José Salomón Rondón Giménez (; born 16 September 1989) is a Venezuelan professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Forward (association football)#Striker, striker for Liga MX club C.F. Pachuca, Pachuca and Captain (association football), captains the Venezuela national football team, Venezuela national team. After starting out at Aragua FC, Aragua, Rondón went on to spend most of his career in Europe, appearing in La Liga with Málaga CF, Málaga, the Russian Premier League with FC Rubin Kazan, Rubin Kazan, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, Zenit Saint Petersburg (winning the 2014–15 Russian Premier League, 2015 national championship with the latter club) and PFC CSKA Moscow, CSKA Moscow, and the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion F.C., West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle United F.C., Newcastle United and Everton F.C., Everton. In 2023, he returned to the Americas, as he signed for the Argentine club River Plate, winning the Argentine Primera División title before joining a Mexican club Pachuca, four days after his departure from the club. While in Pachuca, he won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in his debut season, as well as finishing as the top scorer in the tournament. A Venezuela national football team, Venezuela international since 2008, Rondón has earned over List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps, 110 caps and is the country's List of top international men's association football goal scorers by country, all-time top goalscorer with 47 goals. He represented his country in five Copa América tournaments, helping them to fourth place in 2011 Copa América, 2011.

Club career

Aragua

Born in Caracas, Rondón's sporting idols growing up were Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer), Ronaldo and Michael Jordan. He made his debut in the Venezuelan Primera División at the age of 17, appearing for Aragua FC against Carabobo FC on 8 October 2006; on 8 April of the following year he scored his first goals for the club, in a 2–2 draw against Caracas FC.

Las Palmas

In the summer of 2008, Rondón was signed by UD Las Palmas in Spain, and made his official debut on 5 October in a 1–2 away loss against Deportivo Alavés in the Segunda División. Almost a year after his arrival, on 2 September 2009, he netted his first goal, in a Copa del Rey 2009–10 Copa del Rey, match against Cádiz CF – becoming the youngest foreign player to ever score for the club, at the age of 19 years, 11 months and 17 days – and finished 2009–10 Segunda División, the season with ten goals in 36 games, as the Canary Islands side narrowly avoided relegation.

Málaga

On 19 July 2010, Málaga CF signed Rondón for a record Euro, €3.5 million transfer fee. He scored his first goal for the Andalusians exactly two months later, in a 1–2 home defeat against Sevilla FC in La Liga. Four days later, he opened the score in a 2–0 win at Getafe CF, adding a third the following week in a 2–3 home loss to Villarreal CF. On 1 May 2011, Rondón contributed with one goal as Málaga came from behind at home to defeat Hércules CF 3–1. That was his 13th goal of 2010–11 La Liga, the campaign, with which he surpassed the record of goals from a Venezuelan footballer in the Spanish top flight previously held by Juan Arango; the team finally escaped relegation, with the player finishing as their top scorer. Rondón started 2011–12 La Liga, 2011–12 on the Substitute (association football), substitutes bench. He eventually beat competition from ageing Ruud van Nistelrooy, again finishing as Málaga's best scorer – this included goals in narrow home wins against RCD Espanyol (2–1) and Levante UD (1–0), and a brace against Rayo Vallecano (4–2 success, also at La Rosaleda Stadium).

Rubin Kazan

In August 2012, Rondón signed for Russian Premier League team FC Rubin Kazan, for a reported fee of €10 million which made him the most expensive Venezuelan player in history. He made his 2012–13 Russian Premier League, league debut on the 12th in a 2–0 home win over FC Dynamo Moscow, and he scored his first goal against FC Terek Grozny on 1 September, albeit in a 1–2 home defeat. Rondón made his first appearance in the UEFA Europa League against Inter Milan, and he scored once in a 2012–13 UEFA Europa League group stage, 2–2 group stage away draw, also playing the entire match. In the second match between the two sides he netted a brace in the final three minutes, helping his team to a 3–0 win. On 10 March 2013, following the winter break in the Russian Premier League, Rondón scored the only goal of the match as Rubin claimed a home victory over reigning champions FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. In UEFA, continental competition, he opened up the scoring in the 100th minute of the Single-elimination tournament, round-of-16 clash against Levante, latching on to a cross from Bibras Natcho as the hosts won it 2–0 in that leg and on aggregate. Rondón opened the scoring for Rubin on 19 April 2013, as they could only manage a 1–1 draw at relegation-threatened FC Amkar Perm. In the club's next league match, against PFC CSKA Moscow, he netted the first goal in a 2–0 victory over the league leaders and eventual champions. On 1 September 2013, Rondón scored a hat-trick in a 3–0 win against recently promoted FC Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast.

