Orbelín Pineda
Full nameOrbelín Pineda Alvarado[1]
Birth date24 March 1996 (age 30)[1]
Birth placeCoyuca de Catalán, Guerrero, Mexico
Height1.69 m[2]
PositionMidfielder
CurrentclubAEK Athens
Clubnumber13
Youthyears 12012–2014
Youthclubs 1Querétaro
Years 12014–2015
Clubs 1Querétaro
Caps 144
Goals 18
Years 22016–2018
Clubs 2Guadalajara
Caps 2102
Goals 27
Years 32019–2022
Clubs 3Cruz Azul
Caps 397
Goals 310
Years 42022–2023
Clubs 4Celta
Caps 47
Goals 40
Years 52022–2023
Clubs 5→ AEK Athens (loan)
Caps 536
Goals 59
Years 62023–
Clubs 6AEK Athens
Caps 692
Goals 69
Nationalyears 12015
Nationalteam 1Mexico U20
Nationalcaps 13
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 22016–
Nationalteam 2Mexico
Nationalcaps 290
Nationalgoals 212
Club-update12 May 2026
Nationalteam-update31 March 2026

Orbelín Pineda Alvarado (born 24 March 1996) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Super League Greece club AEK Athens and the Mexico national team.

Club career

Querétaro

Pineda was first called up to the Querétaro senior team on 21 January 2014, for a Copa MX match against Ascenso MX side Celaya and made his debut as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 loss.[3] Pineda made his Liga MX debut on 1 August 2014, in a 2–0 victory against Pachuca.[4]

On 24 January 2015, he scored his first goal in a league match against Pachuca in a 1–2 loss.[5] He was considered a pivotal part of the team as Querétaro reached the Clausura championship finals, only to succumb to Santos Laguna following an aggregate score of 5–3.[6]

Guadalajara

On 2 December 2015, Guadalajara announced they had signed Pineda for an undisclosed price on a five-year contract.[7] Pineda made his official debut as a starter on 10 January 2016, against Veracruz.[8] He scored his first goal for the club on 16 January 2016, against Cruz Azul in a 1–1 tie.[9]

On 10 July, he would score the first goal in the 2016 Supercopa MX against Veracruz which finished 2–0.[10]

In April 2017, Guadalajara won the Clausura Copa MX final against Morelia.[11][12] The following month, they disputed Clausura championship against Tigres UANL, as Guadalajara would go on to win the title, finishing an eleven-year-long drought of league titles.[13][14] As a result, Guadalajara won their first Double since the 1969–70 season.[15]

In April 2018, Guadalajara went on to win the CONCACAF Champions League Finals against Major League Soccer team Toronto FC following a penalty shoot-out victory of 4–2.[16][17]

Cruz Azul

In December 2018, it was announced Cruz Azul signed Pineda for $12 million.[18] He made his debut with the team on 4 January 2019, in 1–1 draw against Puebla.[19]

In July 2019, he would win the Supercopa MX after defeating Necaxa 4–0.[20] In September, he would also go on to win the inaugural Leagues Cup after defeating Tigres UANL 2–1.[21]

Pineda played an integral part in Cruz Azul's championship-winning Guardianes 2021 campaign.

Celta de Vigo

On 7 January 2022, Pineda signed a five-year contract with Spanish club Celta de Vigo.[22] Pineda made his debut with the club on 21 February against Levante UD, coming on as a substitute on the second half in an eventual 1–1 draw.[23]

AEK Athens

On 15 July, Pineda joined Greek club, AEK Athens on a season-long loan, rejoining former Guadalajara manager, Matías Almeyda.[24] Pineda made his debut on 20 August in a league match against Lamia, as a starter, he scored a goal and contributed an assist in a 3–0 victory.[25]

His performances for the season led him to be named the league's player of the season, best foreigner[26] and in the team of the season, as well as the club's best player.

On 1 July 2023, AEK Athens permanently signed Pineda from Celta de Vigo for a fee of €6.5 million,[27] while the player penned a four-year deal until 2027. The club officially announced, on social media, the transfer as 'the biggest in the club's history'.[28][29]

International career

Youth

Pineda was called up to the under-20 side by manager Sergio Almaguer to take part in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. He made his debut in Mexico's opening match as a half-time substitution for José David Ramírez. Mexico went on to lose the game 2–0 to Mali.[30] Pineda started the next two matches for Mexico, but the team finished in 4th place in their group and failed to qualify to the next round.

