Wikipedia

Tomás Rincón

Tomás Eduardo Rincón Hernández (Spanish pronunciation: [toˈmas riŋˈkon]; born 13 January 1988) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder.

Tomás Rincón
Rincón with Venezuela in 2019
Personal information
Full name Tomás Eduardo Rincón Hernández[1]
Date of birth (1988-01-13) 13 January 1988 (age 38)
Place of birth San Cristóbal, Venezuela
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position Defensive midfielder
Youth career
Monsenor Arias Blanco
2004–2006 Maracaibo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2007 Maracaibo B (2)
2007–2008 Zamora 33 (1)
2008–2009 Deportivo Táchira 18 (0)
2009–2014 Hamburger SV 106 (0)
2014–2017 Genoa 78 (3)
2017–2018 Juventus 14 (0)
2017–2018 → Torino (loan) 36 (1)
2018–2022 Torino 109 (5)
2022 → Sampdoria (loan) 17 (0)
2022–2023 Sampdoria 34 (0)
2023–2026 Santos 76 (2)
International career
2005–2006 Venezuela U17 9 (1)
2006–2007 Venezuela U20 6 (0)
2008–2025 Venezuela[3] 143 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Venezuela
Central American and Caribbean Games
Silver medal – second place2006 CartagenaTeam
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:36, 26 April 2026 (UTC)

Club career

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Early career

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Born in San Cristóbal, Táchira, Rincón started his career with the youth sides of EF Monsenor Arias Blanco.[4] 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.[5]

Rincón joined Venezuelan Primera División club Zamora in January 2007,[6] and made his top tier debut on 25 March, starting in a 2–0 away loss against Carabobo.[citation needed] 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 victory against his former club Macaribo. With Zamora, Rincón 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 club Olmedo.[citation needed]

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

Hamburger SV

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Rincón with Hamburger SV in 2013

Rincón, then 22 years old, played on loan for German Bundesliga club Hamburger SV.[7] On 30 January 2009, he signed a contract until 31 December 2009.[citation needed] Rincón played his first match for Hamburg on 4 March 2009 against Wehen Wiesbaden in the DFB-Pokal.[citation needed] He made his Bundesliga debut on 4 April as a substitute in the 87th minute in a 1–0 victory against 1899 Hoffenheim.[citation needed] On 10 December 2009, Hamburger SV purchased him from his former club Deportivo Táchira.[8] Rincón signed a contract until 30 June 2014.[citation needed]

Genoa

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Rincón with Genoa in 2015

On 31 July 2014, Rincón was signed by Italian club Genoa on a free transfer.[citation needed] On 24 August, he played his first official match with the Gialloblu, a 1–0 away victory against Lanciano in third qualifying round of the Coppa Italia.[citation needed] He made his debut in Serie A on 31 August against Napoli.[citation needed] Although Genoa finished sixth place and qualified for the Europa League, it failed to obtain a UEFA license.[citation needed]

The following season, on 30 August 2015, Rincón made his debut in the league in the second round in a 2–0 victory against Hellas Verona.[9] On 22 November 2015, he scored his first goal for Genoa in the game won against Sassuolo.[citation needed] Overall, he made 83 appearances and scored three goals with Genoa.[citation needed]

Juventus, Torino, and Sampdoria

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In the middle of the 2016–17 Serie A, Rincón was linked with a move to defending Serie A champions Juventus during the January transfer window.[citation needed] He signed a three-and-a-half year contract 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.[10] He made his Serie A debut 8 January, coming on as a substitute for Sami Khedira in a 3–0 home victory against Bologna.[11] On 14 March, Rincón made his UEFA Champions League debut with the club — coming on as a substitute for Paulo Dybala in a 1–0 home victory against Porto — the second leg of the round of 16.[12]

