Adrián Luna

Adrián Nicolás Luna Retamar (born 12 April 1992) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters, which he captains.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Luna and the second or maternal family name is Retamar.
Adrián Luna
Luna with Kerala Blasters in 2021
Personal information
Full name Adrián Nicolás Luna Retamar
Date of birth (1992-04-12) 12 April 1992
Place of birth Tacuarembó, Uruguay
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, winger, forward
Team information
Current team
 Kerala Blasters
Number 10
Youth career
Progreso
Montevideo Wanderers
Defensor Sporting
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Defensor Sporting 38 (4)
2011–2013 Espanyol 0 (0)
2011–2012 → Gimnàstic (loan) 18 (2)
2012 → Sabadell (loan) 12 (0)
2012–2013 → Nacional (loan) 20 (3)
2013–2015 Defensor Sporting 51 (12)
2015–2019 Veracruz 89 (7)
2015–2016 → Venados (loan) 23 (5)
2019–2021 Melbourne City 49 (8)
2021– Kerala Blasters 47 (12)
International career
2009 Uruguay U17 5 (2)
2011 Uruguay U20 14 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:30, 21 October 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Youth and early career

Born in Tacuarembó, Luna began his youth career at academies of Progreso, Montevideo Wanderers and Defensor Sporting in Uruguay. He was eventually promoted to Defensor's U-19 and first team in 2010. Luna made his first team debut with Defensor Sporting, on 6 February 2010, against Nacional.[1] In the 2010–11 season Luna was a regular starter for Defensor. He played 41 matches for the Uruguayan club and scored 6 goals. On 23 May 2011, Luna signed a contract with La Liga club Espanyol, with a €1 million fee.[2]

On 17 August 2011, Luna was loaned to Segunda División club Gimnàstic.[3] However, in January 2012, Luna returned to Espanyol and signed a contract with CE Sabadell, in a six-month loan.[4] In August 2012, Luna was loaned to Club Nacional de Football, returning to his country. On 2 September 2013, his contract with Espanyol was rescinded.[5]

On 18 September 2013, he returned to Defensor and stayed at the club for two seasons.[6]

C.D. Veracruz

In September 2015, Luna moved to Mexico, where he joined Liga MX club C.D. Veracruz on a two-year deal.[7][8] On 4 September 2015, He was loaned out to Venados and represented the Mexican club for one season.[9] He returned from loan in 2016,[10] and went on to play for Veracruz in three seasons.

Melbourne City
Luna scoring goal against Western United in 2020

On 19 July 2019, Luna signed for Australian club Melbourne City on a two-year deal.[11] In July 2021, Luna left the club at the end of his contract, having scored 8 goals in 51 appearances.[12]

2021–22: Debut season
Luna in practice with Kerala Blasters in 2021

On 22 July 2021, Kerala Blasters announced that Luna had joined the Indian Super League club on a two-year deal.[13][14] He made his debut for the club on 11 September 2021 against Indian Navy in the 2021 Durand Cup tournament. Luna scored from a penalty during the match and became the club's first ever goalscorer in Durand Cup.[15] He made his first league appearance in the season opener against ATK Mohun Bagan FC on 19 November, which ended in a 4–2 defeat for Kerala Blasters.[16][17][18] He was the assist provider of the second goal scored by Jorge Pereyra Díaz for the Blasters in the game.[19] On 5 December 2021, Luna helped the Blasters to register their first victory of the season against Odisha FC by providing two assists in a match which they won 2–1, and was the recipient of the man of the match award in the game.[20][21] He was again awarded with the man of the match award in the next game against East Bengal on 12 December, which they drew 1–1.[22] Disappointed by the match officials, Luna expressed his frustration on the referees in the post-match conference.[23][24] He scored his first league goal for the Blasters' in a 0–3 victory over rivals Chennaiyin FC on 22 December, and was again awarded with the man of the match award.[25][26] On 2 January 2022, he scored his second goal in the match against FC Goa, where he scored a long-ranger from 30 yards out in a match that ended in a 2–2 draw.[27][28] After the club captain Jessel Carnerio was declared injured,[29] Luna spent much of the season as club captain in his absence. He played his first match as the captain against Odisha in the second phase of the season, where he assisted for two goals that helped Kerala Blasters to win the game 0–2 on 12 January 2022.[30][31] He scored a brace against ATK Mohun Bagan on 19 February, where he netted his first goal through a free-kick, and following from the edge of the penalty box.[32] The match in a 2–2 draw at full-time.[33] Luna scored another free-kick in the following match against Chennaiyin on 26 February, which ensured the Blasters a 3–0 victory.[34] His goal in the second leg of the semi-final match against Jamshedpur FC on 15 March sealed the Blasters a place in the final, as the Blasters won 2–1 on aggregate score, and qualified for the finals for the third time in their history.[35][36]

