Samy Merheg

Samy Habib Merheg (; born 6 December 2006) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Primeira Liga club Alverca. Born in Colombia, he plays for the Lebanon national team.

Coming through the youth system, Merheg made his professional debut for Deportivo Pereira in 2024. He joined Portuguese club Braga in 2026, featuring for the reserve team before signing for Alverca later that year. Internationally, he represented Lebanon at under-16 and under-20 levels before making his senior debut in 2024.

Early life Merheg was born in Pereira, Risaralda Department, Colombia, to politician and Juliana Enciso, a politician and former volleyball player. His father is of Lebanese descent from both parents. His maternal uncle is former professional footballer Leonardo Enciso, while his paternal uncle is politician Juan Samy Merheg.

As a child, Merheg moved with his family to Bishmizzine, Koura District, Lebanon, where he attended Bishmizzine High School. He began playing football during school breaks at the age of six or seven,

Club career

Youth Encouraged by his school coach, Merheg began organised football training aged seven, before moving to their affiliated Koura Football Academy. After impressing at a youth tournament in Barcelona, He later represented In 2021, he joined VyV Mi Nuevo Tolima, scoring six goals in 10 matches for their under-15 side. He signed with Argentine club Rosario Central in 2022, He scored a brace on 27 August 2025, including a 90+5th minute winner, helping his side defeat Real Cundinamarca 4–3 in the Copa Colombia. On 18 November 2025, after scoring eight goals and providing three assists in 29 appearances during the 2025 season,

Braga B On 30 December 2025, Primeira Liga side Braga announced the signing of Merheg on a free transfer, effective from 1 January 2026; he signed a contract running until the summer of 2028, with an option for two additional seasons. Merheg was first called up on 14 January 2026 for a Taça de Portugal quarter-final against AD Fafe, remaining an unused substitute. He made his debut for the reserve team, Braga B, on 15 February 2026, starting in a Liga 3 match against AD Fafe, which ended in a 2–1 defeat. His first goals came on 22 February, scoring twice for the reserves in a 2–0 win against Marco 09. Merheg finished the 2025–26 Liga 3 season with four goals in 10 games.

Alverca After rescinding his contract with Braga by mutual agreement, Merheg signed for Alverca on 18 July 2026, ahead of the 2026–27 Primeira Liga season, on a three-year contract. As part of the agreement, Braga retained a 50% sell-on interest in the player.

International career Born in Colombia, Merheg was eligible to represent both Colombia and Lebanon at international level, as his paternal grandparents were from Lebanon. scoring in the second game on 10 November. In July 2024, he was called up to the Colombia under-20 team for a training micro-cycle. After not receiving a further call-up from Colombia, making his debut in the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification, where he played the full match in a 3–2 loss to the United Arab Emirates.

Senior Merheg received his first senior call-up to the Lebanon national team on 5 November 2024 for friendly matches against Thailand and Myanmar. He made his debut on 14 November 2024 aged , coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 0–0 draw against Thailand. Five days later, he scored his first international goals with a brace in a 3–2 victory over Myanmar. On 20 March 2025, Merheg scored another brace in a 4–0 friendly win against Timor-Leste, taking his tally to five in his first five appearances for Lebanon. He continued his scoring form in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, netting his sixth goal in six games during a 5–0 win over Brunei five days later.

Style of play Merheg is a physical striker known for his aerial ability, link-up play, and ability to find goalscoring positions.

International

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