Samy Merheg

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Samy Merheg

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Samy Habib Merheg{{GSA player|samy-merheg/7907917|access-date=14 November 2024}}

| birth_name = Samy Merheg Encisohttps://dimayor.com.co/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/DEPORTIVO-PEREIRA.pdf

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2006|12|6|df=y}}

| birth_place = Pereira, Colombia

| height = 1.86 m{{WorldFootball.net|samy-merheg}}

| currentclub = Deportivo Pereira

| clubnumber = 38

| position = Striker

| youthyears1 = 2014–2016

| youthclubs1 = Salam Zgharta

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Marcet

| youthyears3 =

| youthclubs3 = {{Ill|Sant Cugat FC|lt=Sant Cugat|es|Futbol Club Sant Cugat Esport}}

| youthyears4 =

| youthclubs4 = Cornellà

| youthyears5 = 2021

| youthclubs5 = VyV Mi Nuevo Tolima

| youthyears6 = 2022

| youthclubs6 = Rosario Central

| youthyears7 = 2023–

| youthclubs7 = Deportivo Pereira

| years1 = 2024–

| clubs1 = Deportivo Pereira

| caps1 = 7

| goals1 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 2022

| nationalteam1 = Lebanon U16

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| nationalyears2 = 2024–

| nationalteam2 = Lebanon U20

| nationalcaps2 = 1

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2024–

| nationalteam3 = Lebanon

| nationalcaps3 = 8

| nationalgoals3 = 6

| club-update = 16 April 2025

| nationalteam-update = 10 June 2025

}}

Samy Habib Merheg{{NoteTag|In Colombia, his full name is Samy Merheg Enciso.}} ({{langx|ar|سامي حبيب مرهج}}; born 6 December 2006) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Colombian club Deportivo Pereira. Born in Colombia, he plays for the Lebanon national team.

Early life

Merheg was born in Pereira, Risaralda Department, Colombia, to politician {{ill|Habib Merheg|es}} and Juliana Enciso, a politician and former volleyball player.{{cite web|url=https://www.eje21.com.co/2022/04/pereirano-fichado-por-el-club-argentino-rosario-central/|title=Pereirano fichado por el club argentino Rosario Central|trans-title=Pereirano signed by Argentine club Rosario Central|first=Alvaro|last=Rodríguez Hernández|date=8 April 2022|access-date=10 October 2024|website=eje21.com.co|language=es}}{{cite web|url=https://deportivopereira.com.co/samy-merheg-con-sangre-de-deportista/|title=Samy Merheg con sangre de deportista|trans-title=Samy Merheg with athlete's blood|date=17 February 2024|access-date=10 October 2024|website=deportivopereira.com.co|language=es}} His maternal uncle is former professional footballer Leonardo Enciso,{{cite web |last=Parra Cuenca |first=Daniel |date=22 May 2024 |title=El delantero de paso por América y Selección Colombia que le da empleo a 120 personas |trans-title=The forward who passed through América and the Colombian National Team and who employs 120 people |url=https://www.noticiascaracol.com/golcaracol/futbol-colombiano/de-ser-delantero-de-america-y-de-seleccion-colombia-a-gerenciar-una-empresa-de-dotacion-industrial-ex40 |access-date=10 October 2024 |website=noticiascaracol.com |language=es}} and his paternal uncle is politician Juan Samy Merheg.{{Cite web |last=Semana |date=2019-03-07 |title="Habib no está metido en este tema político": Juan Samy Merheg |url=https://www.semana.com/nacion/articulo/habib-no-esta-metido-en-este-tema-politico-juan-samy-merheg/604162/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Semana.com Últimas Noticias de Colombia y el Mundo |language=spanish}}

Club career

= Youth =

Merheg began his football career in Lebanon at age seven, training with Salam Zgharta's academy{{Cite web |last=Damoury |first=Myriam |date=20 November 2024 |title= |script-title=ar:موهبة واعدة في كرة القدم اللبنانية |trans-title=A promising talent in Lebanese football |url=https://www.nidaalwatan.com/article/292772-%D9%85%D9%88%D9%87%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9 |access-date=1 April 2025 |website=Nidaa Al Watan |language=ar}} and their affiliated Koura Football Academy.{{cite web |date=4 September 2024 |title=يواجه منتخب طاجيكستان اليوم: انطلاقة جديدة للبنان بعنوان التغيير |trans-title=Tajikistan national team faces today: A new start for Lebanon under the title of change |url=https://al-akhbar.com/Sport_Lebanon/386496 |url-status=dead |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=10 October 2024 |website=al-akhbar.com |language=ar}} In 2016, he moved to Spain, where he played for Marcet{{Cite web |date=6 September 2016 |title=KFA player Samy Merheg 2006 |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=622571747921415 |access-date=2 April 2025 |website=KOURA Football Academy |via=Facebook |quote=For all this reasons he has been elected to play in the 2006 team for the present League Title. Marset football school Spain}} (including their partner club Tecnofútbol),{{cite web |date=13 March 2017 |title=El Cadete A golea antes de viajar a Dubai |trans-title=The Cadet A team scores a goal before travelling to Dubai |url=https://www.fcbarcelona.es/es/noticias/775778/el-cadete-a-golea-antes-de-viajar-a-dubai |access-date=10 October 2024 |website=fcbarcelona.es |language=es}} as well as {{Ill|Sant Cugat FC|lt=Sant Cugat|es|Futbol Club Sant Cugat Esport}} and Cornellà.

