Fernando Zampedri
FullnameFernando Matías Zampedri
Birth date14 February 1988 (age 38)
Birth placeChajarí, Argentina
Height1.85m
PositionForward
CurrentclubUniversidad Católica
Clubnumber9
Youthyears 11993–1998
Youthclubs 11° de Mayo
Youthyears 22001
Youthclubs 2Newell's Old Boys
Youthclubs 3Atlético Rafaela
Years 12008–2013
Clubs 1Atlético Rafaela
Caps 147
Goals 18
Years 22010–2011
Clubs 2→ Sportivo Belgrano (loan)
Caps 221
Goals 210
Years 32011–2012
Clubs 3→ Crucero del Norte (loan)
Caps 318
Goals 33
Years 42012–2013
Clubs 4→ Sportivo Belgrano (loan)
Caps 426
Goals 44
Years 52013–2014
Clubs 5Guillermo Brown
Caps 532
Goals 522
Years 62014–2015
Clubs 6Boca Unidos
Caps 64
Goals 60
Years 72015
Clubs 7Juventud Unida
Caps 738
Goals 725
Years 82016–2017
Clubs 8Atlético Tucumán
Caps 834
Goals 814
Years 92017–2020
Clubs 9Rosario Central
Caps 945
Goals 911
Years 102020
Clubs 10→ Universidad Católica (loan)
Caps 1032
Goals 1020
Years 112021–
Clubs 11Universidad Católica
Caps 11146
Goals 11102
Nationalyears 12025–
Nationalteam 1Chile
Nationalcaps 12
Nationalgoals 10
Pcupdate14 March 2026
Ntupdate25 March 2025

Fernando Matías Zampedri (born 14 February 1988) is a professional footballer who plays for Universidad Católica.[1] He is the team captain and the club’s all-time leading goal scorer. [2] Born in Argentina, he plays for the Chile national team.

At the conclusion of the 2025 Liga de Primera season, he became a six-time top scorer in Chilean football, making him the second active player in the world to achieve this record, alongside Kylian Mbappé.

Club career

Born in Chajarí, Argentina, Zampedri was with club 1° de Mayo in his hometown as a youth player. Later, he spent one year with Newell's Old Boys, aged 13, before joining Atlético Rafaela, with whom he made his professional debut in 2008. Subsequently, he played on loan for Sportivo Belgrano and Crucero del Norte in the Torneo Argentino A. In 2013, he signed with Guillermo Brown in the same division.[3]

From 2014 to 2015, Zampedri played in the Primera Nacional for Boca Unidos and Juventud Unida de Gualeguaychú.[4] From 2016 to 2019, he played in the Argentine Primera División for Atlético Tucumán and Rosario Central.[5][6]

Universidad Católica

After leaving Rosario Central, he joined Universidad Católica on loan for a fee of USD 150,000, with an option to buy for USD 1.5 million in June 2020 or USD 2 million at the end of the season.[7][6] In December 2020, Universidad Católica finalized the permanent transfer, acquiring 100% of his rights for approximately USD 1.5 million, with a contract running through December 2023.[8] Following the 2020 season, Zampedri emerged as the Chilean league’s top scorer, a distinction he retained in 2021 and 2022.[9] That same year, he also secured the top scorer title in the Copa Chile.[10]

In October 2023, Zampedri reached an agreement with Universidad Católica to extend his contract through December 2025.[11] During that season, he scored 17 goals, becoming the first player in Chilean football history to finish as the league's top scorer for a fourth consecutive time.[12] On April 13, 2024, he equaled Néstor Isella’s 105-goal tally, becoming the club’s joint-top foreign scorer.[13] Later, on October 19, 2024, in the Clásico Universitario against Universidad de Chile, he scored his 119th goal to become Universidad Católica’s outright all-time leading scorer.[14] That same year, he also clinched his fifth consecutive Chilean league top scorer title.[15]

On August 23, 2025, during the inaugural match at the Claro Arena against Unión Española, Zampedri became the first player to score in the reopened stadium.[16] As the season drew to a close, he extended his contract with Universidad Católica for two more years,[17] and received two commemorative plaques for scoring the final goal at Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo and the first at Claro Arena.[18] By the end of the 2025 season, he joined Esteban Paredes as the only players to win the Chilean top-flight scoring title six times, achieving this feat consecutively in long-format tournaments.[19][20]

International career

A naturalized Chilean since February 2025, Zampedri was called up to the Chile national team under Ricardo Gareca for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Ecuador on 20 and 25 March 2025, respectively.[21][22] He made his debut in the first match by replacing Eduardo Vargas at minute 70.[23]

Personal life

Zampedri naturalized Chilean by residence. He received his certificate of naturalization on 19 February 2025.[24]

Career statistics

Club

[25]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]League cup[b]ContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Atlético Rafaela2008-09Primera Nacional134————134
2009-10Primera Nacional343————343
Total47700———477
Sportivo Belgrano2010-11Torneo Argentino A2110————2110
Crucero del Norte2011-12Torneo Argentino A183————183
Sportivo Belgrano2012-13Torneo Argentino A26420———284
Guillermo Brown2013-14Torneo Argentino A3222————3222
Boca Unidos2014Primera Nacional40————40
Juventud Unida2015Primera Nacional3825————3825
Atlético Tucumán2016Primera División12310———133
2016-17Primera División2211——10[c]6—3217
Total341410—106—4520
Rosario Central2017-18Primera División24742—2[d]0—309
2018-19Primera División21474—4[e]11[f]0339
Total4511116—61106318
Universidad Católica (loan)2019Primera División—10———10
2020Primera División3220——11[g]71[h]14428
Total322010—117114528
Universidad Católica2021Primera División292341—7[e]21[h]14127
2022Primera División291866—8[i]31[h]04427
2023Primera División281751—1[d]2—3420
2024Primera División281910—1[d]0—3019
2025Primera División251651—1[d]1—3118
2026Primera División8110011002[h]21114
Total1471042191118843191125
Career total444220361511452264532262
  1. ^ Includes Copa Argentina, Copa Chile
  2. ^ Includes Copa de la Liga
  3. ^ 9 appearances in the Copa Libertadores, 1 in the Copa Sudamericana
  4. ^ Appearances in Copa Sudamericana
  5. ^ Appearance(s) in the Copa Libertadores
  6. ^ Appearance(s) in the Supercopa Argentina
  7. ^ 6 appearances in the Copa Libertadores, 5 in the Copa Sudamericana
  8. ^ Appearance(s) in the Supercopa de Chile
  9. ^ 6 appearances in Copa Libertadores, 2 in Copa Sudamericana

