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Franco Israel
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Franco Israel Wibmer (born 22 April 2000) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Torino and the Uruguay national team.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Israel was born on 22 April 2000 in Nueva Helvecia, a city in the Colonia Department of Uruguay. He is of maternal German descent, whereas his father's side is of Italian heritage, tracing his ancestry to Bobbio Pellice, a comune in the Piedmont region.[4] Along with his native Uruguayan passport, Israel also holds an Italian passport.[5] Israel has one older brother, 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.[6]
Club career
[edit]Early career
[edit]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.[6]
Juventus U23
[edit]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.[7][8][6] He made his professional debut on 28 September 2020 in Juventus U23's 2–1 league win against Pro Sesto.[9] 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.[10]
Sporting CP
[edit]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.[6][11] 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.[12] In the reverse fixture a week later, Israel made his first start, featuring in the 2–0 home loss against the same opponent.[13]
Torino
[edit]On 27 July 2025, Israel joined Serie A club Torino on a three-year contract.[14]
International career
[edit]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.[15][16]
In June 2023, Israel received his first call-up to the senior team.[17] He made his debut on 14 June 2023 in a 4–1 win against Nicaragua.[18] In June 2024, he was named in Uruguay's 26-man squad for the 2024 Copa América.[19]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of match played 25 August 2025[2]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | 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[b] | 0 | 20 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22 | Serie C | 32 | 0 | — | — | — | 7[c] | 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[d] | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4[e] | 0 | — | 23 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | Primeira Liga | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8[d] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| Total | 24 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 0 | ||
| Torino | 2025–26 | Serie A | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 75 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 114 | 0 | ||
- ^ Includes Taça de Portugal, Coppa Italia
- ^ Appearances in Serie C promotion play-offs
- ^ One appearance in Coppa Italia Serie C, six appearances in Serie C promotion play-offs
- ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
International
[edit]- As of match played 13 October 2025[2]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uruguay | 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1[a] | 0 | |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 3 | 0 | |
- ^ Includes a Non-FIFA friendly played against Basque Country, which is counted as an official match by Uruguayan Football Association.
Honours
[edit]Nacional U20
Sporting CP
Uruguay U20
- South American Games silver medal: 2018[24]
Uruguay
- Copa América third place: 2024[25]
References
[edit]- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c Franco Israel at Soccerway
- ^ "Franco Israel". Sporting CP. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Calcio: Israel 'avevo altre offerte, ma volevo solo il Torino'". Quotidiano Sportivo (in Italian). 5 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ^ PRZdesign. "Franco Israel". GBG Football Agency. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Franco Israel, o "Patón" que calça o 47, já defendeu livres de Cristiano Ronaldo e é reforço do Sporting".
- ^ "Nacional U20 vs. Independiente U20 - 24 February 2018". Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ "Juventus, preso il giovane portiere uruguaiano Franco Israel". Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ "Juventus II vs. Pro Sesto - 28 September 2020". Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ Franco Israel at Soccerway. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ "Franco Israel reforça baliza leonina" [Franco Israel reinforces leonine goal] (in Portuguese). Sporting CP. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
- ^ "Erros de Adán e Franco Israel custaram derrota do Sporting frente ao Marselha".
- ^ "Depois e antes do Sporting: Marselha perde em casa, Nuno Tavares titular".