After his time in Spain, Merheg moved to Colombia in 2019, playing for the Risaralda Department representative youth team until 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.blogdelasestadisticas.com/samy-merheg-enciso-debut-profesional-recien-cumplidos-los-17-anos/|title=Samy Merheg Enciso: debut profesional recién cumplidos los 17 años|trans-title=Samy Merheg Enciso: professional debut just after turning 17|first=Hugo|last=Campo|date=20 February 2024|access-date=10 October 2024|website=blogdelasestadisticas.com|language=es}} In 2021, he joined VyV Mi Nuevo Tolima, scoring six goals in 10 matches for their under-15 side.{{cite web |last=Campo |first=Hugo |date=1 August 2023 |title='Profe' Restrepo… atrévase con Samy Merheg y Enmanuel Marín. |trans-title='Profe' Restrepo… dares with Samy Merheg and Enmanuel Marín. |url=https://www.blogdelasestadisticas.com/profe-restrepo-atrevase-con-samy-merheg-y-enmanuel-marin/ |access-date=10 October 2024 |website=blogdelasestadisticas.com |language=es}} Although he signed with Argentine side Rosario Central in 2022, registration issues due to his age prevented his participation in AFA-sanctioned competitions, prompting his return to Colombia. There, he joined Deportivo Pereira in 2023, where scored eight goals in five matches with the under-17s, and five goals in 10 matches with the under-20s.

= Deportivo Pereira =

On 17 February 2024, Merheg made his professional debut with Deportivo Pereira, starting and playing 58 minutes in a 1–0 win against Santa Fe, before being replaced by Andrés Ibargüen. He finished the 2024 season with six games in all competitions. On 15 April 2025, Merheg scored his first goal for Deportivo Pereira and provided an assist in a 2–0 win against Deportivo Cali.{{Cite web |date=16 April 2025 |title=Deportivo Pereira Triumphs 2–0 Over Deportivo Cali |url=https://evrimagaci.org/tpg/deportivo-pereira-triumphs-20-over-deportivo-cali-324783 |access-date=16 April 2025 |website=The Pinnacle Gazette}}

International career

Merheg is eligible to represent both Colombia and Lebanon at the international level, due to his father having parents from the latter.

Merheg played for the Lebanon under-16 team in two friendly matches against Malta in November 2022,{{Cite web |date=8 November 2022 |title= |script-title=ar:فوز منتخب الناشئين على نظيره المالطي في الوديّة الأولى ضمن معسكره الخارجي |trans-title=The junior national team defeated its Maltese counterpart in the first friendly match within its external camp |url=https://the-lfa.com/u16nt-malta-camp-m1/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108184924/https://the-lfa.com/u16nt-malta-camp-m1/ |archive-date=8 November 2022 |access-date=2 April 2025 |website=Lebanese Football Association |language=ar}} scoring in the second game on 10 November.{{Cite web |date=10 November 2022 |title= |script-title=ar:خسارة منتخب الناشئين امام مالطا في المباراة الوديّة الثانية |trans-title=The junior national team lost to Malta in the second friendly match |url=https://the-lfa.com/u16nt-malta-camp-m2/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111013314/https://the-lfa.com/u16nt-malta-camp-m2/ |archive-date=11 November 2022 |access-date=2 April 2025 |website=Lebanese Football Association |language=ar}} In July 2024, he was called up to the Colombia under-20 team for a micro-cycle.{{cite web|url=https://fcf.com.co/2024/07/15/convocatoria-de-la-seleccion-colombia-masculina-sub-20-para-microciclo-de-trabajo-julio-2024/|title=Convocatoria de la Selección Colombia Masculina Sub 20 para microciclo de trabajo – julio 2024|trans-title=Call-up of the Colombian Men's Under-20 Team for a work microcycle – July 2024|date=15 July 2024|access-date=10 October 2024|website=fcf.com.co|language=es}} The following month he was called up to the Lebanon under-20 team for the first time.{{cite web|url=https://www.pulzo.com/deportes/liga-betplay-deportivo-pereira-anuncio-seleccion-libano-convoco-jugador-PP3885890A|title=Jugador de la Liga BetPlay fue convocado por exótica selección asiática; irá a microciclo|trans-title=BetPlay League player was called up by exotic Asian team; he will go to microcycle|first=Gustavo|last=Arbelaez|date=24 August 2024|access-date=10 October 2024|website=pulzo.com|language=es}} 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.{{cite web |date=21 September 2024 |title= |script-title=ar:لبنان يخسر أمام الإمارات 3-2 في تصفيات كأس آسيا للشباب |trans-title=Lebanon loses to UAE 3-2 in AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers |url=https://www.the-lfa.com.lb/news/AFCU20_Qua_lebxUae.php#:~:text=%D8%AE%D8%B3%D8%B1%20%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A8%20%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86%20%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A8%20%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85,%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%86%20%D8%A2%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86%20%D9%81%D9%8A%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%B7%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A. |access-date=10 October 2024 |website=Lebanese Football Association |language=ar}}

