Néstor Araujo
{{short description|Mexican footballer (born 1991)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{family name hatnote|Araujo|Razo|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Néstor Araujo
| image = XXIII Memorial Quinocho (RC Celta vs Mainz 05) - 43 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Araujo with Celta in 2018
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1991|8|29}}
| birth_place = Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| height = 1.88 m{{cite web |url=http://rccelta.es/jugadores/nestor-araujo/ |title=Profile |publisher=RC Celta |access-date=7 September 2021}}
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub = América
| clubnumber = 14
| youthyears1 = 2007–2013
| youthclubs1 = Cruz Azul
| years1 = 2009
| clubs1 = Cruz Azul Hidalgo[https://ligamx.net/cancha/jugador/63500 Néstor Alejandro Araujo Razo - Ficha Jugador]
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2010–2014
| clubs2 = Cruz Azul
| caps2 = 49
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2013–2014
| clubs3 = → Santos Laguna (loan)
| caps3 = 29
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2014–2018
| clubs4 = Santos Laguna
| caps4 = 106
| goals4 = 3
| years5 = 2018–2022
| clubs5 = Celta
| caps5 = 133
| goals5 = 4
| years6 = 2022–
| clubs6 = América
| caps6 = 54
| goals6 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2011
| nationalteam1 = Mexico U20
| nationalcaps1 = 13
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2011–2012
| nationalteam2 = Mexico U23
| nationalcaps2 = 18
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2011–2023
| nationalteam3 = Mexico
| nationalcaps3 = 67
| nationalgoals3 = 3
| medaltemplates-expand = yes
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's football}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|MEX}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Medal|W|2019 United States|Team}}
{{Medal|RU|2021 United States|Team}}
{{Medal|Competition|Olympic Games}}
{{Medal|Gold|2012 London|Team}}
{{Medal|Competition|Pan American Games}}
{{Medal|Gold|2011 Guadalajara|Team}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIFA U-20 World Cup}}
{{Medal|3rd|2011 Colombia|Team}}
{{MedalCompetition|CONCACAF U-20 Championship}}
{{Medal|W|2011 Guatemala|Team}}
| club-update = 9 March 2025
| nationalteam-update = 10 June 2023
}}
Néstor Alejandro Araujo Razo (born 29 August 1991) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Liga MX club América. He is an Olympic gold medalist.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/olympics/18912627 |title=Olympics football: Mexico shock Brazil to win gold |publisher=BBC |date=11 August 2012 |access-date=7 September 2014}}
Araujo began his career with Cruz Azul in 2010, and played with the club for three years before joining Santos Laguna, initially in a loan deal which the club made permanent the following year. At Santos, he played in over 100 matches, winning the Liga MX on two occasions.
He competed internationally since 2011: Araujo played at the 2011 Copa America, 2012 Toulon Tournament, Copa America Centenario, and the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. He was on the Mexico team at the 2012 Summer Olympics that won the gold medal.
Club career
=Cruz Azul=
Araujo joined Cruz Azul's youth academy in 2007, making his way through the Cruz Azul Premier team and the under-20s. For the Clausura 2009 season, Araujo was registered to Cruz Azul Hidalgo squad, but did not played a single match.[https://ligamx.net/cancha/jugador/63500 Néstor Alejandro Araujo Razo - Ficha Jugador]
In 2010, Enrique Meza promoted Araujo to the first team.{{cite web |url=http://ligamx.net/cancha/jugador/63500/nestor-alejandro-araujo-razo |title=Néstor Alejandro Araujo Razo |publisher=LIGA BBVA Bancomer MX |website=LigaMX.net |access-date=30 October 2017}} On 19 September, he made his Primera División debut for Cruz Azul,{{MedioTiempo|nestor-alejandro-araujo}} playing 90 minutes in the 3–0 home victory against Querétaro.{{cite web |publisher=Medio Tiempo |title=Néstor Araujo, feliz por su debut en triunfo celeste |author=Ballinas, Diana |url=http://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/mexico/noticias/2010/09/19/nestor-araujo-feliz-por-su-debut-en-triunfo-celeste |language=es |date=19 September 2010}}
=Santos Laguna=