- ^ "Oficial: Franco Israel deixa Sporting e é reforço do Torino" (in Portuguese). 27 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ "1 – Franco Israel – AUF". Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ "Datos del plantel Sub-20 de Uruguay". Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ "Siguen sumándose futbolistas convocados a los entrenamientos". 5 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
- ^ "Selección: Bielsa eligió a Matías Viña como capitán en un equipo con muchos debutantes". 14 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
- ^ "Uruguay presentó los 26 convocados para la Copa América, con Luis Suárez en la lista". 8 June 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ "Nacional campeón de América". 25 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ "Amorim's Sporting Lisbon crowned Portuguese champions". 6 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ "Sporting beat Vitoria to clinch Portuguese title". Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ^ "Sporting CP Wins 2025 Taça de Portugal After Extra-Time Thriller vs Benfica". Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ "Chile 1 – 0 Uruguay" (in Spanish). 5 June 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "Uruguay beats Canada on penalties to finish CONMEBOL Copa América™ in 3rd Place". 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
External links
[edit]- Profile at the Uruguayan Football Association website (in Spanish)
- Franco Israel – UEFA competition record (archive)
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Franco Israel
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early years
Early life
Franco Israel Wibmer was born on 22 April 2000 in Nueva Helvecia, a small town in the Colonia Department of Uruguay.[11] Growing up in this rural community, known for its Swiss heritage and agricultural surroundings, Israel experienced a close-knit environment that shaped his early years.[12] He holds dual citizenship in Uruguay and Italy, reflecting his family's Italian roots on his father's side, which allowed him to obtain an Italian passport.[11] Israel spent much of his childhood alternating between Nueva Helvecia and Montevideo, where he lived with his older brother Alec, who is two years his senior.[12] His father later joined him abroad during his professional development. During his early years, Israel showed talent in multiple sports, participating in both basketball and baby football at local club Lucerna in Nueva Helvecia.[12] He excelled in these activities but faced scheduling conflicts, as his basketball commitments with teams like Plaza and Hebraica Macabi often clashed with football matches on Sundays. Ultimately, he decided to focus on football professionally, recognizing its growing importance in his life and the opportunities it presented in the small-town setting.[12] This choice was influenced by the supportive local sports culture in Nueva Helvecia, where community clubs provided initial exposure to organized play.Youth career
Israel began his youth football career at age 10 with Club Artesano in Nueva Helvecia, Uruguay, joining the local club in January 2010 and remaining there until December 2016.[1] During this period, he developed his goalkeeping skills in regional youth competitions, laying the foundation for his progression in Uruguayan football academies. In 2017, Israel moved to Club Nacional de Football's youth academy in Montevideo, where he played until 2018.[1] He featured prominently for Nacional's U20 team, including as the starting goalkeeper in their triumphant 2018 U-20 Copa Libertadores campaign, which they won 1-0 against Independiente del Valle in the final on February 24, 2018.[13] Israel appeared in five matches during the tournament, contributing to Nacional's first-ever title at the youth level.[14] In August 2018, at age 18, Israel transferred to Juventus' youth setup in Italy for a reported €2.2 million fee, signing a five-year contract and integrating into the Primavera (U19) team.[15] He trained and competed with Juventus' youth squads until 2020, adapting to European football while also representing Uruguay at youth international levels.Club career
Juventus U23
In 2020, at the age of 20, Franco Israel was promoted from Juventus's youth academy to the club's reserve team, Juventus U23, which competed in Serie C.[1] This move marked his transition to semi-professional football in Italy following his earlier development in the Juventus Primavera squad. Israel made his professional debut on 28 September 2020, starting as goalkeeper in Juventus U23's 2–1 league victory over Pro Sesto in Serie C. During the match, he contributed to the team's success by maintaining a solid defensive performance in his first senior-level outing. Between the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons, Israel accumulated 59 appearances for Juventus U23 across Serie C league matches, play-offs, and the Coppa Italia Serie C, conceding 63 goals while securing 15 clean sheets.[16] Registered with the Juventus senior squad (wearing number 35 in 2021–22), he served primarily as a backup goalkeeper, gaining limited exposure to first-team training and matches without making a Serie A appearance, which allowed him to focus on building experience in European tactical systems.[17]Sporting CP
