Luis Mejía Explained

Luis Mejía
Fullname:Luis Ricardo Mejía Cajar
Birth Date:1991 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Panama City, Panama
Currentclub:Nacional
Clubnumber:12
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthyears1:2005–2007
Youthclubs1:Tauro
Youthyears2:2008–2009
Youthclubs2:Fénix
Youthyears3:2009
Youthclubs3:Real Mallorca B (loan)
Years1:2010–2015
Clubs1:Fénix
Caps1:89
Goals1:0
Years2:2011
Clubs2:Toulouse FC (loan)
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2015–2021
Clubs3:Nacional
Caps3:51
Goals3:0
Years4:2021
Clubs4:Fénix
Caps4:20
Goals4:0
Years5:2022–2024
Clubs5:Unión Española
Caps5:12
Goals5:0
Nationalyears1:2005–2006
Nationalyears2:2007–2010
Nationalyears3:2010
Nationalyears4:2012
Nationalyears5:2009–
Nationalteam1:Panama U17
Nationalteam2:Panama U20
Nationalteam3:Panama U21
Nationalteam4:Panama U23
Nationalteam5:Panama
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalcaps2:10
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalcaps4:7
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalcaps5:52
Nationalgoals5:0
Pcupdate:17:31, 7 June 2022 (UTC)
Ntupdate:17:31, 7 June 2024 (UTC)
Years6:2024–
Clubs6:Nacional

Luis Ricardo Mejía Cajar (born 16 March 1991) is a Panamanian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Uruguayan Primera División club Nacional.

Club career

Nicknamed Manotas, Mejia made his professional debut playing with Tauro in 2007. In 2008, he was transferred to Uruguayan side Centro Atlético Fénix, but finally made his team debut on 21 August 2010 on a match against Tacuarembó, being rewarded as the man of the match.[1] His outstanding performances called the interest of various team of Europe.

In January 2011, he was loaned 6 months to Toulouse but was never able to win a place in the first team, so he had to cope with playing in the reserve team.[2]

In his return to Fénix, he gain the ownership in the first team.

International career

Mejía was part of the Panama U-20 squad that participated in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. He was the youngest goalkeeper in the world cup and the revelation. He was also part of the Panama U-20 squad that participated in the 2011 CONCACAF U-20 Championship where his outstanding performances led them to qualify to the Youth World Cup in Colombia.

His senior international debut for Panama came on 8 June 2009 against Jamaica, in a Friendly match.

He was part of the Panama U-23 squad that participated in the 2012 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament which they could not qualify to the 2012 Summer Olympics.

In 2011, he was called up by Julio Dely Valdés to play the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Notes and References

  1. News: Brillante actuación de Luis Mejía en su debut . Diariopro . 25 August 2010 . 23 August 2010. Spanish.
  2. News: Luis "Manotas" Mejía presentado como jugador del Toulouse . Diariopro . 8 January 2011. 5 January 2011. Spanish.