Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates92 Syria2–12–1Friendly
39 24 March 2023Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia93 Saudi Arabia2–02–1Friendly
40 12 September 2023Estadio Monumental, Maturín, Venezuela98 Paraguay1–01–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification
41 17 October 2023Estadio Monumental, Maturín, Venezuela100 Chile2–03–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification
42 26 June 2024SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, United States106 Mexico1–01–02024 Copa América
43 30 June 2024Q2 Stadium, Austin, United States107 Jamaica2–03–02024 Copa América
44 5 July 2024AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States108 Canada1–11–1 (3–4 p)2024 Copa América
45 10 October 2024Estadio Monumental, Maturín, Venezuela111 Argentina1–11–12026 FIFA World Cup qualification
46 25 March 2025Estadio Monumental, Maturín, Venezuela116 Peru1–01–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification
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Honours

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Rondón holding the Russian Super Cup after Zenit's victory in 2015

Aragua

Zenit Saint Petersburg

River Plate

Pachuca

Venezuela

Individual

See also

References

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