Chilean · Santiago, Chile · Born 3 August 1987Fearless and fiercely competitive Chilean midfielder-defender nicknamed 'El Pitbull' for his combative style and unyielding intensity.
Gary Alexis Medel Soto was born on 3 August 1987 in Santiago, Chile, and progressed through Universidad Católica's youth academy, making his professional debut in 2006. His combative, all-action style at both centre-back and defensive midfield, combined with a notably short stature for a defender at 1.71 metres, made him one of the most distinctive players of his generation, earning the nickname "Pitbull" for his tenacious tackling. Medel moved to Argentina's Boca Juniors in 2009 before Sevilla signed him in 2011, and his consistently fierce performances in La Liga attracted Premier League interest, leading to a move to Cardiff City in 2013. He later played for Inter Milan, where he spent three seasons, followed by spells at Beşiktaş in Turkey and Bologna in Italy. Medel became renowned throughout his well-travelled career for his uncompromising, physical approach — he has received more red cards than almost any player of his generation — combined with genuine tactical intelligence that made him a trusted starter for every club and international manager he played under. Medel earned over 170 caps for Chile, becoming one of the country's most capped players and a key figure in the golden generation that won back-to-back Copa América titles in 2015 and 2016. He returned to South American football with Vasco da Gama and a second spell at Boca Juniors before rejoining his boyhood club Universidad Católica in 2025.
Captaining Chile to back-to-back Copa América victories
His simultaneous red card with Lionel Messi during the 2019 Copa América third-place match — both players sent off for a chest-to-chest confrontation — became one of the tournament's most talked-about moments.
Did You Know?How They Played
Aggressive ball-winning midfielder with strong tackling and leadership qualities
Lasting Impact
One of Chile's greatest defensive midfielders and most capped players
Career Honours
- Copa América 2015, 2016
- Europa League 2014
- Copa América 2015
- Copa América 2016
- UEFA Europa League 2014
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universidad Católica | 2006–2009 | 68 | 10 |
| Boca Juniors | 2009–2011 | 46 | 7 |
| Sevilla | 2011–2013 | 78 | 8 |
| Cardiff City | 2013–2014 | 34 | 0 |
| Inter Milan | 2014–2017 | 91 | 1 |
| Beşiktaş | 2017–2019 | 51 | 1 |
| Bologna | 2019–2023 | 96 | 0 |
| Vasco da Gama | 2023–2024 | 30 | 0 |
| Boca Juniors | 2024–2025 | 9 | 0 |
| Universidad Católica | 2025–Present | 29 | 0 |
 Chile | — | 149 | 17 |
Chilean Athletes