On 11 August 2017, Rincón moved to Torino on loan for the 2017–18 Serie A for €3 million, with a €6 million conditional obligation to buy.[13][14] After the player had reached the condition on appearance for Torino, the club bought him outright on 6 January 2018.[15][16] The deal was officially confirmed by Juventus on 5 February.[17][18]

On 8 January 2022, Rincón joined Sampdoria on loan.[19] On 5 July 2022, he returned to Sampdoria on a permanent basis with a one-year contract.[20]

Santos

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Rincón in action for Santos in 2024

On 15 August 2023, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A side Santos confirmed the signing of Rincón, pending on medical examinations.[21] He made his debut for the club five days later, replacing Joaquim Henrique in a 2–1 home victory against Grêmio.[22]

Rincón scored his first goal for Peixe on 1 October 2023, netting his club's second in a 4–1 home victory against Vasco da Gama.[23] One week later, he scored the equalizer in a 2–1 away victory against rivals Palmeiras.[24]

Despite being a part of the club which suffered the club's first-ever relegation from the top tier, Rincón agreed to a cut his wages to remain at the club in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B.[25] He spent the 2024 season as a backup to João Schmidt and Diego Pituca as the club achieved immediate promotion as champions, and switched between a first choice and back-up footballer in 2025.[26] On 6 July 2026, having experienced limited playing time, Rincón announced his departure from Santos.[27]

International career

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Rincón playing for Venezuela in 2019

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 victory against Haiti at the Estadio Monumental de Maturín.[28]

On 22 July 2011, Rincón was voted Adidas' Best Player at the 2011 Copa América in Argentina, receiving 65% of the total votes against ten candidates.[29] Venezuela finished the tournament in fourth place.[30] He also played at the 2015 Copa América,[31] and the Copa América Centenario in 2016 with Venezuela,[32] serving as his team's captain in the latter tournament.[33]

Rincón scored his first international goal on 16 November 2018, netting the equalizing goal from the penalty spot in a 1–1 friendly away draw against Japan.[34] He was also a member of the Venezuela national team that took part at the 2019 Copa América in Brazil,[35] and made his 100th international appearance for Venezuela against Trinidad and Tobago on 14 October 2019.[36]

On 11 September 2025, Rincón announced his retirement from the national team following his country's 6–3 loss against Colombia at home, which led Venezuela to be eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.[37]

Style of play

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Nicknamed el general (The General, in Spanish), Rincón 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 also been deployed in a box-to-box role, or as an offensive-minded central midfielder, known as the mezzala role in Italy.[38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 25 April 2026[3]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental State league[b] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Zamora 2006–07 Venezuelan Primera División 2000——20
2007–08 311222[c]0—353
Total 3312220—373
Deportivo Táchira 2008–09 Venezuelan Primera División 18000——180
Hamburger SV 2008–09 Bundesliga 10102[d]0—40
2009–10 1700011[e]0—280
2010–11 19020——210
2011–12 27030——300
2012–13 20000——200
2013–14 22040——260
Total 1060100130—1290
Genoa 2014–15 Serie A 29020——310
2015–16 33310——343
2016–17 17010——180
Total 79340——833
Juventus 2016–17 Serie A 130303[f]0—190
Torino (loan) 2017–18 Serie A 36120——381
Torino 2018–19 Serie A 34331——374
2019–20 321205[e]0—391
2020–21 36130——391
2021–22 7020——90
Torino total 145612150—1627
Sampdoria (loan) 2021–22 Serie A 17010——180
Sampdoria 2022–23 Serie A 34030——370
Sampdoria total 51040——550
Santos 2023 Série A 162———162
2024 Série B 140——140280
2025 Série A 17020—120310
2026 2000001030
Total 4922000270782
Career total 4991237323027058615

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Venezuela 2008130
2009100
201060
2011140
201240
201370
201420
2015110
2016140
201750
201851
2019100
202030
202190
202290
202380
202490
202540
Total1431
Scores and results list Venezuela's goal tally first.[47]
List of international goals scored by Tomás Rincón
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.16 November 2018Ōita Bank Dome, Ōita, Japan Japan1–11–12018 Kirin Challenge Cup

