Player Details

Name

Carlos Vela

Pronunciation

Veh-lah

Height

5' 10"

Weight

170 lbs

Date of Birth

3.1.1989 (35)

Birthplace

Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Position

Forward

Footedness

Left

Roster Category

Senior
Career Summary

ACQUIRED  

Signed with the Club in Aug. 2017 as the first Designated Player in Club History.  

CAREER MILESTONES  

  • MLS Supporters’ Shield Winner: 2019  
  • Landon Donovan MLS MVP: 2019  
  • MLS Golden Boot: 2019  
  • MLS Records: Most Goals By One Player In A Season (2019, 34); Most Goals / Assists By One Player In A Season (2019, 34 / 15); Most Goals By A Duo In A Season (2019, Carlos Vela / Diego Rossi, 50); Fastest Player To Score 20 Goals (2019, 21 Games); Most Goals Scored By Mexican Player (MLS Career)(2019, 48)  
  • MLS Best XI: 2018, 2019  
  • MLS All-Star: 2018, 2019  
  • MLS Player of the Month: 2019, Mar., Apr., Sept./Oct.  
  • MLS Player of the Week: 2018 Week 33; 2019 Weeks two, five, 18, 25, 30, 31  
  • MLS Team of the Week: 2018Weeks two, five, seven, eight, 27, 33; 2019 Weeks two, three, five, six, seven, eight, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 21, 23, 25, 30, 31 ; 2020, Week 1 
  • Gold Cup Winner: 2009, 2015  
  • CONCACAF Cup Winner: 2015  
  • Real Sociedad Player of the Year: 2011-12, 2013-14  
  • La Liga Player of the Month: Dec. 2013, Nov. 2014  
  • FIFA U-17 World Cup Winner: 2005  
  • FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Boot: 2005  

PROFESSIONAL  

2020 (Los Angeles Football Club): 

  • Appeared in seven matches, starting four for a total of 332 minutes.  
  • Scored four goals and added an assist. 
  • Suffered Grade 2 MCL injury in his left knee in the 56th minute of LAFC's 2-0 loss to the Galaxy on August 22. Returned on October 25 in 2-0 loss to the Galaxy.  
  • Earned MLS Team of the Week honors for week 1. 
  • Played 90’ at forward during 1-1 draw vs. POR on 11/8; tallied fourth goal of season. 

2019 (Los Angeles Football Club):  

  • Made 31 regular season starts, capturing all-time MLS records in goals scored (34), most goals and assists by one player in a season (34 / 15), in 2,726’ minutes played.  
  • Started both MLS Cup Playoff matches, tallying two goals and one assist in the 5-3 Western Conference Semifinal win vs. the LA Galaxy on October 24.  
  • Set a number of MLS single season records including: most goals by one player in a season (2019, 34); most goals / assists by one player in a season (2019, 34 / 15); most goals by a duo in a season (2019, Carlos Vela / Diego Rossi, 50); fastest player to score 20 goals (2019, 21 games); most goals scored by Mexican player (MLS career)(2019, 48).  
  • Had two hat tricks, first in the 5-0 win against the San Jose Earthquakes on March 30; second against the Colorado Rapids in the last game of the regular season, a 3-1 win on October 6 where he broke the goal-scoring record.  
  • Had seven multi-goal games.  
  • Started three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches, adding two goals and an assist.  
  • Earned the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award.  
  • Earned the MLS Golden Boot award.  
  • MLS All-Star Game Fan XI and named MLS All-Star Captain for second straight year.  
  • Earned MLS Player of the Month honors in March, April and September/October.  
  • Earned MLS Player of the Week honors inweeks two, five, 18, 25, 30, 31.  
  • Earned MLS Team of the Week honors in weeks two, three, five, six, seven, eight, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 21, 23, 25, 30, 31.  

2018 (Los Angeles Football Club)  

  • Started 26 of 28 regular season appearances, scoring 14 goals and adding 13 assists (2,378 total minutes played).  
  • Tallied first MLS goal in 5-1 win at Real Salt Lake on March 10.  
  • Named to MLS Team of the Week (Weeks 2, 5, 7, 8, 27, 33); Player of the Week (Week 33).  
  • Named to 2018 MLS All-Star Team and voted as 2018 All-Star Team Captain.  
  • Appeared in two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches, earning a goal and five shots.  
  • Started the Club’s first ever playoff game, a 2 -3 loss to Real Salt Lake on November 1, adding an assist and five shots.  