Merheg received his first call-up to the Lebanon national team on 5 November 2024 for friendly matches against Thailand and Myanmar.{{cite web |date=5 November 2024 |script-title=ar:منتخب لبنان يستعيد حضوره الدولي و٣ مغتربين جدد ينضمون اليه |trans-title=Lebanon national team regains its international presence and three new expatriates join it |url=https://www.the-lfa.com.lb/news/NT_np51124.php |access-date=5 November 2024 |publisher=Lebanese Football Association |language=ar}} He made his international debut on 14 November 2024 at the age of {{age in years and days|2006|12|sep=and|06|2024|11|14}}, coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 0–0 draw against Thailand.{{Cite web |date=14 November 2024 |title=Match Report of Thailand vs Lebanon |url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2024-11-14/thailand-vs-lebanon/3552704/ |access-date=14 November 2024 |website=Global Sports Archive}} Five days later, he scored his first international goals with a brace in a 3–2 victory over Myanmar.{{Cite web |date=19 November 2024 |title=Match Report of Myanmar vs Lebanon |url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2024-11-19/myanmar-vs-lebanon/3562927/ |access-date=19 November 2024 |website=Global Sports Archive}} On 20 March 2025, Merheg added another brace in a 4–0 friendly win against Timor-Leste, taking his goal tally to five in his first five appearances for Lebanon.{{Cite web |date=20 March 2025 |title= |script-title=ar:فوز وديّ برباعية للبنان وتكريم لقائده حيدر بمناسبة مئويته |trans-title=A friendly 4–0 victory for Lebanon and a tribute to Lebanese captain Haidar on the occasion of his 100th cap |url=https://www.the-lfa.com.lb/news/FG_LebxTimor-20325.php |access-date=20 March 2025 |website=Lebanese Football Association |language=ar}} He continued his scoring form in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, netting his sixth goal in six games during a 5–0 win over Brunei five days later.{{Cite web |date=25 March 2025 |title= |script-title=ar:لبنان يتصدّر مجموعته في تصفيات كأس آسيا بفوزٍ كبير على بروناي |trans-title=Lebanon tops its group in the Asian Cup qualifiers with a resounding victory over Brunei |url=https://www.the-lfa.com.lb/news/AFC_AC27Q_M1xBru.php |access-date=25 March 2025 |website=Lebanese Football Association |language=ar}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Copa Colombia !colspan="2"\|Total
class=wikitable style=text-align:center \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="3" \|Deportivo Pereira \|2024 \|Categoría Primera A \|3	0	2	0	5	0
2025 \|Categoría Primera A \|4	1	0	0	4	1
colspan="2" \|Total !7	1	2	0	9	1
colspan="3" \|Career total !7	1	2	0	9	1

=International=

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan="2" \|Lebanon \|2024	4	3
2025	4	3
colspan="2" \|Total !8	6

:Scores and results list Lebanon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Merheg goal.

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by Samy Merheg
scope="col"\|No. !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition
align="center"\|1 \|rowspan="2"\|{{dts\|19 November 2024}} \|rowspan="2"\|Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar \|rowspan="2"\|{{fb\|MYA}} \|align="center"\|2–2 \|rowspan="2" align="center"\|3–2 \|rowspan="2"\|Friendly
align="center"\|2 \|align="center"\|3–2
align="center"\|3 \|{{dts\|12 December 2024}} \|Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar \|{{fb\|KUW}} \|align="center"\|2–1 \|align="center"\|2–1 \|Friendly
align="center"\|4 \|rowspan="2"\|{{dts\|20 March 2025}} \|rowspan="2"\|Al-Khor SC Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar \|rowspan="2"\|{{fb\|TLS}} \|align="center"\|3–0 \|rowspan="2" align="center"\|4–0 \|rowspan="2"\|Friendly
align="center"\|5 \|align="center"\|4–0
align="center"\|6 \|{{dts\|25 March 2025}} \|Saoud bin Abdulrahman Stadium, Al-Wakrah, Qatar \|{{fb\|BRU}} \|align="center"\|2–0 \|align="center"\|5–0 \|2027 Asian Cup qualification

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Samy Merheg

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|1

|rowspan="2"|{{dts|19 November 2024}}

|rowspan="2"|Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar