Tomás Rincón

Tomás Eduardo Rincón Hernández (born 13 January 1988) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for and captains both Campeonato Brasileiro Série B side Santos and the Venezuela national team.

Early career
Born in San Cristóbal, Táchira, Rincón started his career with the youth sides of EF Monsenor Arias Blanco. In 2004, aged 16, he moved to UA Maracaibo, and made his senior debut during the 2006–07 season, playing with the B-team in the Venezuelan Segunda División and scoring two goals.

Rincón joined Venezuelan Primera División side Zamora in January 2007, and made his top tier debut on 25 March 2007, starting in a 2–0 away loss to Carabobo. He became a regular starter in the 2007–08 season, and scored his first goal for the club on 30 September 2007, in a 4–0 home routing of former side Maracaibo; with Zamora, he also took part in the club's first-ever continental appearance, playing in both matches of the 2007 Copa Sudamericana as they were knocked out by Ecuadorian side Olmedo.

Rincón left Zamora in July 2008 after scoring once in 33 league matches, and moved to Deportivo Táchira on a contract until 2010.

Hamburger SV
The 22-year-old midfielder played on loan at German Bundesliga side Hamburger SV. On 30 January 2009, he signed a contract until 31 December 2009. Rincón played his first match for Hamburg on 4 March 2009 against Wehen Wiesbaden in the DFB-Pokal.

He debuted in the Bundesliga on 4 April 2009 as a substitute in the 87th minute in a 1–0 win against 1899 Hoffenheim. On 10 December 2009, Hamburger SV purchased him from his former club Deportivo Táchira. Rincón signed a contract until 30 June 2014.

Genoa
On 31 July 2014 Rincón was signed by Italian club Genoa on a free transfer, and on 24 August, he played his first official match with the Gialloblu in an away game, valid for the third qualifying round of the Coppa Italia, won 1–0 against Lanciano. He made his debut in Serie A on 31 August against Napoli. With Genoa he finished in 6th place, qualifying for the Europa League, but was denied because Genoa failed to obtain a UEFA license.

The next season Rincón made his debut in the league in the second round, in a home game won 2–0 against Hellas Verona. On 22 November 2015 he scored his first goal for Genoa in the game won against Sassuolo. Overall, he made 83 appearances and scored 3 goals with Genoa.

Juventus
In the middle of the 2016–17 season, Rincón was linked with a move to defending Serie A champions Juventus during the January transfer window; he ultimately signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Turin-based club on 3 January 2017 for a reported fee of €8 million, becoming the first Venezuelan ever to represent the Bianconeri, and was given the number 28 shirt. He made his debut for the Turin side on 8 January, coming on as a substitute for Sami Khedira in a 3–0 home win over Bologna, in Serie A. On 14 March, he made his UEFA Champions League debut with the club, coming on as a substitute for Paulo Dybala, in a 1–0 home win over Porto, in the second leg of the round of 16.

Torino
On 11 August 2017, Rincón was loaned to Torino for the 2017–18 season for €3 million, with a €6 million conditional obligation to buy. After the player had reached the condition on appearance for Torino, the club bought him outright on 6 January 2018. The deal was officially confirmed by Juventus on 5 February.

Sampdoria
On 8 January 2022, Rincón joined Sampdoria on loan. On 5 July 2022, he returned to Sampdoria on a permanent basis with a one-year contract.

Santos
On 15 August 2023, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A side Santos confirmed the signing of Rincón, pending on medical examinations. He made his debut for the club five days later, replacing Joaquim Henrique in a 2–1 home win over Grêmio.

Rincón scored his first goal for Peixe on 1 October 2023, netting his team's second in a 4–1 home routing of Vasco da Gama. Seven days later, he scored the equalizer in a 2–1 away success over rivals Palmeiras.

International career
Rincón represented Venezuela at under-17 level in the 2005 South American U-17 Championship, and at under-20 level in the 2007 South American U-20 Championship. He played his first senior international game for the full side on 3 February 2008, starting in a 1–0 friendly win over Haiti at the Estadio Monumental de Maturín.

On 22 July 2011, Rincón was voted Adidas' Best Player at the 2011 Copa América, held in Argentina, receiving 65% of the total votes against ten candidates. Venezuela finished the tournament in fourth place. He later also took part at the 2015 Copa América, and the Copa América Centenario in 2016 with Venezuela, serving as his team's captain in the latter tournament.

Rincón scored his first international goal on 16 November 2018, netting the equalising goal from the penalty spot in a 1–1 friendly away draw against Japan. He was also a member of the Venezuelan team that took part at the 2019 Copa América in Brazil, and made his 100th international appearance for Venezuela against Trinidad and Tobago on 14 October 2019.

Style of play
Nicknamed el general (The General, in Spanish), Rincón is quick, physical, versatile, and hard-working player, who is capable of playing in several midfield and defensive positions. Although he is usually deployed in the centre, as a defensive midfielder in front of the back-line, he is also capable of playing as a full-back, wing-back, or wide midfielder along the right flank. He has even been deployed in a box-to-box role, or as an offensive-minded central midfielder on occasion, known as the mezzala role in Italy. A strong, tenacious, and well-rounded footballer, with solid technique, a powerful shot, and an ability to provide assists for his teammates, he is mainly known for his anticipation, tactical intelligence, energy, and ball-winning abilities, as well as his strong personality, tenacity, dedication, professionalism, strength of character, and leadership.

International

 * Scores and results list Venezuela's goal tally first.

Honours
Juventus
 * Serie A: 2016–17
 * Coppa Italia: 2016–17

Venezuela
 * Kirin Cup: 2019
 * Copa América 4th place (copper medal): 2011

Individual
 * Adidas' Best Player of the 2011 Copa América