2016 - 17 (*Real Sociedad, La Liga):   

Started 35 games, scoring 10 goals and two assists across all competitions.   * On April 10, 2017 made his debut appearance for Real Sociedad, the second most appearances for a foreign player with 200, behind only Darko Kovacevic.    * Scored the third goal in his final game for Real Sociedad (Dec. 20) in a 3-1 victory over La Liga Club.   

2015 - 16 (*Real Sociedad, La Liga):   

Started 32 games, scoring 5 goals and 4 assists across all competitions.  

2014 - 15 (*Real Sociedad, La Liga):   

Appeared in 30 matches (24 starts), scoring 10 goals with four assists across all competitions.   * Won La Liga Player of the Month for December 2014.   * Did not play from Jan 31st to March 22nd as a result of a knee injury.  

2013 - 14 (*Real Sociedad, La Liga):   

Appeared in 50 matches (45 starts) including six Champions League matches, scoring 19 goals and 12 assists across all competitions.   * Scored two goals to ensure Real Sociedad’s advancement to the Champions League Group Stage against Olympique Lyonnais, La Real’s first group stage appearance in 10 years.    * Scored two goals vs. Celta Vigo at home on Nov. 23, 2013.  

2012 - 13 (*Real Sociedad, La Liga):   

Officially transferred to Real Sociedad, joining the La Liga club in July, 2012.   * Appeared in 36 matches (32 starts), scoring 14 goals and nine assists across all competitions.  

2011 - 12 (Real Sociedad, La Liga):  

  • Loaned from Arsenal to Real Sociedad of Spain’s La Liga, joining the club in August, 2011.  
  • Started 29 matches, scoring 12 goals and 7 assists across all competitions for Real Sociedad.  

2010 - 11 (Arsenal, English Premier League / West Bromwich Albion, English Premier League):  

  • Appeared in 11 matches for Arsenalbefore joining West Bromwich Albion FC in February, 2011 on loan until the end of the 2010-2011 season.  
  • Scored his first goal in his third match for West Brom with a 92nd minute equalizer against the Wolverhampton Wanderers.  

2009 - 10 (Arsenal, English Premier League):  

  • Ankle injury kept him sidelined until September.  
  • Started eight matches, scoring two goals and five assists across all competitions.  

2008 - 09 (Arsenal, English Premier League):   

  • Made his competitive debut for Arsenal on August 30, 2008 against Newcastle.  
  • In his first career start with the Club (September, 23 2008), Vela scored a hat-trick in 6-0 win against Sheffield United in the League Cup (the second goal was voted as one of Arsenal’s 50 greatest goals).  
  • Finished the season with six goals, four assists, and 29 appearances across all competitions.  

2007 - 08 (Osasuna, La Liga):   

  • Loaned by Salamanaca to La Liga club Osasuna.  
  • Appeared in 33 matches (21 starts), registering three goals and four assists.  

2006 - 07 (Salamanca, Spanish Segunda División):   

  • Loaned to Spanish Segunda División club Salamanca from Arsenal.  
  • Scored eight goals in 31 appearances.   

2005 - 06 (Chivas Guadalajara, Liga MX / Celta Vigo, La Liga):  

  • Began his professional career with Chivas Guadalajara after being signed from the club’s youth system.  
  • Signed a five-year deal with Arsenal of the Premier League and was then loaned to Celta de Vigo of Spain’s La Liga.  

INTERNATIONAL  

  • Started 6 of 6 appearances with the Mexican National team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.  
  • Scored one goal in the 2-1 victory in the group stage match versus South Korea. (total of 315 minutes played  
  • Played eight matches for the Mexico U-17 National Team, scoring five goals to en route to winning the tournament as well as the Golden Boot at the U-17 FIFA World Cup in 2005.  
  • Overall, has appeared in 72 matches, scoring 19 goals and adding nine assists across all competitions for the Mexican National Team.  

PERSONAL  

  • Dedicated his U-17 World Cup Golden Boot Award to his father, as the winning game was on his father’s birthday.  
  • Favorite sport other than soccer is basketball.  
  • Has an older brother, Alejandro Vela, who plays for Venados FC Yucatán of the Mexican second division.  
  • Favorite food is Pizza.  
  • He and wife Saioa, welcomed son Romeo in 2016.  
  • Follow Carlos on Twitter @11carlosV and Instagram @carlosv11_