Samy Habib Merheg[note 1] (Arabic: سامي حبيب مرهج; born 6 December 2006) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-forward for Colombian club Deportivo Pereira. Born in Colombia, he plays for the Lebanon national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Samy Habib Merheg[1] | ||
| Birth name | Samy Jr. Merheg Enciso[2] | ||
| Date of birth | 6 December 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Pereira, Colombia[1] | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Deportivo Pereira | ||
| Number | 38 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Koura Football Academy | |||
| Tecnofútbol | |||
| 2021 | Mi Nuevo Tolima | ||
| 2022 | Rosario Central | ||
| 2023–2024 | Deportivo Pereira | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024– | Deportivo Pereira | 3 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | Lebanon U16 | 1 | (0) |
| 2024– | Lebanon U20 | 1 | (0) |
| 2024– | Lebanon | 2 | (2) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 October 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2024 | |||
Early and personal life
editMerheg was born in Pereira in the Risaralda Department of Colombia to businessman Habib Merheg and Juliana Enciso, a politician who also played volleyball at a high level.[3][4] His maternal uncle is former professional footballer Leonardo Enciso, while his paternal uncle is politician Juan Samy Merheg.[4][5]
Club career
editAs a child, Merheg played football in Lebanon and Spain, playing for Koura Football Academy and Tecnofútbol, respectively.[6][7] Having represented the Risaralda Department in both 2019 and 2020,[8] he scored six goals in ten games in the 2021 under-15 National Championship for Ibagué-based VyV (Vargas y Virviescas) Mi Nuevo Tolima.[9]
Despite signing with Argentinian side Rosario Central in 2022,[3] Merheg was unable to register with the club in AFA-affiliated competitions, and returned to Colombia the following year, joining Deportivo Pereira.[8] On 17 February 2024, he made his professional debut, starting and playing 58 minutes in a 1–0 win against Santa Fe, before being replaced by Andrés Ibargüen.[4]
International career
editMerheg is eligible to represent both Colombia and Lebanon at international level, due to his father having parents from the latter. He represented the Lebanese under-16 side in a friendly match against Malta in November 2022.[10]
In July 2024, he was called up to the Colombia under-20 side for a micro-cycle.[11] The following month he was called up to the Lebanon under-20 side for the first time.[12] He made his debut in 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification, playing 90 minutes in a 3–2 loss to the United Arab Emirates.[13]
Merheg was first called up to the Lebanon senior side on 5 November 2024, for friendly games against Thailand and Myanmar.[14] He made his debut on 14 November 2024, aged 17 years, 344 days, as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 0–0 friendly draw against Thailand.[15] Against Myanmar on 19 November, Merheg scored his first international goals with a brace, securing a 3–2 win for Lebanon.[16]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 21 October 2024[17]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Deportivo Pereira | 2024 | Categoría Primera A | 3 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Career total | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
- Notes
- ^ Appearances in the Copa Colombia
International
edit- As of match played 19 November 2024[18]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon | 2024 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 2 | 2 | |
- Scores and results list Lebanon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Merheg goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 June 2021 | Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar |  Myanmar
|
2–2 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 2 | 3–2 |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ In Colombia, his full name is Samy Jr. Merheg Enciso.
References
edit- ^ a b "Samy Merheg". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ a b Samy Merheg at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b Rodríguez Hernández, Alvaro (8 April 2022). "Pereirano fichado por el club argentino Rosario Central" [Pereirano signed by Argentine club Rosario Central]. eje21.com.co (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ a b c "Samy Merheg con sangre de deportista" [Samy Merheg with athlete's blood]. deportivopereira.com.co (in Spanish). 17 February 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Parra Cuenca, Daniel (22 May 2024). "El delantero de paso por América y Selección Colombia que le da empleo a 120 personas" [The forward who passed through América and the Colombian National Team and who employs 120 people]. noticiascaracol.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "El Cadete A golea antes de viajar a Dubai" [The Cadet A team scores a goal before travelling to Dubai]. fcbarcelona.es (in Spanish). 13 March 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "يواجه منتخب طاجيكستان اليوم: انطلاقة جديدة للبنان بعنوان التغيير" [Tajikistan national team faces today: A new start for Lebanon under the title of change]. al-akhbar.com (in Arabic). 4 September 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ a b Campo, Hugo (20 February 2024). "Samy Merheg Enciso: debut profesional recién cumplidos los 17 años" [Samy Merheg Enciso: professional debut just after turning 17]. blogdelasestadisticas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Campo, Hugo (1 August 2023). "'Profe' Restrepo… atrévase con Samy Merheg y Enmanuel Marín" ['Profe' Restrepo… dares with Samy Merheg and Enmanuel Marín.]. blogdelasestadisticas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "فوز منتخب الناشئين على نظيره المالطي في الوديّة الأولى ضمن معسكره الخارجي" [The junior team defeated its Maltese counterpart in the first friendly match within its external camp]. alkalimaonline.com (in Arabic). 9 November 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Convocatoria de la Selección Colombia Masculina Sub 20 para microciclo de trabajo – julio 2024" [Call-up of the Colombian Men's Under-20 Team for a work microcycle – July 2024]. fcf.com.co (in Spanish). 15 July 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Arbelaez, Gustavo (24 August 2024). "Jugador de la Liga BetPlay fue convocado por exótica selección asiática; irá a microciclo" [BetPlay League player was called up by exotic Asian team; he will go to microcycle]. pulzo.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "لبنان يخسر أمام الإمارات 3-2 في تصفيات كأس آسيا للشباب" [Lebanon loses to UAE 3-2 in AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers]. the-lfa.com.lb (in Arabic). 21 September 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ منتخب لبنان يستعيد حضوره الدولي و٣ مغتربين جدد ينضمون اليه [Lebanon national team regains its international presence and three new expatriates join it] (in Arabic). Lebanese Football Association. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ "Match Report of Thailand vs Lebanon". Global Sports Archive. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Match Report of Myanmar vs Lebanon". Global Sports Archive. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Samy Merheg at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ "Samy Merheg". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
External links
edit- Samy Merheg at National-Football-Teams.com