On 5 July 2022, Franco Israel transferred from Juventus Next Gen to Sporting CP for a fee of €2.5 million, acquiring 60% of his economic rights, and signed a five-year contract until June 2027 with a €45 million buyout clause.[18][19] During his three seasons at the club, Israel primarily served as a backup goalkeeper behind established starters like Antonio Adán and later Rui Silva, appearing in 53 matches across all competitions from the 2022–23 to 2024–25 seasons.[20] His role involved rotation in domestic cups and European fixtures, allowing him to gain valuable experience in the Primeira Liga and build familiarity with high-stakes Portuguese football. Israel's integration into the squad was gradual, leveraging his prior reserve-level experience in Italy to adapt quickly to Sporting's competitive environment. In the 2023–24 season, he featured more prominently, starting 10 league matches, 6 Taça de Portugal games, and 4 UEFA Europa League encounters, contributing to the team's defensive solidity with 12 clean sheets across those competitions. His performances helped Sporting secure the Primeira Liga title that year, marking the club's second consecutive championship and showcasing his reliability in key rotations during a successful campaign. In the 2024–25 season, Israel made 22 appearances, including 8 in the UEFA Champions League, contributing to another Primeira Liga title win and the Taça de Portugal victory, completing a domestic double.[21] Overall, Israel's tenure at Sporting emphasized depth provision and occasional standout contributions, enhancing his development in a top European league.Torino
On 27 July 2025, Franco Israel joined Torino from Sporting CP on a permanent transfer for a reported fee of €4.5 million, with Juventus receiving 50% of the sum due to a sell-on clause from his prior move.[22][11] He signed a contract until June 2028, with an option for a further year.[1] As a rotational goalkeeper behind primary custodian Vanja Milinković-Savić, Israel has focused on adapting to the tactical and physical demands of Serie A, leveraging his prior experience in Portugal to enhance his distribution and shot-stopping versatility.[11][23] As of 20 November 2025, Israel has made seven appearances in Serie A in the 2025–26 season, all starts totaling 630 minutes.[24] In league play, he has recorded three clean sheets while conceding 13 goals, with a total of 21 saves that underscore his role in maintaining defensive solidity during rotations.[25][26] Notable performances include a clean sheet in Torino's 1–0 victory over Napoli on 18 October 2025, where his positioning prevented several high-quality chances, and a 0–0 draw against Fiorentina on 31 August 2025 that highlighted his command in the penalty area.[24][27] Challenges in the early season have included high-concession games, such as a 5–0 loss to Inter Milan on 25 August 2025, testing his resilience amid Torino's mid-table positioning and occasional defensive lapses.[24] Despite not featuring in matches since the Napoli encounter—amid a six-game bench spell—Israel's contributions have supported Torino's position in the league.[28][27]International career
Youth international career
Israel began his youth international career with the Uruguay U17 team in 2017, during his time in Nacional's youth setup. He was included in the squad for the 2017 South American U-17 Championship held in Chile, serving as one of the goalkeepers under coach Andrés Barboza.[29] In the tournament, Israel made one appearance, starting in Uruguay's opening Group A match against Bolivia on March 3, 2017, which ended in a 2-0 victory and marked his sole clean sheet at the U17 level.[30][31] His performance contributed to Uruguay's group stage efforts, though the team did not advance beyond the quarterfinals. Overall, Israel earned one cap for the U17 side.[26] Transitioning to the U20 level in 2018 while with Juventus' youth academy, Israel received call-ups to the Uruguay U20 team through 2019. He was selected for the 2019 South American U-20 Championship in Peru, the continental qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he backed up starting goalkeeper Renzo Bacchia.[32] Uruguay finished third in the tournament, securing qualification to the global event, with Israel's presence in the squad providing depth to the goalkeeping options during the competitive phase. He also featured as the starting goalkeeper for all four matches at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, contributing to Uruguay's advancement to the round of 16, where they lost to South Korea.[33] Across his U20 tenure, Israel accumulated five caps, focusing on building experience in defensive organization and shot-stopping during preparation and tournament games.[26] In total, he recorded six youth international appearances between the U17 and U20 levels, with one clean sheet, highlighting his emerging role as a reliable backup goalkeeper in Uruguay's youth system.[26]Senior international career
Franco Israel earned his first senior cap for Uruguay on 15 June 2023, starting in a friendly match against Nicaragua at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, where he played the full 90 minutes in a 4–1 victory.[34] This debut came under head coach Marcelo Bielsa, marking Israel's transition from youth international to the senior setup as a backup option behind primary goalkeeper Sergio Rochet. Israel was subsequently called up to Uruguay's squad for the 2024 Copa América in the United States, serving as one of three goalkeepers in the 26-man roster selected by Marcelo Bielsa.[35] Although he remained an unused substitute throughout the tournament, including all group stage matches, the quarter-final win over Brazil, the semi-final loss to Colombia, and the third-place playoff victory against Canada, his presence contributed to the team's depth in goal during their run to a third-place finish—their best Copa América result since 2011. Post-tournament, Israel continued to feature in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying campaigns, earning multiple call-ups for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers but primarily appearing on the bench, such as during the 0–0 draw against Chile in September 2023 and the 0–1 loss to Argentina in March 2025, without entering the field.[36] In October 2025, Israel secured his second senior cap during Uruguay's international friendly tour in Asia, starting and playing the full match against Uzbekistan on 13 October in Melaka, Malaysia, helping secure a 2–1 win with several key saves, including one on a header from Eldor Shomurodov. He had been an unused substitute three days earlier in another friendly against the Dominican Republic on 10 October, also in Malaysia, where Uruguay won 1–0. As of November 2025, Israel has accumulated two senior caps for Uruguay, both in friendlies and both as a starter, reflecting his emerging role as a reliable deputy in the national team's goalkeeping unit amid ongoing World Cup qualifying efforts.Career statistics