On 5 June 2013, Araujo joined Santos Laguna on a year-long loan deal with an option to buy.{{cite web |title=Oficial: Néstor Araujo es nuevo jugador de Santos Laguna |url=https://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/878268.oficial-nestor-araujo-es-nuevo-jugador-de-santos-laguna.html |work=El Siglo de Torreón |date=5 June 2013 |access-date=18 October 2018}} He made his league debut on 26 July against his former club Cruz Azul, playing the entire match as Santos earned a 3–2 victory. On 19 August 2014, Araujo scored his first goal for Santos in a 3–0 win over UAT in the Copa MX.{{cite web |url=http://estoenlinea.oem.com.mx/14310-santos-laguna-goleo-3-0-a-correcaminos-uat-en-copa-mx/ |title=Santos Laguna goleó 3-0 a Correcaminos UAT en Copa MX |access-date=20 August 2014 |work=Fox Sports|date=20 August 2014 }} He won his first cup with Santos Laguna following their victory over Puebla in the final of the Apertura Copa MX.{{cite web |url=http://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/mexico/cronicas/2014/11/04/la-copa-mx-se-quedo-en-el-cielo-santos-campeon_59573 |title=La Copa MX se quedó en el cielo... Santos, Campeón |last=Ruiz |first=Alberto |access-date=5 November 2014 |website=MedioTiempo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106010752/http://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/mexico/cronicas/2014/11/04/la-copa-mx-se-quedo-en-el-cielo-santos-campeon_59573 |archive-date=6 November 2014 |url-status=dead }} The following year, Araujo won his first league title as Santos defeated Querétaro in the finals of the Clausura tournament.{{cite web |url=http://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/mexico/cronicas/2015/05/31/santos-se-proclamo-campeon-ante-un-historico-gallo_61982 |title=Santos se proclamó Campeón ante un histórico Gallo |access-date=31 May 2015 |website=MedioTiempo|date=6 January 2015 }} On 20 July, Santos defeated Club América to win the 2015 Campeón de Campeones cup; Araujo started the match and played all 90 minutes.{{cite web |url=https://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/1135207.santos-laguna-campeon-de-campeones.html |title=¡Santos Laguna, Campeón de Campeones! |date=20 July 2015 |access-date=20 July 2015 |publisher=El Siglo de Torreón}}
In May 2018, Santos Laguna defeated Toluca to win the Clausura tournament following a 3–2 aggregate score in the finals. Araujo missed the finals due to an injury he suffered while on international duty with the Mexico national team.{{cite web |url=http://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/2018/05/20/la-tercera-ya-no-santos-es-campeon-en-el-que-habia-sido-su-infierno |title=¡La tercera, ya no! Santos es Campeón en el que había sido su Infierno |access-date=20 May 2018 |website=Medio Tiempo}}
=Celta de Vigo=
On 14 June 2018, Araujo joined Spanish club Celta de Vigo on a five-year contract.{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.com.mx/futbol/mexico/nota/_/id/4408604/celta-de-vigo-anuncia-fichaje-de-nestor-araujo |title=Celta de Vigo anuncia fichaje de Nestor Araujo |work=espn.com.mx |date=14 June 2018 |access-date=14 June 2018}} On 21 July, he made his debut in a friendly match against Espanyol.{{cite web |title=Néstor Araujo debutó en partido amistoso con Celta de Vigo |url=http://espndeportes.espn.com/futbol/espana/nota/_/id/4566225/nestor-araujo-debuto-en-partido-amistoso-con-celta-de-vigo |work=ESPN |date=21 July 2018 |access-date=17 October 2018}}
=Club América=
On June 24, 2022, Araujo made his return to Mexico and signed with Club América.{{Cite tweet |user=ClubAmerica |number=1540338125653803009|title=Bienvenido al Nido.}} In September 2023, he suffered a knee injury and was ruled out for the rest of the season.{{cite web|title=Néstor Araujo suffers knee ligament injury and will miss the rest of Liga MX Apertura 2023 |url=https://en.as.com/soccer/club-americas-nestor-araujo-suffers-knee-ligament-injury-and-will-miss-the-rest-of-liga-mx-apertura-2023-n/|work=Diario AS|date=19 September 2023}}
International career
Araujo received his first international call up in 2011 during the 2011 Copa America. In his international debut, he scored in a 2–1 loss against Chile during their first group stage match. He would go on to appear in the rest of the group stage matches and Mexico would end up last in the group.
