Alexander Mejía

Alexander Mejía Sabalza (born 11 July 1988) is a Colombian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is described by FIFA's official website as "a linchpin noted for his ability to tidy up mistakes, rob possession and track down and pressurize opponents".

Club career Colombia Mejía made his professional debut for Deportes Quindío in 2005, where he played for seven years, including a loan spell at Once Caldas. However, as a part of the deal, he was able to stay with Nacional until after the Medellín club had finished its campaign in the Copa Libertadores.

Libertad On 29 December 2018, Mejia joined Club Libertad of Paraguay on a free transfer for two years.

International career In 2012, Mejía made his debut for the Colombia national team in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Peru. On 14 June, Mejía appeared as a sixty-ninth-minute substitute in Colombia's opening match of the tournament, a 3–0 victory over Greece in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Mejía also appeared in the following match against Ivory Coast on 19 June 2014, coming on as a substitute in the seventy-ninth minute, and seeing out a 2–1 victory in Brazil's capital, Brasília. In Colombia's third – and last – game of the Group Stage, they played against Japan. Mejía started at a defensive midfielder role alongside Fredy Guarín, playing the entire eighty-minute game. Colombia won 1–4. Mejía's last game of the 2014 World Cup came against Uruguay in the Round of 16 in the Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro on 28 June. Colombia won 2–0, and progressed to the Quarter-finals, playing against the hosts, Brazil, losing 2–1.

Season statistics

Honours Club Atlético Nacional

Categoría Primera A Winner: 2013-I, 2013-II, 2014-I

Copa Colombia Winner: 2012, 2013

Superliga Colombiana Winner: 2012

Copa Libertadores Winner: 2016