_(cropped).jpg) Vela with Mexico at the 2018 FIFA World Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Carlos Alberto Vela Garrido[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 1 March 1989 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Cancún, Mexico | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Forward, winger, attacking midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Los Angeles FC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2005 | Guadalajara | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | Arsenal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2012 | Arsenal | 29 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | → Celta Vigo (loan) | 0 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | → Salamanca (loan) | 31 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | → Osasuna (loan) | 33 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | → West Bromwich Albion (loan) | 8 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | → Real Sociedad (loan) | 35 | (12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2018 | Real Sociedad | 184 | (54) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2023 | Los Angeles FC | 152 | (78) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024- | Los Angeles FC | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | Mexico U17 | 8 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Mexico U20 | 8 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2018 | Mexico | 72 | (19) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 October 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Carlos Alberto Vela Garrido (born 1 March 1989) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC. A versatile offensive player, Vela has been deployed as a forward, winger, and attacking midfielder.[3][4]
Vela started his career at Mexican club Guadalajara, where he caught the eye of various European clubs after finishing as the top scorer at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship, eventually joining Premier League club Arsenal that year. After joining Arsenal, he had loan spells at Spanish clubs Salamanca and Osasuna, as well as fellow English club West Bromwich Albion, settling with Real Sociedad in 2011, initially on loan and then permanently the following season. In his six-year spell with La Real, Vela played in 250 matches and scored 73 goals. In January 2018, he joined Los Angeles FC, winning the Supporters' Shield and the MLS Golden Boot in his second year, and setting a new league record for most goals in a season, with 34. He was also voted Most Valuable Player. In 2022, Vela would win a second Supporters' Shield as well as lift the MLS Cup.
Vela made his debut with the senior Mexico national team in 2007 in a friendly match against Brazil, and scored his first goal for his country in a friendly against Guatemala. He participated in Mexico's CONCACAF Gold Cup victory in 2009, and participated in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Vela rejected all subsequent call-ups for more than three years, including friendlies, World Cup qualifiers, and various major tournaments including the 2014 FIFA World Cup, citing various reasons for his refusals. In November 2014, Vela made his return to the national team and participated in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2018 FIFA World Cup.
- ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 5 July 2007. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2013.
- ^ "Carlos Vela Player Profile". Los Angeles FC. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ Marshall, Tom (6 November 2017). "Carlos Vela is leaving Europe for the U.S.: what does that mean for Mexico?". ESPN.
- ^ Davis, Jason (4 September 2019). "LAFC with and without Carlos Vela". USSoccerPlayers.com.