Luis Fernando Muriel Fruto

Muriel spent his early formative years in the youth system of Atlético Junior between 2001 and 2008. He then moved to Deportivo Cali, where he finished his academy training before breaking into their senior first team.

Luis Muriel began his professional career with Deportivo Cali in 2009, making an immediate impact with a brilliant hat-trick in his third match. His incredible domestic form quickly caught the attention of European scouts, leading to a transfer to Italian Serie A side Udinese in 2010. To gain valuable experience, he was subsequently loaned to Granada in Spain and Lecce in Italy, where he quickly proved his attacking worth.

His impressive performances at Lecce won him the Serie A Best Young Revelation award in 2012, cementing his status as a rising star. He eventually became a key player for Udinese before moving to Sampdoria in 2015. At Sampdoria, his link-up play and dynamic runs caught the eye of Sevilla, who signed him in 2017 for a club-record fee at the time.

After a brief stint in Spain and a loan spell at Fiorentina, Muriel found his true European home when he signed with Atalanta in 2019. Under manager Gian Piero Gasperini, he became incredibly prolific, forming one of the most exciting attacking duos in Europe alongside fellow Colombian Duván Zapata. He was celebrated for his astonishing goals-per-minute ratio, frequently scoring spectacular goals in both Serie A and the UEFA Champions League.

In early 2024, Muriel sought a new adventure and signed with Orlando City in Major League Soccer, bringing his elite finishing to the United States. He spent two seasons in MLS, providing veteran leadership and quality attacking play. Seeking to finish his career close to home, he transferred back to Colombia in January 2026, signing with Junior FC, the club where he first began his youth career.

Internationally, Muriel debuted for the Colombia senior team in 2012 and has been a staple of their attacking lineup ever since. He represented his country at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and several Copa América tournaments. His direct running and set-piece abilities have resulted in numerous vital goals for the national squad.

Luis Muriel was born and raised in Santo Tomás, a municipality in the Atlántico Department of Colombia. Growing up in a modest household, he discovered his passion for football playing on local dirt pitches before being scouted by professional academies. He remains deeply connected to his roots and frequently visits his hometown during the off-season.

He is married to Tasharem Villegas, and the couple shares a large, blended family with three children. Muriel is known for his incredibly relaxed and cheerful personality, often seen joking with teammates and maintaining a positive locker room atmosphere. He is an avid fan of Latin music and frequently shares videos of himself singing and dancing.

Muriel has also invested in several local businesses in the Atlántico region and heavily supports grassroots football initiatives. He frequently sponsors youth tournaments in Santo Tomás to provide young players with the same opportunities he had to escape poverty through sports.