Zenit

On 31 January 2014, Rondón underwent a medical and joined fellow league club Zenit Saint Petersburg, signing a five-year contract for a fee in the region of £15.8 million. He played his first game for his new team on 25 February, scoring in an eventual 2013–14 UEFA Champions League, 2–1 away win against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League's round of 16-second-leg (4–5 aggregate defeat). Again as a second-half substitute, Rondón scored a rare second-half hat-trick on 6 April 2014 in a 6–2 home routing of former team Rubin. On 20 September he added another three, in a 5–0 win at FC Rostov. Rondón scored a brace at home against PSV Eindhoven on 26 February 2015, being essential in a 3–0 home victory for the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League, Europa League round of 32 and a 4–0 aggregate triumph.

West Bromwich Albion

On 10 August 2015, Rondón joined English club West Bromwich Albion F.C., West Bromwich Albion on a four-year deal for a club-record fee of £12 million. He made his debut in the Premier League five days later, replacing Craig Gardner in the 62nd minute of an eventual 0–0 away draw against Watford F.C., Watford. On 23 August, he made his first start, at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur F.C., Tottenham Hotspur-linked Saido Berahino, in a 2–3 home defeat to Chelsea F.C., Chelsea, Assist (football), assisting James Morrison (footballer), James Morrison in his first goal and later being brought down by John Terry who received a straight Ejection (sports), red card. Rondón scored his first goal for the Baggies on 29 August 2015, netting the game's only in stoppage time of the first half of the away fixture against nine-man Stoke City F.C., Stoke City. On 19 December, he was sent off at the end of a 1–2 home loss to AFC Bournemouth for thrusting his head at Dan Gosling, with teammate James McClean also dismissed in the first half; he finished 2015–16 Premier League, his first season in English football with ten goals. Rondón began the 2016–17 Premier League, 2016–17 campaign strongly, scoring the winner in the opening match win over Crystal Palace F.C., Crystal Palace, then continued his impressive form in September with goals in consecutive matches against West Ham United F.C., West Ham United and Stoke. On 21 November he netted once and provided an assist in a 4–0 victory over Burnley F.C., Burnley, and on 14 December, against Swansea City A.F.C., Swansea City, he scored his first Premier League hat-trick after netting three headers in a 3–1 win, which was only the second time this feat was achieved in the history of the competition, the first being Everton F.C., Everton's Duncan Ferguson in 1997. Rondón's goal in a 1–1 draw with Tottenham, on 25 November 2017, made him the first Venezuelan to score at either the rebuilt Wembley Stadium or the Wembley Stadium (1923), original facilities, as well as the first Albion player to score at the new ground. The following 20 January, early into the second half of the away fixture against Everton, he accidentally broke James McCarthy (footballer), James McCarthy's leg, and was reduced to tears upon realising the extent of McCarthy's injury; recalling the incident in an interview some months later also caused him to become upset.

Newcastle United

On 6 August 2018, Rondón joined Newcastle United F.C., Newcastle United on a one-year loan swap, with Dwight Gayle heading in the opposite direction. He made his debut five days later, in a 2–1 home loss against Tottenham on the opening day of 2018–19 Premier League, the season. He scored his first goal in a 3–1 EFL Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest F.C., Nottingham Forest on 29 August. Rondón opened his league account on 10 November 2018, scoring twice to help the hosts defeat Bournemouth 2–1. In the second half of the season, his partnership up front with Ayoze Pérez began to take shape and the Venezuelan often assisted the Spaniard with his goals. He also maintained a steady record in terms of goalscoring and was neck-and-neck with Pérez until the latter stages of the campaign, finishing with eleven league goals—just one behind his teammate. In May 2019, Rondón was named Newcastle's player of the year, becoming the first forward to win the award since Alan Shearer in 2003.

