Cristian Lema Explained

Cristian Lema
Full Name:Cristian Franco Lema
Height:1.91 m[1]
Birth Date:24 March 1990
Birth Place:Puerto Madryn, Argentina
Currentclub:Boca Juniors
Clubnumber:2
Position:Centre-back
Youthyears1:1998–2009
Youthclubs1:Guillermo Brown
Years1:2007–2009
Clubs1:Guillermo Brown
Years2:2010–2012
Clubs2:Newell's Old Boys
Caps2:12
Goals2:0
Years3:2011–2012
Clubs3:Tigre (loan)
Caps3:8
Goals3:0
Years4:2012–2014
Clubs4:Quilmes
Caps4:38
Goals4:2
Years5:2014–2018
Clubs5:Belgrano
Caps5:106
Goals5:16
Years6:2018–2020
Clubs6:Benfica
Caps6:1
Goals6:0
Years7:2019
Clubs7:Peñarol (loan)
Caps7:13
Goals7:2
Years8:2019–2020
Clubs8:Newell's Old Boys (loan)
Caps8:22
Goals8:5
Years9:2020
Clubs9:Damac
Caps9:11
Goals9:0
Years10:2021–2022
Clubs10:Newell's Old Boys
Caps10:57
Goals10:3
Years11:2023–2024
Clubs11:Lanús
Caps11:37
Goals11:1
Years12:2024–
Clubs12:Boca Juniors
Caps12:15
Goals12:0
Club-Update:20:37, 6 May 2024 (UTC)

Cristian Franco Lema (born 24 March 1990) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Boca Juniors.

Club career

Born in Puerto Madryn, Lema started his football career aged 8 at hometown club Guillermo Brown. He debuted for their senior team in 2007 and left the club in 2009.[2]

A year later, Lema joined Newell's Old Boys and made his Argentine Primera División debut in a 0–0 home draw to Godoy Cruz in November.[2] After playing 12 matches with the former side, he moved on loan to Tigre in June 2011,[2] and there he played 11 matches, scoring one goal.[2] In July 2012, aged 22, he transferred to Quilmes,[2] with whom he would play 40 matches and score 2 goals before moving to Belgrano in 2014.[2] In his four-year spell with the latter, he became the club's defender with the most league goals ever, 16 in 123 matches. Moreover, he debuted in Copa Sudamericana in 2015.[2]

In June 2018, Lema moved to Portugal and signed a five-year contract with S.L. Benfica.[3] In February 2019, after playing only two matches for the Lisbon side in October, he was loaned to Uruguayan club Peñarol until June 2019, with option to buy.[4] Afterwards, he was loaned out to Newell's Old Boys for 2019–20.[5] He left Benfica on 1 October 2020 to join Saudi Arabian club Damac FC.[6]

On 18 February 2021, Lema returned to Newell's Old Boys, and signed a contract until December 2021.[7]

In November 2022, Lema joined fellow Primera División club Lanús ahead of the 2023 season.[8]

On 8 January 2024, Lema moved to Boca Juniors for a reported fee of $500.000, signing a two-year contract.[9]

Career statistics

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Newell's Old Boys2010–11Argentine Primera División120120
Tigre (loan)2011–12Argentine Primera División803100111
Quilmes2012–13Argentine Primera División15020170
2013–14Argentine Primera División23200232
Total38220402
Belgrano2014Argentine Primera División180180
2015Argentine Primera División2821020312
2016Argentine Primera División1435040233
2016–17Argentine Primera División21320233
2017–18Argentine Primera División25800258
Total10616806012016
Benfica2018–19Primeira Liga10001020
Peñarol (loan)2019Uruguayan Primera División13271203
Newell's Old Boys (loan)2019–20Argentine Primera División22500225
Damac2020–21Saudi Pro League11000110
Newell's Old Boys2021Argentine Primera División2811040331
2022Argentine Primera División29211303
Total5732140634
Lanús2023Argentine Primera División37121392
Boca Juniors2024Argentine Primera División000000
Career total3052917318134033

Honours

Benfica

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cristian Lema . es . Universitario de Deportes . 28 September 2022.
  2. News: Rebelo. Marco. 22 June 2018. Perfil de Lema. Lema profile. pt. S.L. Benfica. 23 June 2018.
  3. News: Garcia. Filipa Fernandes. 22 June 2018. Welcome, Lema!. S.L. Benfica. 23 June 2018.
  4. News: 7 February 2019. Oficial: Lema no Peñarol com opção de compra. Official: Lema at Peñarol with option to buy. pt. A Bola. 8 February 2019.
  5. News: 10 July 2019. Futebol: Lema emprestado. Football: Lema loaned out. pt. S.L. Benfica. 11 July 2019.
  6. https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/benfica/detalhe/benfica-formaliza-saida-de-lema Benfica formaliza saída de Lema
  7. Web site: February 18, 2021. Cristian Lema regresa al Parque - Noticias CANOB. Cristian Lema returns to the Park. live. 2021-02-18. Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys Official Website. es. https://web.archive.org/web/20010517033302/http://www.newellsoldboys.com.ar:80/ . 2001-05-17 .
  8. Web site: 18 November 2022 . Cristian Lema, el primer refuerzo para Lanús . Cristian Lema, the first reinforcement for Lanús . 20 December 2023 . Olé . es.
  9. Web site: 8 January 2024 . ¡Última hora! Boca anuncia la llegada de Cristian Lema . Breaking news! Boca announced the arrival of Cristian Lema . 8 January 2024 . OneFootball . es.
  10. Web site: São estes os campeões nacionais pelo Benfica em 2018/19. 18 May 2019. Record. pt. These are the national champions for Benfica in 2018–19. 24 October 2019.