Araujo would be an international regular under Juan Carlos Osorio, participating in various friendlies, the CONCACAF 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the Copa America Centenario, and the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.
On 27 March 2018, during a friendly match against Croatia, Araujo was forced off the pitch after 15 minutes when suffering an knee injury.{{cite web |url=http://www.marca.com/claro-mx/futbol/seleccion-mx/2018/03/28/5abafe9d268e3ec4548b4657.html |title=Néstor Araujo abandona el partido ante Croacia por una lesión en la rodilla |access-date=27 March 2018 |website=MARCA Claro}} He was sidelined since then, however in May he was named in Mexico's preliminary 28-man squad for the World Cup in Russia but had to withdraw due to experiencing tendonitis during his recovery.{{cite web |title=Rafa Marquez makes Mexico's preliminary World Cup squad |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/mexico/story/3498297/rafa-marquez-makes-mexicos-preliminary-world-cup-squad |work=ESPN |first=Tom |last=Marshall |date=14 May 2018 |access-date=18 October 2018}}{{cite web |title=Mexico's 2018 World Cup roster: Who joins Chicharito & Guardado in final 23-man squad? |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/soccer/news/mexicos-2018-world-cup-roster-who-chicharito-guardado-final-23-man-squad/tyzxo1cfbypf1o1tiieriet0k |work=Sporting News |first=Jon |last=Arnold |access-date=27 June 2018}}
Araujo was part of the squad that won the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.{{Cite web|date=23 July 2021|title=Nestor Araujo: "To win the Gold Cup is an amazing feeling"|url=https://www.concacaf.com/gold-cup/article/nestor-araujo-to-win-the-gold-cup-is-an-amazing-feeling/|access-date=25 December 2021|website=Gold Cup}}
In October 2022, Araujo was named in Mexico's preliminary 31-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and in November, he was ultimately included in the final 26-man roster.{{cite web|title=Lista de convocados de la Selección Mexicana al Mundial de Qatar 2022|url=https://www.tvazteca.com/aztecadeportes/lista-oficial-convocados-seleccion-mexicana-mundial-qatar-2022|work=Tvazteca.com|first=Omar|last=Moro|date=14 November 2022|language=Spanish}}
Personal life
Néstor has an older brother, Félix, who is also a professional footballer.{{cite web |title=Félix Araujo vs. Néstor Araujo, disputa familiar en la Selva |url=http://www.marca.com/claro-mx/futbol/liga-mx/2017/04/30/590514f222601d8b758b4647.html |publisher=Marca Claro |date=29 April 2017 |access-date=28 February 2018 |language=es}}
Career statistics
= Club =
{{updated|match played 9 March 2024}}{{Cite web|title=Néstor Araujo » Club matches|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/nestor-araujo/2/|access-date=12 March 2021|website=worldfootball.net}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup{{efn|Includes Copa MX, Copa del Rey}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Cruz Azul
|rowspan="3"|Liga MX |17 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2{{efn|Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League|name=Con}} | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2011–12
|24 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 5{{efn|Appearances in Copa Libertadores|name=Lib}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 0 | |||
| 2012–13
|8 | 0 | 10 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 18 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!49 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 66 | 0 | ||
| Santos Laguna (loan)
|Liga MX |29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=Lib}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 35 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="5"|Santos Laguna
|rowspan="4"|Liga MX |16 | 0 | 10 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearance in Campeón de Campeones|name=CDC}} | 0 | 27 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16
|36 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 8{{efn|name=Con}} | 0 | colspan=2|— | 44 | 1 | |||
| 2016–17
|28 | 2 | 5 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan=2|— | 33 | 3 | |||
| 2017–18
|26 | 0 | 5 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!106 | 3 | 20 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 135 | 7 | |
| rowspan="5"|Celta
|rowspan="4"|La Liga |32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 33 | 3 | |||
| 2019–20
|34 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 1 | |||
| 2020–21
|33 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 33 | 0 | ||||
| 2021–22
|34 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!133 | 4 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 136 | 4 | |||
| rowspan="4"|América
|rowspan="3"|Liga MX |29 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 0 | ||||
| 2023–24
|6 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4{{efn|name=LC|Appearances in Leagues Cup}} | 0 | 10 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25
|0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!35 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 39 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!352 | 7 | 35 | 4 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 411 | 11 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 10 June 2023|{{NFT player|43933}}}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="9"|Mexico
|2011 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 13 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 67 | 3 |
:Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Araujo goal.