Dalian Professional

On 19 July 2019, Rondón signed with Dalian Professional F.C., Dalian Yifang of the Chinese Super League, reuniting with manager Rafael Benítez who had joined the club two weeks before and reportedly activated the player's release clause of £16.5 million.

CSKA Moscow

On 15 February 2021, Rondón joined Russian Premier League side PFC CSKA Moscow, CSKA Moscow on loan. In his first match at Arena CSKA, Rondón scored his first goal for the Moscow team and also gave an assist, merits that led him to be named the best player of the match. Furthermore, he was voted the best CSKA player of the month of March. Rondón ended his time at CSKA becoming one of the most valuable players in the Russian competition after participating in 37.5% of the team's goals since his arrival with four goals and two assists of the team's 16 goals in that time.

Everton

On 31 August 2021 Rondón joined Everton F.C., Everton on a free transfer, reuniting with his former Newcastle and Dalian Pro manager Rafael Benítez. He signed a two-year contract with the option for a third season. He scored his first goal for the club on 12 December against Crystal Palace F.C., Crystal Palace in a 3–1 loss at Selhurst Park. On 3 March 2022, he scored both goals in a 2–0 victory over National League (English football), National League side Boreham Wood F.C., Boreham Wood at Goodison Park in the fifth round of the FA Cup. With Jarrad Branthwaite already sent off, he was shown a red card on 15 May in a 3–2 home loss to Brentford F.C., Brentford for a foul on Rico Henry within four minutes of entering the pitch; he wrote an apology. Everton announced that Rondón had left on 16 December "with immediate effect after reaching an agreement with the club to terminate his contract".

River Plate

On 31 January 2023, Rondón signed for Club Atlético River Plate, River Plate in Argentina, on a contract until December 2025. He played 34 games overall in his first year in Buenos Aires, scoring 10 goals, one behind club top scorer Miguel Borja; the team won the Argentine Primera División 2023 Argentine Primera División, title. His tally started on 9 April with two goals in a 3–0 win at Club Atlético Huracán, and included the opener of a 2–0 victory away to Boca Juniors in the ''Superclásico'' on 1 October. On 26 December 2023, Rondón and River Plate reached an agreement to terminate the player's contract.

Pachuca

On 30 December 2023, Rondón joined Mexican club C.F. Pachuca, Pachuca. On 2 June 2024, Rondón scored 2 goals for C.F. Pachuca, Pachuca in a 3–0 win against Columbus Crew in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup final, CONCACAF Champions Cup final. He was also the tournament's top goal scorer, with 9 goals.

International career

Youth

Rondón appeared for the Venezuela national under-20 football team, Venezuela under-20 side in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, 2009 FIFA World Cup in Egypt. He scored four times during the competition – as teammate Yonathan del Valle, with both netting hat-tricks in the 8–0 group stage routing of Tahiti national football team, Tahiti – as the former managed to qualify for the Single-elimination tournament, Round of 16 stage.

