Gustavo Gómez

Gustavo Raúl Gómez Portillo (born 6 May 1993) is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for and captains both Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Palmeiras and the Paraguay national team.

Lanús
Gómez is considered one of the most promising defenders of Paraguay, who began his playing career at Libertad. In the summer of 2014, Gómez left Libertad to play for Argentine Primera División side Lanús. Gustavo Gomez's Lanus conceded a mere 10 goals in 17 games en route to securing 2016 Argentine Primera Division title.

AC Milan
On 5 August 2016, Gómez completed a move to AC Milan for a fee reported to be in the region of €8.5 million, signing a 5-year contract. He is the first ever Paraguayan footballer to play for Milan. After joining the club he chose number 15, in tribute of his former Lanús teammate, Diego Barisone who died in a car accident. On 27 August 2016, he made his full debut for Milan in Serie A against Napoli, where Napoli beat Milan 4–2.

Palmeiras
On 2 August 2018, Gómez was announced for Palmeiras on a one year loan deal. Being considered by supporters as one of the best centerbacks of Palmeiras history, he helped the team win two Campeonatos Brasileiro in 2018 and 2022, two Copas Libertadores in 2020 and 2021, three Campeonatos Paulista in 2020, 2022 and 2023, one SouthAmerican Recopa in 2022, one Supercopa do Brasil in 2023 and the Copa do Brasil in 2020.

International career
Gustavo's first selection to the Paraguay national team was for a friendly against Germany in August 2013. On 7 September 2013 he debuted against Bolivia at the age of 20 years old . In that game he scored his first international goal. He has since been a regular fixture for Paraguay. He played for Paraguay in the Copa América Centenario in 2016, where he started all the 3 games for them.

Style of play
Gustavo is a strong defender capable of playing in any position at the back. He is a hard tackler and good in the air. He was instrumental in Lanus's style of building attacks from behind.

International

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

Honours
Libertad
 * Paraguayan Primera División: 2012C, 2014A

Lanus
 * Argentine Primera División: 2016

Milan
 * Supercoppa Italiana: 2016

Palmeiras
 * Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2018, 2022, 2023
 * Campeonato Paulista:2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
 * Copa do Brasil: 2020
 * Copa Libertadores: 2020, 2021
 * Recopa Sudamericana: 2022
 * Supercopa do Brasil: 2023
 * FIFA Club World Cup runner-up: 2021

Individual
 * U-20 South American Championship Team of the Tournament: 2013
 * Paraguayan Primera División Team of the Season: 2013
 * Copa Argentina Team of the Season: 2014–15
 * Argentine Primera División Team of the Season: 2016
 * Bola de Prata: 2019, 2020, 2022
 * Copa Libertadores Team of the Tournament: 2020, 2021, 2022
 * Best Centre-back in Brazil: 2020
 * Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2020, 2021, 2022
 * Copa do Brasil Team of the Season: 2020
 * South American Footballer of the Year Bronze Ball: 2020, 2021
 * South America Team of the Year: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
 * South American Defender of the Year: 2020, 2021
 * Paraguayan Footballer of the Year: 2021
 * IFFHS CONMEBOL Team of the Year: 2021
 * Campeonato Paulista Team of the Year: 2022, 2023