Luis Muriel Bio
Luis Fernando Muriel Fruto, born on 16 April 1991 in Santo Tomás, Atlántico, Colombia, is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder. Standing at 1.79 m tall, Muriel began his professional career with Deportivo Cali before moving to Europe, where he built a long résumé across Italian and Spanish football. He is widely recognized for his pace, technical skill, and eye for goal.
Over the course of his career, Muriel has represented clubs such as Udinese, Granada, Lecce, Sampdoria, Sevilla, Fiorentina, Atalanta, Orlando City, and Junior. Internationally, he has played for the Colombia national team since 2012, featuring in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and several editions of the Copa América.
Early Life and Background
Luis Fernando Muriel Fruto was born and raised in Santo Tomás, a small municipality in the Atlántico department of northern Colombia. From an early age, he gravitated toward football, eventually joining the youth setup of Atlético Junior, where he spent his formative years developing his game between 2001 and 2008.
His time at Junior’s academy laid the foundation for his technical ability and tactical understanding of the sport. As a young player, Muriel admired former Brazil striker Ronaldo during his time at Inter Milan, a connection that later influenced comparisons about his playing style.
Path to Professional Soccer
In January 2009, Muriel transferred from Junior’s youth ranks to Colombian Primera A side Deportivo Cali. He made his professional debut against Envigado FC on 12 July 2009 in what would be his only appearance of that year. The following season, he broke through with nine goals in 10 appearances, including a hat-trick against Once Caldas in only his third match.
That early form earned him the nickname “the Colombian Ronaldo” and attracted the attention of European clubs. Midway through the 2010 season, he was signed by Italian Serie A side Udinese, beginning his journey in one of Europe’s top leagues.
Luis Muriel Career
Early Career (2009–2010)
Muriel’s first senior chapter at Deportivo Cali was brief but explosive. After a quiet debut season, he announced himself as one of Colombia’s brightest young talents with his nine-goal run in 10 appearances the following campaign.
His performances convinced Udinese to complete his signing on 30 May 2010 for a reported fee of €1.5 million, with Udinese obtaining 70 percent of his playing rights.
Udinese and Loans (2010–2015)
Shortly after arriving in Italy, Muriel was loaned to Spanish Segunda División side Granada, where the club earned promotion to La Liga for the first time in 35 years. Muriel, however, made only seven appearances and failed to score during that spell.
The following season, he was loaned to fellow Serie A side Lecce. Despite struggling with disciplinary issues early on, Muriel finished the campaign with seven goals in 29 appearances. Lecce were relegated to Serie B, but his form attracted interest from A.C. Milan and Internazionale. Returning to Udinese for the 2012–13 season, Muriel contributed 11 goals in 22 Serie A appearances, earning the Serie A Best Young Revelation award alongside Stephan El Shaarawy.
Sampdoria (2015–2017)
In January 2015, Sampdoria signed Muriel on a double loan deal with teammate Andrea Coda, with an obligation to purchase. He scored four times in 16 appearances during his initial loan before completing a permanent transfer. In his final season with the club, he recorded a career-best 11 league goals and five assists, prompting Sevilla to break their club transfer record to sign him.
Sevilla and Fiorentina (2017–2019)
On 11 July 2017, Sevilla announced the signing of Muriel for a reported €20 million. He debuted on 19 August in a 1–1 draw with Espanyol and scored his first goal for the club on 17 September, netting the winner in a 1–0 victory over Girona.
After a disappointing debut campaign in which he scored nine goals in 46 appearances, Muriel returned to Italy on loan with Fiorentina in January 2019. He scored six league goals and three cup goals during his time there, but the club did not sign him permanently after a change in ownership.
Atalanta (2019–2024)
On 21 June 2019, Atalanta signed Muriel permanently for a reported €18 million. In his first season, he recorded 18 league goals and helped guide the club to UEFA Champions League qualification for the first time in its history. The following season, he finished as the third top goalscorer in Serie A, behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku, with 22 league goals.
Muriel’s outstanding performances earned him a place in the 2020–21 Serie A Team of the Year. He spent five seasons with Atalanta, becoming one of the club’s most reliable attacking contributors.
Orlando City Era (2024–Present)
On 15 February 2024, Major League Soccer club Orlando City announced the signing of Muriel as a Designated Player on a three-year contract. He scored his first goals for the club on 11 May, securing a brace in a 3–2 win over Philadelphia Union, earning Team of the Matchday honors.
His first season produced only five goals and six assists across all competitions, which Muriel described as a “transition year.” His second season started strongly, and on 6 August 2025, he broke a 14-game goal drought with a first-half hat-trick against Necaxa in a 5–1 Leagues Cup win, setting a record for the fastest hat-trick in team and competition history at 11 minutes and 30 seconds. He finished the season with 12 goals and 20 total goal contributions.
Driving Style and Strengths
Muriel is regarded as a fast, creative, two-footed, and technically gifted striker with strong dribbling skills, agility, and an eye for goal. His physical build, appearance, and playing style have drawn comparisons to former Brazil striker Ronaldo. He is versatile enough to operate as a centre-forward, second striker, attacking midfielder, or winger.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Muriel’s signature achievements are his Serie A Best Young Revelation award in 2012, his inclusion in the 2020–21 Serie A Team of the Year, and his record-breaking hat-trick in the 2025 Leagues Cup. He also represented Colombia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and three editions of the Copa América.
Luis Muriel Career Wins
Luis Fernando Muriel Fruto has accumulated a respectable record of goals and appearances across multiple leagues in Europe and North America, highlighted by individual recognition in Serie A and memorable performances in cup competitions.
Club Highlights
Muriel scored 15 goals in 57 appearances for Udinese before adding 21 goals in 79 league appearances for Sampdoria. At Atalanta, he tallied 22 league goals in 2020–21, leading the team in scoring across all competitions with 26 goals.
At Orlando City, he recorded a brace on debut scoring and later set a Leagues Cup record with the fastest hat-trick in competition history during the 2025 season.
Other Performances
During his loan spells, Muriel contributed seven goals in 29 appearances for Lecce in Serie A and scored six league goals plus three cup goals for Fiorentina in the second half of the 2018–19 season.
Luis Muriel Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Muriel grew up in Santo Tomás, Atlántico, and developed his early football career through the youth academy of Atlético Junior, the club he supported as a child and would later rejoin in 2026.
Personal Life
On 4 February 2025, Muriel’s brother-in-law, Luis Fernando Ramírez Lindo, was shot and killed in Maicao. Muriel has been known to keep much of his personal life private.
2025 Season Performance
Luis Fernando Muriel Fruto entered his second season with Orlando City in 2025 with renewed focus after a difficult first year. He credited “mental work” and a better balance between on-field and off-field preparation for his improved start, tallying five goals and three assists across his first 13 appearances.
After enduring a 14-game scoring drought, Muriel produced a record-breaking performance on 6 August 2025, netting a first-half hat-trick in 11 minutes and 30 seconds during a 5–1 Leagues Cup win over Necaxa. Four days later, he scored a brace and added an assist in a 4–1 victory over Inter Miami, earning Player of the Matchday honors.
He closed the season with 12 goals and 20 total goal contributions across all competitions, marking a significant rebound and offering optimism for the remainder of his contract with Orlando City.
