Pablo Edson Barrera Acosta (born 21 June 1987) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga MX club Querétaro.[2]

Pablo Barrera
Barrera playing for West Ham United in 2010
Personal information
Full name Pablo Edson Barrera Acosta[1]
Date of birth (1987-06-21) 21 June 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Tlalnepantla, Mexico
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Querétaro
Number 8
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2010 UNAM 73 (17)
2010–2012 West Ham United 15 (0)
2011–2012Zaragoza (loan) 20 (1)
2012–2014 Cruz Azul 50 (4)
2015–2016 Monterrey 38 (3)
2016–2020 UNAM 113 (15)
2020–2021 Atlético San Luis 29 (1)
2021– Querétaro 109 (13)
International career
2007 Mexico U20 5 (2)
2008 Mexico U23 8 (0)
2007–2013 Mexico 57 (6)
Medal record
Representing  Mexico
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2009
Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2011
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 August 2024

Barrera spent the early part of his career playing for Club Universidad Nacional in Mexico, before transferring to Premier League club West Ham United. He has also spent a loan period with La Liga club Real Zaragoza.[3]

Club career

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Club Universidad Nacional

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Born in Tlalnepantla, Mexico, Barrera began his career as a midfielder for Mexico City-based club Universidad Nacional, also known as Pumas. He joined Pumas youth system at the age of 11 and worked his way through the ranks to make his debut in the Primera División in 2005.[4] He was involved in all the plays in Pumas' 8–0 victory over Veracruz.

In July 2008, Barrera had surgery to repair a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee that would sideline him for six months.[5]

In early January, Barrera came back from his injury and in his very first game back he scored a goal against Necaxa. He was a starter until manager Ricardo Ferreti put him on the bench. He scored another goal that same season against Puebla. He would help Pumas reach the final in which they faced Pachuca and scored the winning goal that gave Pumas the win in the second half of overtime. Barrera enjoyed his finest season in the Torneo Bicentenario 2010 scoring six goals in 13 games, though his season was cut short as he was called up to the Mexico national football team pre-World Cup training camp.

West Ham United

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On 16 July 2010 Barrera signed for West Ham United on a four-year contract, with a one-year option, for fee of £4m. He became West Ham's second summer signing of 2010.[6] He made his Premier League debut, on 14 August, in a 3–0 loss to Aston Villa, coming on as a second-half substitute for Luis Boa Morte.[7]

After making only six Premier League starts, scoring no goals and having zero assists, and not being able to help keep West Ham out of relegation, Barrera's first season in England was considered a "flop". It was reported during the summer 2011 transfer window that La Liga club Real Zaragoza wanted to sign Barrera, which would have re-united him with ex-Mexico national team coach Javier Aguirre.[8]

Real Zaragoza (loan)

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Barrera during his presentation in August 2011

On 25 August 2011, Barrera joined Spanish club Real Zaragoza on a season-long loan, which would reunite him with former Mexico national team manager Javier Aguirre and teammate Efraín Juárez.[9] He scored his first La Liga goal for Zaragoza in a 2–2 draw against Villarreal.[10] After the sacking of Aguirre,[11] and the appointment of Manolo Jiménez as new manager,[12] Barrera was slowly relegated to the bench.

Cruz Azul

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On 3 July 2012, Cruz Azul announced the signing of Barrera who returned to Mexico after a two-year stint in Europe.[13]

International career

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Youth

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Barrera participated at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, where he scored two goals.[14]

Senior

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Debut, 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup

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Barrera has appeared for the senior national team, making his debut in a friendly against Guatemala on 17 October 2007.[15]
He scored his first international goal against Nicaragua on 5 July 2009 at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He scored his second goal with "El Tri" in a game against Haiti national football team at the Gold Cup.