2022–23: Contract extension

On 22 July 2022, Luna signed a two-year contract extension with Kerala Blasters till 2024.[37]

On 7 October 2022, Luna helped the Blasters in a 3–1 victory against East Bengal in the 2022–23 season opener by scoring the first goal of the game.[38] He teared up after scoring the goal, pointed to the sky and dedicated it to his daughter Julieta, who died on 9 April 2022. "It was a special goal for me because everyone knows what I’m going through…me, my wife, family, son. This goal was for my little daughter,” Luna said after the match.[39] He scored his second goal of the season on 12 November against FC Goa, where he scored the opening goal of the match as the Blasters ended up winning the game 3–1 at full-time.[40] On 4 December, Luna surpassed the club's record of most appearances by a foreign player by making his 31st appearance for the Blasters in a 1–0 win against Jamshedpur FC,[41] where he provided the assist for Dimitrios Diamantakos.[42] Luna netted his third goal of the season in the returning fixture against Jamshedpur on 3 January 2023, where he scored a 'perfectly set-up team-goal' as the Blasters won their eighth match of the season by the score of 3–1.[43] On 7 February, Luna scored a goal and provided an assist in their 2–1 derby match win against Chennaiyin and won the hero of the match award for his two-goal contribution in the match.[44] On 29 March, the Blasters announced that Luna will not be part of their squad for the 2023 Indian Super Cup by stating that he requested to opt out from the tournament due to personal reasons.[45]

2023–24: Club captaincy

After Jessel Carneiro joined Bengaluru in May 2023, Luna became the permanent club captain ahead of the 2023–24 season. He played his first match of the season against Gokulam Kerala FC in the 2023 Durand Cup tournament on 13 August 2023, in which he scored a goal in the 75th minute but the Blasters lost the match 3–4.[46] On 20 September, the Blasters officially announced that Luna would captain the side for the upcoming season.[47] Luna scored his first goal of the league season in the season opener against Bengaluru on 21 September, where he scored the second goal for the Blasters in the 69th minute of the match, as the Blasters secured a 2–1 win over the arch-rivals.[48] On 1 October, he scored the Blasters' only goal against Jamshedpur in a 1–0 victory at home. This was also Luna's 12th goal for the club in the Indian Super League and he also surpassed C. K. Vineeth's record to become the second top goalscorer for the club in the league.[49] On 8 October, Luna made his 50th appearance for the club in a 2–1 loss against Mumbai City, and became the first foreign player in Kerala Blasters' history to make 50 appearances for the club.[50]

International career
Luna (jersey number 7) lining up with teammates of Uruguay U-20 in August 2011

Luna has been capped by the Uruguay national under-17 football team for the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He has also represented Uruguay national under-20 football team for the 2011 South American Youth Championship and the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He has totally made 19 appearances across both the age groups.[51]

Style of play

A versatile player, Luna plays mainly as a attacking midfielder, but can also operate in several other positions and has been used as a left winger or second striker.[52] He has even been deployed in a deeper creative midfield position and on occasion, a box-to-box role or as a false 9.[53] Considered as one of the best players in the history of Indian Super League, he is known for his technique, work-rate off the ball, vision and wide range of passing.[54] In addition to his footballing attributes, Luna has been regarded for his leadership, determination, and influence on the pitch during his time with Kerala Blasters.[55][56]

