Junior Colina

Last updated
Junior Colina
Personal information
Full name Junior Alexander Colina Bracho [1]
Date of birth (2006-12-09) 9 December 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela [1]
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) [1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Rio Ave
Youth career
Petroleros
2021–2023 Rayo Zuliano
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2023–2025 Rayo Zuliano 21 (3)
2025– Rio Ave 0 (0)
International career
2023 Venezuela U17 11 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:53, 21 May 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:53, 21 May 2025 (UTC)

Junior Alexander Colina Bracho (born 9 December 2006) is a Venezuelan footballer who currently plays as a forward for Portuguese club Rio Ave.

Contents

Early life

Born in Maracaibo in the Venezuelan state of Zulia and raised in the Negro Primero neighbourhood, Colina worked a number of jobs during his youth. He helped his father, a bus driver, as a fare collector on his routes, as well as selling garlic and working in stores. [2] [3]

Club career

As a child, Colina would play on local farms and dirt fields of Los Cortijos in Maracaibo, as well as in San Francisco. [4] At the age of six, [5] his father took him to a club named Petroleros, where he met former Venezuelan international footballer Freddy Elie. [3] After returning to street football, he received a call from Elie telling him to go to El Callao field the following day, where professional club Rayo Zuliano would be conducting trials. [3]

Having attended the trial, he joined the academy of Rayo Zuliano at the age of fourteen in 2021, and just a year later he was the club's top scorer in the national youth league. [6] The following year he made his professional debut, which he marked with a goal in Rayo Zuliano's 4–4 draw with Mineros de Guayana on 26 February 2023. [4]

Having long been linked with a move to Europe, Colina joined Portuguese Primera Liga club Rio Ave in January 2025. [4]

International career

Colina was first called up to the Venezuela under-17 side in March 2023. [7] He remained in the squad for the 2023 South American U-17 Championship, and scored two goals, against Argentina and Ecuador, helping his side to a fourth-place finish. [5] On his return to Venezuela following the tournament, he was greeted at La Chinita International Airport by dozens of fans, as well as youth and senior players of Rayo Zuliano. [8] [9]

Called up again to the squad for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Colina made little impact on Venezuela's unsuccessful campaign, highlighted by their 3–0 defeat to Germany, where Colina asked fans to "trust [them]", and that the squad would "bring the jersey forward for the country". [10]

Career statistics

Club

As of 19 May 2025. [11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCup [a] ContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rayo Zuliano 2023 Venezuelan Primera División 1120000112
2024 101005 [b] 000151
Total213005000263
Rio Ave 2024–25 Primeira Liga 00000000
Career total213005000263
Notes

References

  1. 1 2 3 Junior Colina at WorldFootball.net
  2. Morán, German (26 April 2023). "La joya Venezolana qué era cobrador de bus y hoy lo miran de Europa" [The Venezuelan jewel who was a bus collector and today is watched by Europeans]. elfutboler.com.ve (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Santana, Miguel (12 November 2023). "Junior Colina sigue escalando" [Junior Colina continues climbing]. santanadeportes.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Venezuela se ilusiona: el joven futbolista que continuará su carrera en Portugal" [Venezuela is excited: the young footballer will continue his career in Portugal]. directvsports.com (in Spanish). 15 January 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Junior Colina: «Los sueños se cumplen»" [Junior Colina: "Dreams come true"]. redradiove.com (in Spanish). 25 April 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  6. "Junior Colina: de Rayo a la Vinotinto" [Junior Colina: from Rayo to Vinotinto]. suresnoticia.com (in Spanish). 30 March 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  7. "Junior Colina: De Rayo Zuliano a la Selección Nacional Juvenil" [Junior Colina: From Rayo Zuliano to the National Youth Team]. redradiove.com (in Spanish). 4 March 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  8. "Rayo Zuliano desbordó de alegría para recibir al mundialista Junior Colina" [Rayo Zuliano was overjoyed to welcome World Cup player Junior Colina]. deportesdigital.com.ve (in Spanish). 26 April 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  9. "Emotivo recibimiento al mundialista Junior Colina, de Rayo Zuliano en Maracaibo" [Emotional welcome for World Cup player Junior Colina of Rayo Zuliano in Maracaibo]. notizulia.net (in Spanish). 26 April 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  10. Morán, German (18 November 2023). "Después de una aplastante derrota frente a Alemania, así lo analizó Junior Colina" [After a crushing defeat against Germany, this is how Junior Colina analyzed it]. elfutboler.com.ve (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  11. Junior Colina at Soccerway