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Chile202520
Total20

Honours

Rosario Central
Universidad Católica
Individual

References

  1. ^
  2. ^ Reyes, Luis (2026-01-20). "Zampedri rompe un nuevo récord en el fútbol chileno y deja una advertencia a sus rivales" (in es-cl). Diario AS. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  3. ^ "De chico vendía diarios, ahora los hace comprar" (in Spanish). www.diariojornada.com.ar. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Zampedri dijo que no tiene ningún problema de jugar en Boca Unidos" (in Spanish). www.ellitoral.com.ar. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Fernando Zampedri ya tiene club: jugará en Primera en 2016" (in Spanish). El Día de Gualeguaychú. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Zampedri y los permanentes conflictos en Central: "Ni saliendo campeones pudimos tener un poco de aire"" (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Fernando Zampedri es el primer refuerzo de la era Holan en la UC" (in Spanish). ANFP. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  8. ^ "FERNANDO ZAMPEDRI SEGUIRÁ EN UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA" (in Spanish). Titular. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Tabla de goleadores: Fernando Zampedri otra vez es el máximo artillero del fútbol chileno" (in es-CL). RedGol. 2022-11-06. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  10. ^ "Junto a dos históricos de Colo Colo: Fernando Zampedri es el goleador de la Copa Chile y entra a un selecto grupo de leyendas del fútbol chileno" (in es-ES). Archived 2022-11-13 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  11. ^ Villarroel, Carlos (2023-10-06). "¡Fernando Zampedri renueva con la UC!" (in Spanish). Cruzados. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  12. ^ Mujica, Lucas (2023-12-09). "Hace historia: Fernando Zampedri se convierte en el primer tetragoleador del fútbol chileno" (in Spanish). La Tercera. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  13. ^ Mujica, Lucas (2024-04-14). "En busca del récord: Fernando Zampedri llega a 105 goles en la UC y alcanza a Néstor Isella en la lista de máximos anotadores" (in Spanish). La Tercera. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  14. ^ Tapia, Carlos (2024-10-19). "Fernando Zampedri es el número uno de la UC: anota su gol 119 y supera a Barrera como goleador histórico cruzado" (in Spanish). La Tercera. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  15. ^ Neut, Martín (2024-11-10). "¡Toro histórico! Fernando Zampedri se convierte en el primer pentagoleador del fútbol chileno" (in Spanish). ADN Radio. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  16. ^ "Histórico resultado y tabla: La Católica inauguró el estadio Claro Arena ante la UE" (in es-CL). RedGol. 2025-08-23. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  17. ^ "Universidad Católica anuncia la renovación de Fernando Zampedri, Gary Medel y Branco Ampuero" (in Spanish). Emol. 2025-12-05. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  18. ^ Cooperativa.cl. "[VIDEO] Cruzados develó placas conmemorativas en honor a Fernando Zampedri y Juvenal Olmos" (in Spanish). Cooperativa.cl. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  19. ^ "Fernando Zampedri se coronó como hexagoleador del fútbol chileno" (in Spanish). ESPN.cl. 2025-12-08. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  20. ^ Tapia, Carlos (2025-12-09). "A la par de Mbappé y sobre Maradona: el alcance internacional de Fernando Zampedri como hexagoleador del torneo chileno" (in Spanish). La Tercera. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
  21. ^ "¡Es oficial! Fernando Zampedri fue convocado por Chile para las Clasificatorias" (in Spanish). alairelibre.cl. Radio Cooperativa. 7 March 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  22. ^ Viluñir Silva, Jp (7 March 2025). "Pareja de Fernando Zampedri se emociona por su llamado a la selección chilena" (in Spanish). RedGol. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  23. ^ "Zampredri debutó con la selección chilena contra Paraguay" (in Spanish). Cooperativa. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  24. ^ "Fin de la novela: Fernando Zampedri recibió la nacionalidad y podrá jugar para la Selección de Chile si Gareca lo convoca" (in Spanish). DSports. 19 February 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  25. ^ "Fernando Zampedri". Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  26. ^ "Fernando Zampedri se coronó como hexagoleador del fútbol chileno" (in Spanish). ESPN.cl. 2025-12-08. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  27. ^ "Junto a dos históricos de Colo Colo: Fernando Zampedri es el goleador de la Copa Chile y entra a un selecto grupo de leyendas del fútbol chileno" (in es-ES). Archived 2022-11-13 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  28. ^ "La Gala Crack eligió a los mejores de la temporada 2024" (in Spanish). Campeonato Chileno. ANFA. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  29. ^ Orrego Bocchieri, Héctor (8 December 2025). "Una maravilla: Así fue la Gala Crack 2025 de TNT Sports con los mejores del fútbol chileno" (in Spanish). TNT Sports Chile. Retrieved 9 December 2025.