Senior

Previously, on 3 February 2008, 18-year-old Rondón made his debut for Venezuela national football team, the senior team in a Exhibition game, friendly with Haiti national football team, Haiti, scoring his first goal on 23 March against El Salvador national football team, El Salvador (another exhibition match, another 1–0 win). In the 2011 Copa América in Argentina, the team came fourth and received copper medals; he scored to open a 3–3 draw with Paraguay national football team, Paraguay that saw both teams advance. Selected by manager Noel Sanvicente to the 2015 Copa América, he scored in ''La Vinotintos first game of the tournament to help defeat Colombia national football team, Colombia 1–0; later that year, he was among 15 national players who threatened to quit the team after the president of the Venezuelan Football Federation accused them of conspiring to get the manager sacked. On 5 June 2016, during the Copa América Centenario, 2016 Copa América Centenario, Rondón earned his 50th Cap (sport), cap, starting in a 1–0 group stage win against Jamaica national football team, Jamaica in Chicago. He scored the only goal of the following game against Uruguay national football team, Uruguay to become the first Venezuelan player to find the net at three tournaments, and repeated the feat in the quarter-finals, a 1–4 defeat to Argentina national football team, Argentina. On 10 June 2019, after his brace in a 3–0 friendly victory over the United States men's national soccer team, United States in Cincinnati, Rondón surpassed former holder Juan Arango to become Venezuela's all-time top scorer at 24 goals. He scored a hat-trick on 19 November in a 4–1 win over hosts Japan national football team, Japan at the 2019 Kirin Challenge Cup, and netted another treble on 28 January 2022 in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL), unsuccessful qualification campaign for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, year's World Cup, defeating Bolivia national football team, Bolivia by the same score in Barinas, Barinas, Barinas. He had missed the 2021 Copa América due to strict COVID-19 regulations in his country of residence, China. In the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL), 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match on 17 October 2023, Rondón earned his 100th cap in which he scored a goal in a 3–0 win against Chile national football team, Chile.

Career statistics

Club

International

:''Scores and results list Venezuela's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rondón goal.''

Honours

Aragua *Copa Venezuela: 2007–08 Copa Venezuela, 2007–08 Zenit Saint Petersburg *Russian Premier League: 2014–15 Russian Premier League, 2014–15 *Russian Super Cup: 2015 Russian Super Cup, 2015 River Plate *Argentine Primera División: 2023 Argentine Primera División, 2023 Pachuca * CONCACAF Champions Cup: 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, 2024 *FIFA Intercontinental Cup#Secondary trophy winners, FIFA Derby of the Americas: 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup#Derby of the Americas, 2024 *FIFA Intercontinental Cup#Secondary trophy winners, FIFA Challenger Cup: 2024_FIFA_Intercontinental_Cup#Challenger_Cup, 2024 *FIFA Intercontinental Cup runner-up: 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, 2024 ;Venezuela *Kirin Cup: 2019 Individual *Newcastle United F.C., Newcastle United Newcastle United F.C.#Player of the Year, Player of the Year: 2019 *Liga MX List of Mexican league top scorers, top scorer (Shared): 2023–24 Liga MX season#Torneo Clausura, Clausura 2024 *CONCACAF Champions Cup Golden Ball: 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup#Awards, 2024 *CONCACAF Champions Cup top scorer: 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup#Awards, 2024 *CONCACAF Champions Cup Best XI: 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup#Awards, 2024

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rondon, Salomon 1989 births Living people Footballers from Caracas Venezuelan men's footballers Men's association football forwards Venezuelan Primera División players Aragua F.C. players La Liga players Segunda División players UD Las Palmas players Málaga CF players Russian Premier League players FC Rubin Kazan players FC Zenit Saint Petersburg players PFC CSKA Moscow players Premier League players West Bromwich Albion F.C. players Newcastle United F.C. players Everton F.C. players Chinese Super League players Dalian Professional F.C. players Argentine Primera División players Club Atlético River Plate footballers Liga MX players C.F. Pachuca players Venezuela men's under-20 international footballers Venezuela men's international footballers 2011 Copa América players 2015 Copa América players Copa América Centenario players 2019 Copa América players 2024 Copa América players Venezuelan expatriate men's footballers Expatriate men's footballers in Spain Expatriate men's footballers in Russia Expatriate men's footballers in England Expatriate men's footballers in China Expatriate men's footballers in Argentina Expatriate men's footballers in Mexico Venezuelan expatriate sportspeople in Spain Venezuelan expatriate sportspeople in Russia Venezuelan expatriate sportspeople in England Venezuelan expatriate sportspeople in China Venezuelan expatriate sportspeople in Argentina Venezuelan expatriate sportspeople in Mexico FIFA Men's Century Club CONCACAF Champions Cup–winning players