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||||
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:center"|1 | 4 July 2011 | Estadio del Bicentenario, San Juan, Argentina | {{fb|CHI}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | style="text-align:center"|1–2 | 2011 Copa América |
| style="text-align:center"|2 | 24 March 2017 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico | {{fb|CRC}} | style="text-align:center"|2–0 | style="text-align:center"|2–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| style="text-align:center"|3 | 24 June 2017 | Kazan Arena, Kazan, Russia | {{fb|Russia}} | style="text-align:center"|1–1 | style="text-align:center"|2–1 | 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup |
Honours
Cruz Azul
Santos Laguna
América
- Liga MX: Apertura 2023,{{cite web | last=Hernandez | first=Cesar | title=Club América extends Liga MX record to 14 titles after defeating Tigres | website=ESPN | date=18 December 2023 | url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/report/_/gameId/690858 | access-date=19 December 2023}} Clausura 2024,{{cite web | last=Hernandez | first=Cesar | title=América secure back-to-back Liga MX titles with win over Cruz Azul | website=ESPN | date=27 May 2024 | url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/report?gameId=702650 | access-date=28 May 2024}} Apertura 2024{{cite web | last=Hernandez | first=Cesar | title=América beats Monterrey to lift 3rd-straight Liga MX trophy | website=ESPN | date=15 December 2024 |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/report?gameId=724679 | access-date=18 December 2024}}
- Campeón de Campeones: 2024
- Supercopa de la Liga MX: 2024
- Campeones Cup: 2024
Mexico U20
Mexico U23
- Pan American Games: 2011
- Toulon Tournament: 2012
- CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship: 2012
- Olympic Gold Medal: 2012{{cite news |last=Irvin |first=Duncan |date=11 August 2012 |title=Mexico Wins Soccer Gold Medal, 2-1 |url=http://london2012.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/11/live-coverage-of-mexico-brazil-soccer-final/ |access-date=21 April 2025 |newspaper=New York Times}}
Mexico
- CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2019{{cite web|title=Mexico Turns Tide, Wins Gold Cup Title Again vs. Wasteful USMNT|url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/07/07/mexico-usa-gold-cup-title-dos-santos-pizarro-pulisic-berhalter|publisher=Sports Illustrated|first=Brian|last=Straus|date=7 July 2019}}
- CONCACAF Nations League runner-up: 2019–20{{Cite web |title=USA 3-2 Mexico (Jun 6, 2021) Final Score |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/570981/mexico-united-states |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=ESPN |language=en}}
Individual
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Liga MX player|63500}}
- {{MedioTiempo|nestor-alejandro-araujo-razo}}
- {{ESPN FC|149408}}
- {{FIFA|336707}}
- {{Olympics.com|nestor-araujo}}
- {{Olympedia}}
{{Club América squad}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Mexico squads
|bg = #016549
|fg = White
|bordercolor =#CE1126
|list1=
{{Mexico squad 2011 Copa América}}
{{Mexico men's football squad 2012 Summer Olympics}}
{{Mexico squad Copa América Centenario}}
{{Mexico squad 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Mexico squad 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Mexico squad 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Mexico squad 2022 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{2016–17 Liga MX Best XI}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Araujo, Nestor}}
Category:Mexico men's under-20 international footballers
Category:Mexico men's international footballers
Category:Cruz Azul footballers
Category:Santos Laguna footballers
Category:Club América footballers
Category:RC Celta de Vigo players
Category:Footballers at the 2011 Pan American Games
Category:2011 Copa América players
Category:Copa América Centenario players
Category:Footballers from Guadalajara, Jalisco
Category:Olympic footballers for Mexico
Category:Footballers at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic gold medalists for Mexico
Category:Olympic medalists in football
Category:Mexico men's youth international footballers
Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for Mexico
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Pan American Games medalists in football
Category:2017 FIFA Confederations Cup players
Category:Mexican men's footballers
Category:Mexican expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
Category:2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:CONCACAF Gold Cup–winning players
Category:2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games