Senior

Pineda was included in the provisional roster for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup by Miguel Herrera but was cut from the final list, remaining in the Provisional List if someone else got injured.[31] He was called up again, this time by Juan Carlos Osorio, to be included in Mexico's provisional squad for the Copa América Centenario but was cut from the final squad.[32] Pineda would make his senior national team debut on 6 September 2016 against Honduras during a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match, coming in as a substitute for Jesús Dueñas at the 71st minute, finishing in a scoreless draw.[33]

He was included in the finalized roster that would participate at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup,[34] where on 9 July he would score his first goal with the senior national team during a group stage match against El Salvador, scoring the final goal of a 3–1 win.[35]

In June 2019, Pineda was included in Gerardo Martino's 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup roster.[36] Mexico went on to win the tournament.[37]

Pineda participated at the 2021 Gold Cup,[38] scoring a total of 3 times and contributing one assist.[39] Mexico finished runner-up after losing the final to the United States 0–1.[40]

In October 2022, Pineda 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.[41]

Pineda participated in the 2023 Gold Cup, where he was a key player for the national team, scoring twice in matches leading up to the final.[42] In the final, he would assist Santiago Giménez's winning goal against Panama to secure his second trophy with Mexico.[43]

Style of play

Pineda is able to play as a deep-lying, roaming or more advanced playmaker, he has regularly played as the more advanced of the two in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Described by fans as an excellent reader of the game, Pineda tries to spot incisive through balls in order to be able to find space on the pitch by moving into the channels between defenders.[6] Former Guadalajara manager Matías Almeyda described Pineda as "one of those players that has to end up in a great European club. He has the talent and the attributes." Fans also praise his perceived technical skill.[44]

Personal life

Pineda's older brother, Onay, was also a professional footballer who played as a right-back.[45]

Career statistics

Club

[46]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]ContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Querétaro2013–14Liga MX—10——10
2014–15295121——416
2015–16153—2[b]0—173
Total44813120—599
Guadalajara2015–16Liga MX19410—1[c]1215
2016–1742290——512
2017–18290418[b]1—412
2018–1912110—2[d]0151
Total1027151813112810
Cruz Azul2018–19Liga MX18240—4[e]1263
2019–20253—3[b]1—284
2020–21414—3[b]1—445
2021–22131——1[f]0141
Total971040625111213
Celta Vigo2021–22La Liga70———70
AEK Athens (loan)2022–23Super League Greece36961——4210
AEK Athens2023–24Super League Greece333209[g]1—444
2024–25301602[h]0—381
2025–261442011[h]0—274
AEK total11317161221—15119
Career total363424833848245751
  1. ^ Includes Copa MX, Greek Football Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
  3. ^ Appearance in Supercopa MX
  4. ^ Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
  5. ^ One appearance in Supercopa MX, three appearances and one goal in Leagues Cup
  6. ^ Appearance in Campeones Cup
  7. ^ Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  8. ^ Appearances in UEFA Conference League

International

[46]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Mexico201630
2017111
201810
201960
202041
2021184
202280
2023153
2024122
2025111
202610
Total9012
Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Pineda goal.
List of international goals scored by Orbelín Pineda
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
19 July 2017Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, United StatesEl Salvador3–13–12017 CONCACAF Gold Cup
230 September 2020Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, MexicoGuatemala2–03–0Friendly
314 July 2021Cotton Bowl, Dallas, United StatesGuatemala3–03–02021 CONCACAF Gold Cup
424 July 2021State Farm Stadium, Glendale, United StatesHonduras3–03–02021 CONCACAF Gold Cup
529 July 2021NRG Stadium, Houston, United StatesCanada1–02–12021 CONCACAF Gold Cup
65 September 2021Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa RicaCosta Rica1–01–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
726 March 2023Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, MexicoJamaica1–12–22022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A
825 June 2023NRG Stadium, Houston, United StatesHonduras3–04–02023 CONCACAF Gold Cup
98 July 2023AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United StatesCosta Rica1–02–02023 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1021 March 2024AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United StatesPanama3–03–02024 CONCACAF Nations League Finals
117 September 2024Rose Bowl, Pasadena, United StatesNew Zealand1–03–0Friendly
1210 June 2025Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, United StatesTurkey1–01–0Friendly

Honours

Guadalajara

Cruz Azul

AEK Athens

Mexico

Individual

References

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