Franco Israel

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Israeland the second or maternal family name is Wibmer.

Franco Israel

Personal information
Full name	Franco Israel Wibmer [1]
Date of birth	(2000-04-22) 22 April 2000 (age 24) [2]
Place of birth	Nueva Helvecia, Uruguay
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) [3]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Sporting CP
Number	1
Youth career
2010–2016	Club Artesano
2016–2018	Nacional
2018–2020	Juventus
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2022	Juventus U23	50	(0)
2022–	Sporting CP	20	(0)
International career‡
2016–2017	Uruguay U17	6	(0)
2017	Uruguay U18	7	(0)
2018–2019	Uruguay U20	14	(0)
2023–	Uruguay	2	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing   Uruguay Copa América 2024 United States South American Games 2018 Cochabamba Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 March 2024

Franco Israel Wibmer (born 22 April 2000) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Primeira Liga club Sporting CP and the Uruguay national team.

Early life

Israel was born on 22 April 2000 in Nueva Helvecia, Colonia, Uruguay. His mother is of German descent. He has one older brother named Alec, whom he lived with during his tenure with Nacional. During his youth, Israel played basketball and football as a child, before opting for the latter, when the games of the two teams he represented began being scheduled on the same day. ^[4] Along with his native Uruguayan passport, Israel also holds an Italian passport. ^[5]

Club career

Early career

Israel started his football career in the youth ranks of local club Artesano, before joining Nacional's youth setup in 2016, moving subsequently to the city of Montevideo. ^[4]

Having impressed in Nacional's 2018 U-20 Copa Libertadores campaign, which they won, Italian club Juventus decided to sign him on 17 August 2018, on a five-year deal for a transfer worth €2.2 million. ^{[6] [7] [4]} He made his professional debut on 28 September 2020 in Juventus U23's 2–1 league win against Pro Sesto. ^[8] On 24 November, the first team's squad Andrea Pirlo called up Israel for a UEFA Champions League match against Ferencváros; he was eventually called up three other times in the 2020–21 season. ^[9]

Sporting CP

On 5 July 2022, Israel signed a five-year contract with Portuguese club Sporting CP for a fee of €650,000 for 60% of his economic rights. ^{[4] [10]} He made his competitive debut for club, on 4 October, in a Champions League away match against Marseille, where he replaced Marcus Edwards early into first half, after starting goalkeeper Antonio Adán was sent off; he conceded two goals as the match ended in a 4–1 loss. ^[11] In the reverse fixture a week later, Israel made his first start, featuring in the 2–0 home loss against the same opponent. ^[12]

International career

Israel is a former Uruguay youth international. He has represented Uruguay at several tournaments including the 2019 South American U-20 Championship and the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. ^{[13] [14]}

In June 2023, Israel received his first call-up to the senior team. ^[15] He made his debut on 14 June 2023 in a 4–1 win against Nicaragua. ^[16] In June 2024, he was named in Uruguay's 26-man squad for the 2024 Copa América. ^[17]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 10 December 2024 ^[2]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Juventus U23	2020–21	Serie C	18	0	—		—		—		2 [a]	0	20	0
	2021–22	Serie C	32	0	—		—		—		7 [b]	0	39	0
	Total		50	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	0	59	0
Sporting CP	2022–23	Primeira Liga	3	0	1	0	2	0	2 [c]	0	—		8	0
	2023–24	Primeira Liga	10	0	6	0	3	0	4 [d]	0	—		23	0
	2024–25	Primeira Liga	7	0	0	0	0	0	6 [c]	0	0	0	13	0
	Total		20	0	7	0	5	0	12	0	0	0	44	0
Career total			70	0	7	0	5	0	12	0	9	0	103	0

1. Appearances in Serie C promotion play-offs
2. One appearance in Coppa Italia Serie C, six appearances in Serie C promotion play-offs
3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
4. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 23 March 2024 ^[2]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Uruguay	2023	1	0
	2024	1 [a]	0
Total		2	0

1. Includes a Non-FIFA friendly played against Basque Country, which is counted as an official match by Uruguayan Football Association.

Honours

Nacional U20

• U-20 Copa Libertadores: 2018 ^[18]

Sporting CP

• Primeira Liga: 2023–24 ^[19]

Uruguay U20

• South American Games silver medal: 2018 ^[20]

Uruguay

• Copa América third place: 2024 ^[21]

References

1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: Uruguay" (PDF). FIFA. 13 June 2019. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2020.
2. Franco Israel at Soccerway
3. "Franco Israel". Sporting CP. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
4. "Franco Israel, o "Patón" que calça o 47, já defendeu livres de Cristiano Ronaldo e é reforço do Sporting".
5. PRZdesign. "Franco Israel". GBG Football Agency. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
6. "Nacional U20 vs. Independiente U20 - 24 February 2018" . Retrieved 28 September 2020.
7. "Juventus, preso il giovane portiere uruguaiano Franco Israel" . Retrieved 28 September 2020.
8. "Juventus II vs. Pro Sesto - 28 September 2020" . Retrieved 28 September 2020.
9. Franco Israel at Soccerway. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
10. "Franco Israel reforça baliza leonina" [Franco Israel reinforces leonine goal] (in Portuguese). Sporting CP. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
11. "Erros de Adán e Franco Israel custaram derrota do Sporting frente ao Marselha".
12. "Depois e antes do Sporting: Marselha perde em casa, Nuno Tavares titular".
13. "1 – Franco Israel – AUF" . Retrieved 28 September 2020.
14. "Datos del plantel Sub-20 de Uruguay" . Retrieved 28 September 2020.
15. "Siguen sumándose futbolistas convocados a los entrenamientos". 5 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
16. "Selección: Bielsa eligió a Matías Viña como capitán en un equipo con muchos debutantes". 14 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
17. "Uruguay presentó los 26 convocados para la Copa América, con Luis Suárez en la lista". 8 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
18. "Nacional campeón de América". 25 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
19. "Amorim's Sporting Lisbon crowned Portuguese champions". 6 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
20. "Chile 1 - 0 Uruguay" (in Spanish). 5 June 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
21. "Uruguay beats Canada on penalties to finish CONMEBOL Copa América™ in 3rd Place". 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.

External links

• Profile at the Uruguayan Football Association website (in Spanish)
• Franco Israel – UEFA competition record ( archive )