Júnior Mendieta
{{short description|Argentine footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Júnior Mendieta
| image = Go Ahead Eagles - Mamelodi Sundowns FC - 53066455903.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Mendieta (blue shirt, 2023)
| fullname = Júnior Leandro Mendieta
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|6|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Corrientes, Argentina
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Al-Faisaly
| clubnumber = 10
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}
| youthclubs1 = Quilmes
| youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–2015
| youthclubs2 = Deportivo Morón
| years1 = 2015–2016
| clubs1 = Deportivo Morón
| caps1 = 34
| goals1 = 14
| years2 = 2016–2020
| clubs2 = Lanús
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2016–2018
| clubs3 = → Los Andes (loan)
| caps3 = 45
| goals3 = 11
| years4 = 2018–2019
| clubs4 = → Deportivo Morón (loan)
| caps4 = 19
| goals4 = 5
| years5 = 2019–2020
| clubs5 = → Atlético de Rafaela (loan)
| caps5 = 18
| goals5 = 3
| years6 = 2020–2021
| clubs6 = → Stellenbosch (loan)
| caps6 = 21
| goals6 = 3
| years7 = 2021–2023
| clubs7 = Stellenbosch
| caps7 = 51
| goals7 = 11
| years8 = 2023–2024
| clubs8 = Mamelodi Sundowns
| caps8 = 18
| goals8 = 2
| years9 = 2024–2025
| clubs9 = Volos
| caps9 = 15
| goals9 = 4
| years10 = 2025–
| clubs10 = Al-Faisaly
| caps10 =
| goals10 =
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 =
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| club-update = 7 December 2024
| nationalteam-update =
| medaltemplates =
}}
Júnior Leandro Mendieta (born 13 June 1993) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Saudi Arabian club Al-Faisaly.{{cite news|title=Argentina - J. Mendieta|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/junior-leandro-mendieta/396571/|accessdate=17 October 2018|work=Soccerway}}
Club career
Mendieta started his senior career with Deportivo Morón in Primera B Metropolitana, having played for Quilmes at youth level.{{cite news|title=Anhelos teñidos de celeste y blanco|url=http://www.afa.com.ar/mobile/noticia.php?control=3081|accessdate=17 October 2018|work=Argentine Football Association|date=24 December 2015}} His professional debut arrived on 14 February 2015 during a draw with Deportivo Merlo, prior to Mendieta receiving red cards in consecutive appearances in August against Defensores de Belgrano and Platense.{{cite news|title=Ficha Estadistica de JUNIOR MENDIETA|url=http://www.bdfa.com.ar/jugadores-JUNIOR-LEANDRO-MENDIETA-108542.html|accessdate=17 October 2018|work=BDFA}} A month later, he scored his senior goal against Almagro. Mendieta scored twice more that year, which preceded six goals in fourteen games in the next campaign. On 30 June 2016, Argentine Primera División side Lanús signed Mendieta. He was immediately loaned to Los Andes.
Mendieta remained with Los Andes for the 2016–17 and 2017–18 Primera B Nacional seasons, scoring seven times in forty-six matches in all competitions. After returning to Lanús in June, Mendieta subsequently agreed to rejoin Deportivo Morón; signing a loan contract. He netted twice for Morón, both came in a fixture with Instituto in November 2018, across nineteen appearances. Mendieta had a third loan spell away from Lanús in 2019–20, joining Atlético de Rafaela for twelve months in July 2019. One goal in eighteen matches followed, in a campaign that was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mendieta's contract with Lanús expired on 30 June 2020, with the midfielder subsequently revealing that a potential move to South African Premier Division side Stellenbosch was being finalized; amid interest from Rafaela for a permanent contract.{{cite news|title=Mendieta seguirá su carrera en África|url=https://diariolaopinion.com.ar/contenido/282644/mendieta-seguira-su-carrera-en-africa|accessdate=24 September 2020|work=Diario La Opinión|date=16 July 2020}} The move to Africa was belatedly confirmed on 30 October.{{cite news|title=Breaking: Stellenbosch announce Argentine number 10 Junior Mendieta|url=https://futaa.com/ug/article/215589/breaking-stellenbosch-announce-argentine-number-10-junior-mendieta|accessdate=30 October 2020|work=Futaa|date=30 October 2020}} His first appearance arrived on 4 November against SuperSport United, as he replaced Jayden Adams with twenty-five minutes left of an eventual 1–0 defeat. He scored his first goal on 21 November versus Chippa United, before netting his second on 12 February against Golden Arrows.
On 31 January 2025, Mendieta joined Saudi First Division League club Al-Faisaly.{{cite web |title=أنهت إدارة النادي #الفيصلي إجراءات التعاقد مع اللاعب الارجنتيني "جونيور ميندييتا" |url=https://x.com/AlFaisaly/status/1885428809521865122}}
International career
Mendieta received a call-up to the Argentina U23s for the 2016 Sait Nagjee Trophy in India.{{cite news|title=El Gallo Junior Mendieta se va a Lanús|url=http://moron.enorsai.com.ar/deportes/24416-el-gallo-junior-mendieta-se-va-a-lanus.html|accessdate=17 October 2018|work=El Diario de Morón|date=10 February 2016}} However, due to contractual issues, he was deselected prior to the tournament.
Personal life
In 2017, Mendieta was arrested by police after trespassing at Morón Air Base.{{cite news|title=Alerta por un intruso en la base aérea donde vive María Eugenia Vidal|url=https://www.perfil.com/noticias/elecciones2017/alerta-por-un-intruso-en-la-base-aerea-donde-vive-vidal.phtml|accessdate=17 October 2018|work=Perfil|date=13 August 2017}} He was released without charge soon later, having claimed he accidentally entered the base after becoming lost.{{cite news|title=Futbolista entrerriano puso en jaque a la seguridad de María Eugenia Vidal|url=https://www.eldiaonline.com/futbolista-entrerriano-puso-jaque-la-seguridad-maria-eugenia-vidal/|accessdate=17 October 2018|work=El Día Online|date=1 September 2017}}
Career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Club statistics | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Deportivo Morón
|2015 |rowspan="2|Primera B Metropolitana |21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4Appearance(s) in Primera B Metropolitana play-offs | 2 | 25 | 3 | |||
| 2016
|13 | 6 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 14 | 6 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!34 | 7 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 2 | 39 | 9 | |||
| rowspan="5"|Lanús
|rowspan="4|Primera División |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2019–20
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| rowspan="3"|Los Andes (loan)
|rowspan="2|Primera B Nacional |25 | 6 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 26 | 6 | |||
| 2017–18
|20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!45 | 7 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 46 | 7 | |||
| rowspan="1"|Deportivo Morón (loan)
|rowspan="2|Primera B Nacional |19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 | |||
| rowspan="1"|Atlético de Rafaela (loan)
|18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | |||
| rowspan="1"|Stellenbosch (loan)
|rowspan="1|Premier Division |21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 22 | 3 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!141 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 148 | 24 |
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
; Mamelodi Sundowns
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|junior-leandro-mendieta/396571}}
{{Al-Faisaly FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mendieta, Junior}}
Category:Footballers from Corrientes
Category:Argentine men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Argentine expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in South Africa
Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in South Africa
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Saudi Arabia
Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Saudi Arabia
Category:Primera B Metropolitana players
Category:Primera Nacional players
Category:South African Premier Division players
Category:Saudi First Division League players
Category:Deportivo Morón footballers
Category:Club Atlético Lanús footballers
Category:Club Atlético Los Andes footballers
Category:Atlético de Rafaela footballers
Category:Stellenbosch F.C. players
Category:Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. players