Honours

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Juventus[3]
Santos
Venezuela
Individual

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Comunicato Ufficiale N. 59" [Official Press Release No. 59] (PDF). Serie A. 2 October 2018. p. 4. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  2. ↑ "Tomás Rincón". Juventus F.C. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 "T. Rincón". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  4. ↑ "Savia del Monseñor Arias Blanco brilla a nivel nacional e internacional" [Monseñor Arias Blanco blood shines at national and international level] (in Spanish). La Nación. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "Venezuela 2006/07". RSSSF. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "Entrevista a Tomás Rincón" [Interview to Tomás Rincón]. La Barra del Deporte. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  7. ↑ "Vertragsverhandlugen: Bleibt Rincon Beim HSV?". HSV 3000 (in German). Archived from the original on 15 November 2009.
  8. ↑ "HSV nimmt Tomás Rincón unter Vertrag". Hamburger SV (in German). 10 December 2009. Archived from the original on 14 December 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  9. ↑ "Rafa Márquez y Hellas cayeron 2-0 ante al Genoa" [Rafa Márquez and Hellas fell 2-0 against Genoa]. Medio Tiempo (in Spanish). 30 August 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Rincon signs for Juventus". Juventus F.C. 3 January 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Juventus-Bologna, Rincon fa il suo esordio allo Stadium". Tutto Sport (in Italian). 8 January 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  12. ↑ Parotto, Antonio (14 March 2017). "Rigorosamente Dybala: 1-0 al Porto e Juventus ai quarti di finale di Champions League". 90min.com (in Italian). Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  13. ↑ "Agreement with Torino F.C. for the transfer of the player Rincon" (PDF). Juventus F.C. (Press release). Turin. 11 August 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  14. ↑ "El Torino incorpora al venezolano Tomás Rincón cedido por un año". Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 11 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Torino buy Rincon outright". Football Italia. Tiro Media. 6 January 2018. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  16. ↑ "Cairo: "Rincon è costato tanto e non-sta rendendo"". Juve News (in Italian). Turin: RCS MediaGroup. 8 January 2018. Archived from the original on 24 January 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  17. ↑ "Definitive disposal of the player Rincon" (PDF). Juventus F.C. (Press release). Turin. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.[dead link]
  18. ↑ "Cessione Definitiva del Calciatore Rincon" [Definitive disposal of the footballer Rincon] (PDF). Juventus F.C. (Press release) (in Italian). Turin. 5 February 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  19. ↑ "Benvenuto Rincón: Arriva in prestito dal Torino" (in Italian). 8 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "Rincón rinnova il contratto blucerchiato fino al 2023" (in Italian). 5 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  21. ↑ "Santos anuncia contratação de venezuelano Tomás Rincón" [Santos announce the signing of Venezuelan Tomás Rincón] (in Portuguese). Grupo Globo. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  22. ↑ "Rincón pede Santos unido na luta contra o rebaixamento: "Construir um espírito de equipe"" [Rincón asks for Santos united in the fight against relegation: "Build a team spirit"] (in Portuguese). Grupo Globo. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  23. ↑ "Capitão do Santos, Tomás Rincón volta a marcar um gol depois de dois anos" [Captain of Santos, Tomás Rincón scores again after two years]. Diário do Peixe (in Portuguese). 3 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  24. ↑ "Con un tanto de Tomás Rincón, Santos se impuso al Palmeiras en el clásico brasileño" [With a goal from Tomás Rincón, Santos prevailed against Palmeiras in the Brazilian Clasico]. La Patilla (in Spanish). 8 October 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  25. ↑ "Rincón fica no Santos FC" [Rincón stays at Santos FC]. Santos FC (in Portuguese). 16 December 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  26. ↑ "Santos renova contrato do volante Tomás Rincón; veja detalhes" [Santos renew contract of defensive midfielder Tomás Rincón; see details]. UOL Esporte (in Portuguese). 