Personal life

On 4 July 2022, Luna revealed through social media that his six-year-old daughter Julieta died on 9 April 2022 after a battle with cystic fibrosis.[57] In August 2022, Luna married his long-time girlfriend Mariana Hernandez.[58]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 1 October 2023[59]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Defensor Sporting 2009–10 Primera División 130———130
2010–11 Primera División 254—5[lower-alpha 1]2—306
Total 384—52—436
Espanyol 2011–12 La Liga 0000——00
2012–13 La Liga 0000——00
Total 0000——00
Gimnàstic Tarragona (loan) 2011–12 Segunda División 18210——192
Sabadell (loan) 2011–12 Segunda División 12000——120
Nacional 2012–13 Primera División 203—4[lower-alpha 2]1—244
Defensor Sporting 2013–14 Primera División 214—7[lower-alpha 3]1—285
2014–15 Primera División 287—1[lower-alpha 1]0—297
2015–16 Primera División 21———21
Total 5112—81—5913
Venados (loan) 2015–16 Ascenso MX 23530——265
Veracruz 2016–17 Liga MX 27261—1[lower-alpha 4]0343
2017–18 Liga MX 33420——354
2018–19 Liga MX 29140——331
Total 897121——1028
Melbourne City 2019–20 A-League 25550——305
2020–21 A-League 24300——243
Total 49850——548
Kerala Blasters 2021–22 Indian Super League 236——2[lower-alpha 5]1257
2022–23 Indian Super League 20400—00204
2023–24 Indian Super League 2200—2[lower-alpha 5]143
Total 451200—424914
Career total 345532111745238860
  1. Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
  2. Two appearances and one goal in Copa Sudamericana, 2 appearances in Copa Libertadores
  3. Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
  4. Appearance(s) in Supercopa MX
  5. Appearance(s) in Durand Cup

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[60]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Uruguay U17 200952
Uruguay U20 2011147
Total199

Scores and results list Uruguay's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Luna goal.

List of youth international goals scored by Adrián Luna
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
129 October 2009Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, Nigeria Algeria1–02–02009 FIFA U-17 World Cup[61]
29 November 2009Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, Nigeria Spain1–03–32009 FIFA U-17 World Cup[62]
31 October 2010Estadio Campeones Olímpicos, Florida, Uruguay Chile1–05–0Friendly[63]
422 January 2011Estadio Monumental Virgen de Chapi, Arequipa, Peru Chile3–04–02011 South American U-20 Championship[64]
531 January 2011Estadio Monumental Virgen de Chapi, Arequipa, Peru Colombia1–01–02011 South American U-20 Championship[65]
66 February 2011Estadio Monumental Virgen de Chapi, Arequipa, Peru Chile1–01–02011 South American U-20 Championship[66]
711 July 2011Complejo Uruguay Celeste, Colonia Nicolich, Uruguay Guatemala2–07–0Friendly[67]
84–0
93 August 2011Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero, Cali, Colombia New Zealand1–11–12011 FIFA U-20 World Cup[68]

Honours

Melbourne City

Kerala Blasters

Individual

References
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  2. Official: Espanyol sign Juan Angel Albin & Adrian Luna Archived 26 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine Goal.com
  3. Luna llega cedido hasta Junio (Luna arrives on loan until June) Archived 29 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine; Gimnàstic de Tarragona, 17 August 2011 (in Spanish)
  4. Adrián Luna, nou jugador del CE Sabadell (Adrián Luna, CE Sabadell's new player); CE Sabadell, 30 January 2012 (in Catalan)
  5. "Inside Spanish Football's 2013 Summer Transfer Centre". InsideSpanishFootball. 2 July 2013. Archived from the original on 8 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
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  56. "ലൂണയ്ക്ക് പുതിയ റോൾ, ഇനി കേരള ബ്ലാസ്റ്റേഴ്സിന്റെ കളി മാറും, വൻ കുതിപ്പ് കാണാം..." Samayam Malayalam (in Malayalam). Retrieved 2 October 2023.
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  59. Adrián Luna at Soccerway
  60. Adrián Luna at Soccerway
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  65. "Uruguay U20 vs. Colombia U20 - 31 January 2011 - Soccerway". Soccerway. Perform Group.
  66. "Uruguay U20 vs. Chile U20 - 6 February 2011 - Soccerway". Soccerway. Perform Group.
  67. "Uruguay U20 vs Guatemala U20 free live score and video stream(2011/07/11) - AiScore". AiScore. OneScore.
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  70. Kerala Blasters FC [@KeralaBlasters] (29 March 2022). "The fans have spoken 🙌 Our Uruguayan Magician, our EXCHANGE22 KBFC Fans' Player of the Season! 💛" (Tweet). Retrieved 30 March 2022 – via Twitter.
  71. Kerala Blasters FC [@KeralaBlasters] (10 March 2023). "𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸-𝘁𝗼-𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲! 🪄⚽ Luna is our 1xBat SportingLines Fans' Player of the Season for the second year running! 👏" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 March 2023 – via Twitter.
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