Matías Vecino Falero (born 24 August 1991) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a central or defensive midfielder.
Club career Early career Vecino started his professional career in his native Uruguay with Central Español in 2010, before switching to Nacional for the 2011–12 season.
Fiorentina In January 2013, Vecino joined Serie A side Fiorentina by penning a four-year contract for a reported transfer fee of €2.5 million. However, the transfer was delayed and became official in the next transfer window in August 2013.
On 3 September 2013, he was not included by manager Vincenzo Montella in his UEFA Europa League squad.
Vecino made his competitive debut as well as his first Serie A one on 26 September 2013 in a 2–1 away defeat against Inter Milan. He was used very scarcely during the first part of 2013–14 season, collecting only six appearances, only one as starter, leading the club to send him on loan at fellow Serie A side Cagliari until the end of the season, with an option to buy.
Vecino spent the 2014–15 season on loan at Empoli.
In mid-2015, Vecino returned to Florence and became a member of the first team. He signed a new five-year contract in 2016.
Inter Milan On 31 July 2017, Fiorentina authorized Vecino to have a medical with Inter Milan, in order to complete a reported €24 million transfer. The transfer was made official on 2 August, with Vecino signing a contract until June 2021.
He was given squad number 11, and made his competitive debut on 20 August in the opening Serie A matchday against his former side Fiorentina, featuring for the full-90 minutes as Inter won 3–0. Vecino scored his maiden goal for the Nerazzurri six days later in the next match against Roma, netting the third goal in an eventual 3–1 away win, the club's first victory over Roma at the Stadio Olimpico for nine years.
On 20 May 2018, Vecino scored the winning goal vs Lazio, in Inter's 3–2 win, a victory which allowed the club to return to the UEFA Champions League after a six-year absence. On 18 September 2018, he scored an injury-time winning goal vs Tottenham Hotspur, in Inter's 2–1 win in the UEFA Champions League.
Lazio On 1 August 2022, Vecino joined Lazio on a free transfer, signing a three-year contract.
Celta On 2 February 2026, Vecino signed with Spanish club Celta Vigo until June 2027.
International career Vecino was born in Canelones, Uruguay, to a family of Italian ancestry, with roots in the city of Campobasso, and was eligible for both national teams. He has been capped by the Uruguay national under-20 team for the 2011 South American Youth Championship and for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup.FIFA. "FIFA Player Statistics: Matias VECINO". Retrieved on 14 May 2013. He scored the goal to help Uruguay qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.FIFA. "Uruguay end 84-year drought". 10 February 2011. Retrieved on 14 May 2013. Vecino's debut for the Uruguay senior team came on 25 March 2016 against Brazil.
In May 2018, he was named in Uruguay's provisional 26-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
On 27 May 2024, Vecino announced his retirement from the national team.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCentral Español2009–10Uruguayan Primera División9000——902010–1123200——232Total32200——322Nacional2011–12Uruguayan Primera División1330020—1532012–13510031—82Total1840051—235Fiorentina2013–14Serie A6010——702015–163021070—3822016–173132071—404Total67540141—856Cagliari (loan)2013–14Serie A9200——92Empoli (loan)2014–15Serie A36220——382Inter Milan2017–18Serie A29320——3132018–193031092—4052019–202021041—2532020–21810000—812021–22171204000231Total10410601730012713Lazio2022–23Serie A32220102—4442023–243163061104172024–252020090—2922025–2613010——140Total9610602531012813Celta2025–26La Liga60—60—120Career total368351806781045443
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsUruguay2016912017100201812120191012020002021150202291202341202411Total706
Scores and results list Uruguay's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Vecino goal.
+ International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competitionNo.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 27 May 2016 Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay 3 3–1 3–1 Friendly2 12 October 2018 Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 29 1–1 1–2 Friendly3 25 March 2019 Guangxi Sports Center, Nanning, China 33 1–0 4–0 2019 China Cup4 2 June 2022 State Farm Stadium, Glendale, United States 58 1–0 3–0 Friendly5 28 March 2023 Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea 67 2–1 2–1 Friendly6 23 March 2024 Estadio San Mamés, Bilbao, Spain 70 1–1 1–1 Friendly
Honours
Nacional Uruguayan Primera División: 2011–12
Inter Milan Serie A: 2020–21 Coppa Italia: 2021–22 Supercoppa Italiana: 2021 UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2019–20
References
External links
Profile at the SS Lazio website Profile at the Uruguayan Football Association website