Marcelo Fernández (footballer)

Marcelo Fabián Fernández Benítez (born 25 October 2001) is a Paraguayan footballer who plays as a forward for Club Libertad in the Paraguayan Primera División.

Club career
Born in Itá in the Central department, Fernández came through the ranks of Club Libertad in the capital Asunción. He made his debut on 15 August 2021 in the Paraguayan Primera División, starting in a 3–3 home draw with Club 12 de Octubre de Santo Domingo.

At the start of 2022, Fernández was loaned to fellow top-flight team Tacuary. On 11 March he scored his first goal in a 2–0 win at Sportivo Ameliano, to give his club their first win of the season on the sixth matchday; he finished his spell with 37 games and 6 goals.

Fernández helped Libertad win the Copa Paraguay in 2023. He scored his first goal for them in a 3–0 third-round win at Club Sol de América, followed by the 2–1 winner at Club Sportivo San Lorenzo in the last 16, and opening a 3–0 home win over Deportivo Santaní in the quarter-finals. In the final on 2 December, he came on as a substitute as his team won on penalties against Sportivo Trinidense.

On 18 February 2024, Fernández scored his first league goal for Libertad, the winner off the bench in a 2–1 victory at Sol de América. In April, he was ruled out for a month with appendicitis.

International career
Fernández was called up to the Paraguay national under-23 football team for the 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament in Venezuela. In the first two games, he scored in a 4–3 win over Uruguay, and the only goal against Peru, as his team qualified. He was chosen for the final event in France.