2010 FIFA World Cup

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Barrera appeared in three matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup for Mexico. Barrera made his debut in the second match against France, coming on in the 31st minute for an injured Carlos Vela. Barrera caused the second goal for Mexico when French defender Eric Abidal knocked him down in the penalty area and was given a penalty which Cuauhtémoc Blanco scored and Mexico ended up winning the match 2–0.[16]

2011 Gold Cup

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He was called up to participate in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He scored the fourth goal in the 4–1 win against Costa Rica.[17] On 25 June Barerra scored a brace against the United States in the final where Mexico won 4–2.[18][19]

Career statistics

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Club

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Updated 17 August 2012[20]

Club performance League Cup League cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Mexico League Cup League Cup North America Total
200506 UNAM Primera División 1 0 1 0
200607 5 0 5 0
200708 31 4 31 4
200809 20 3 2 0 22 3
2009–10 28 11 3 3 31 14
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2010–11 West Ham United Premier League 14 0 3 0 4 0 21 0
2011–12 Championship 1 0 1 0 2 0
Spain League Copa del Rey Supercopa de España Europe Total
2011–12 Zaragoza La Liga 20 1 20 1
Total Mexico 85 18 5 3 90 21
England 15 0 3 0 5 0 23 0
Spain 20 1 0 0 20 1
Total 120 19 3 0 5 0 5 3 133 22

International

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As of 22 June 2013[21]
National team Year Apps Goals
Mexico 2007 1 0
2008 1 0
2009 9 2
2010 17 1
2011 16 3
2012 7 0
2013 6 0
Total 57 6

International goals

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Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first.
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 5 July 2009 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, United States   Nicaragua 2–0 2–0 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2. 19 July 2009 Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, United States   Haiti 4–0 4–0
3. 24 February 2010 Candlestick Park, San Francisco, United States   Bolivia 1–0 5–0 Friendly
4. 12 June 2011 Soldier Field, Chicago, United States   Costa Rica 4–0 4–1 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
5. 25 June 2011 Rose Bowl, Pasadena, United States   United States 1–2 4–2
6. 3–2

Honours

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UNAM

Cruz Azul

Mexico

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 5 July 2007. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2013.
  2. ^ "OFICIAL: Atlético de San Luis anuncia la contratación de Pablo Barrera". goal.com. 20 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Lazio target Barrera talks up European move – Transfers – ESPN Soccernet". ESPN. 26 June 2010. Archived from the original on 1 July 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  4. ^ "Pablo Barrera: A potential Mexican star at the World Cup". IMScouting. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  5. ^ "El jugador de Pumas Pablo Barrera, tiene lesión grave en la rodilla". El Periodico de Mexico. 1 July 2008.
  6. ^ "Barrera signs". Whufc.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  7. ^ Darling, Kevin (14 August 2010). "BBC Sport – Football – Aston Villa 3–0 West Ham". BBC News. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  8. ^ "Pablo Barerra wanted by Real Zaragoza despite flop debut season". Mirror Football. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  9. ^ "Barrera loaned out". whufc.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  10. ^ "Villarreal 2–2 Zaragoza ... Gol de Pablo Barrera"[permanent dead link]. Medio Tiempo. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  11. ^ "Aguirre fuera del Zaragoza"[permanent dead link]. Récord. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  12. ^ "Manolo Jiménez, nuevo entrenador del Zaragoza". Marca. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  13. ^ "West Ham's Barrera joins Cruz Azul". ESPN. Retrieved 4 July 2012.[dead link]
  14. ^ Pablo BarreraFIFA competition record (archived)
  15. ^ "International Friendly Matches 2007". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  16. ^ "Toothless France teeters on cusp of elimination after falling to Mexico". ESPN Soccernet. Archived from the original on 19 June 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  17. ^ "Goals galore for Mexico, El Salvador" – FIFA.com
  18. ^ "Mexico repeat Gold Cup glory" – FIFA.com
  19. ^ "Mexico claim Gold Cup glory". ESPN Soccernet. 26 June 2011. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  20. ^ "Pablo Barrera stats". ESPN Deportes. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  21. ^ Pablo Barrera at National-Football-Teams.com
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