Gabriel Gómez (footballer, born 1984)

Gabriel Enrique Gómez Girón (born 29 May 1984) is a Panamanian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

His own notwithstanding, he played professionally in six countries in a 19-year career, mainly Colombia and Portugal.

Gómez was Panama's all-time record cap holder, appearing in 148 internationals and representing the nation in seven Gold Cup tournaments and the 2018 World Cup.

Club career
In his early career, Panama City-born Gómez – nicknamed Gavilán (Hawk) – rarely settled with a club, playing in both his country and Colombia. In 2007, he moved to Portugal and signed for C.F. Os Belenenses initially on a one-year loan, from Independiente Santa Fe whom he had joined in December 2005.

Gómez made his Primeira Liga debut on 20 August 2007 in a 1–1 draw at Associação Naval 1º de Maio, being relatively used during his three-year stint as the Lisbon side were eventually relegated at the end of the 2009–10 season. In the last minutes of the following summer transfer window, he moved to Cyprus and signed with Ermis Aradippou FC, reuniting with former Belenenses teammate Wender.

In August 2011, after a spell back in Colombia with La Equidad alongside countrymen Gabriel Torres and Román Torres, Gómez teamed up with compatriot Blas Pérez at Mexican Ascenso MX side Indios de Ciudad Juárez. He signed for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer on 21 December 2011, scoring his first league goal in the season opener against the Portland Timbers (3–1 away loss).

Gómez returned to Colombia in December 2012, to play for Atlético Junior. He continued changing clubs and countries in quick succession in the following years, representing San Francisco F.C. and C.S. Herediano.

International career
Gómez represented the Panamanian under-20 team at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates. He made his debut for the full side in a game against El Salvador in the 2003 UNCAF Nations Cup, and went on to play for his country on more than 140 occasions, including in 27 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.

Gómez was named in the 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He made his debut in the competition on 18 June at the age of 34 years and 20 days, playing the entire 3–0 defeat to Belgium in the group stage; later that month, he announced his retirement from international play.

Personal life
Gómez married former model Ingrid González, sister of former international goalkeeper Donaldo González, fathering two children.

International

 * Scores and results list Panama's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gómez goal.

Honours
Panama
 * CONCACAF Gold Cup runner-up: 2005, 2013; third place: 2015