Club
Franco Israel has accumulated 120 appearances at the senior club level across his professional career with Juventus Next Gen, Sporting CP, and Torino FC as of November 20, 2025, during which he has not scored any goals.[40] The following table summarizes his appearances by club, season, and competition:| Club | Season | Competition | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juventus Next Gen | 2020/21 | Serie C Girone A | 18 | 0 |
| 2020/21 | Serie C Playoffs | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021/22 | Serie C Girone A | 32 | 0 | |
| 2021/22 | Coppa Italia Serie C | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021/22 | Serie C Playoffs | 6 | 0 | |
| Subtotal | 59 | 0 | ||
| Sporting CP | 2022/23 | Liga Portugal | 3 | 0 |
| 2022/23 | Taça de Portugal | 2 | 0 | |
| 2022/23 | UEFA Champions League | 2 | 0 | |
| 2022/23 | Allianz Cup | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023/24 | Liga Portugal | 10 | 0 | |
| 2023/24 | Taça de Portugal | 3 | 0 | |
| 2023/24 | UEFA Europa League | 4 | 0 | |
| 2023/24 | Allianz Cup | 6 | 0 | |
| 2024/25 | Liga Portugal | 11 | 0 | |
| 2024/25 | Taça de Portugal | 1 | 0 | |
| 2024/25 | UEFA Champions League | 8 | 0 | |
| 2024/25 | Allianz Cup | 2 | 0 | |
| 2024/25 | Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira | 0 | 0 | |
| Subtotal | 53 | 0 | ||
| Torino FC | 2025/26 | Serie A | 7 | 0 |
| 2025/26 | Coppa Italia | 1 | 0 | |
| Subtotal | 8 | 0 | ||
| Career Total | 120 | 0 |
International
Franco Israel has earned two caps for the Uruguay senior national team as of November 20, 2025, all as a goalkeeper with no goals scored. His debut occurred on June 15, 2023, in a 4–1 friendly victory over Nicaragua, where he played the full 90 minutes and conceded one goal. His second appearance came on October 13, 2025, in a 1–2 friendly loss to Uzbekistan, playing 90 minutes and conceding two goals. He was an unused substitute for the 1–0 friendly win against the Dominican Republic on October 10, 2025. Israel was part of the Uruguay squad for the 2024 Copa América but remained an unused substitute throughout the tournament. He did not feature in the November 2025 friendlies against Mexico (0–0 draw on November 15) and the United States (1–5 loss on November 18) due to injury (bruised ribs).[8][41][42] Across his two senior matches, Israel has conceded three goals and recorded no clean sheets.[8]| Date | Opponent | Competition | Result | Minutes | Goals Conceded | Clean Sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/06/2023 | Nicaragua | Friendly | 4–1 W | 90 | 1 | No |
| 13/10/2025 | Uzbekistan | Friendly | 1–2 L | 90 | 2 | No |
Honours
Club honours
During his time with Juventus Next Gen, Franco Israel was part of the squad that won the Coppa Italia Serie C in the 2019–20 season, making one appearance in the competition.[43] During his time with Sporting CP, Franco Israel contributed to the club's 2023–24 Primeira Liga title as a squad member and backup goalkeeper, making 10 appearances in the league competition and helping secure the championship with his performances.[2][44] Israel also contributed to Sporting CP's 2024–25 Primeira Liga title, appearing in 11 league matches as a backup goalkeeper.[2][44] Israel was part of the Sporting CP squad that won the 2025 Taça de Portugal, appearing in one match during the tournament run and providing depth in goal as the team claimed the domestic cup.[44][45] Earlier in his career, as a youth player with Nacional U20, Israel played a key role in their 2018 U-20 Copa Libertadores victory, featuring in all five matches as the primary goalkeeper and helping the team lift the continental youth trophy.[1][14]International honours
Israel earned his first senior international honour with Uruguay by finishing third at the 2024 Copa América, where he was included in the 26-man squad as a backup goalkeeper behind Sergio Rochet. At the youth level, Israel participated in the 2017 South American U-17 Championship, where Uruguay placed fourth in the final hexagonal stage, securing qualification for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. With the Uruguay U-20 team, he featured in the 2019 South American U-20 Championship, contributing to a third-place finish in the final hexagonal group that qualified the team for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. In the subsequent 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Poland, Israel served as the starting goalkeeper during the group stage, helping Uruguay top Group C before a 1–3 defeat to Ecuador in the round of 16. As of November 2025, Israel's international honours include one senior medal (bronze at the 2024 Copa América) and two notable youth tournament placements (third in the 2019 U-20 South American Championship and fourth in the 2017 U-17 South American Championship), with no additional senior tournament medals earned.References
- https://www.[espn.com](/page/ESPN.com)/soccer/match/_/gameId/758411
- https://www.[espn.com](/page/ESPN.com)/soccer/match/_/gameId/758400/dominican-republic-uruguay
- https://www.[transfermarkt](/page/Transfermarkt).us/franco-israel/nationalmannschaft/spieler/492319