11 August 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  27. ↑ "Tomás Rincón se despede do Santos: "Foi uma grande honra"" [Tomás Rincón bids farewell from Santos: "It was a great honour"] (in Portuguese). Grupo Globo. 6 July 2026. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  28. ↑ "El histórico récord que alcanzó Tomás Rincón en la Selección de Venezuela" [The historic record achieved by Tomás Rincón in the Venezuelan National Team]. DSports (in Spanish). 27 March 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  29. 1 2 "Haedo, en el Top 10 del "mejor jugador" de la Copa". Paraguay.com (in Spanish). 20 July 2011. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  30. ↑ "Forlan brace as Uruguay win Copa". Eurosport. TNT Sports International. 25 July 2011. Archived from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  31. ↑ Osmond, Ed; Homewood, Brian; Davies, Toby (3 January 2017). "Juventus sign Venezuela captain Rincon". Reuters. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  32. ↑ "Copa America Centenario rosters". Sports Illustrated. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  33. ↑ Escudero, Simón (10 July 2016). "El presidente del Genoa afirma que Tomás Rincón no se irá". Diario AS (in Spanish). PRISA. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  34. ↑ "Late Tomas Rincon penalty clinches draw for Venezuela against Japan". ESPN FC. ESPN. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  35. ↑ "Venezuela picks only 2 home-based players for Copa America". USA Today. USA Today Co. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  36. ↑ "FVF entregó reconocimiento a Rincón por jugar 100 partidos con la Vinotinto". Balonazos (in Spanish). 15 October 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  37. ↑ Rengifo, Lisandro Abel (11 September 2025). "Figura de Venezuela renunció a la selección tras la eliminación contra Colombia: 'Espero que puedan lograrlo'" [Venezuelan star resigned from the national team after elimination against Colombia: "I hope they can achieve it"]. El Tiempo (in Spanish). Colombia. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  38. ↑ Liguori, Marco (30 July 2014). "Tomás Rincón, un angolo di felicità per il Genoa". PianetaGenoa1989.net (in Italian). Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  39. ↑ Weatherill, Anthony (14 March 2019). "Il cuore di Tomas Rincon". Toro News. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  40. ↑ "Rincon: "Juve move a dream come true"". Juventus F.C. 3 January 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  41. ↑ Giulini, Alberto (14 December 2018). "Toro, Rincon sfida Pjanic: il pressing del General per fermare il regista". Toro News (in Italian). Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  42. ↑ Abbate, Giulia (12 December 2018). "Rincon conosce i segreti di Allegri: il Toro si affida ai suoi muscoli per fermare CR7". Toro.it. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  43. ↑ "Juve, Ufficiale: Rincon al Torino". Calcio Mercato (in Italian). 11 August 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  44. ↑ De Rito, Marco (11 December 2017). "Rincon, opzione mezzala: può dare una svolta alla sua stagione". Toro News. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  45. ↑ Rzouki, Mina (7 January 2017). "Allegri and Juventus plot European improvement and Serie A dominance". ESPN FC. ESPN. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  46. ↑ Digby, Adam (1 January 2017). "Juventus Hoping Tomas Rincon Can Be the New Edgar Davids". Bleacher Report. Warner Bros. Discovery. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  47. ↑ "Tomás Rincón". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  48. ↑ "Japan vs. Venezuela". Soccerway. Platform Group. 19 November 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  49. ↑ "Samurai Blue lose final home match of the year 1-4 against Venezuela: Kirin Challenge Cup 2019". Japan Football Association. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  50. ↑ "Copa América 2011: Organização e Regulamento" [Copa América 2011: Organization and Rules]. Copa América 2011 (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 21 November 2010.
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