Franco Israel

Franco Israel
Personal information
Full name	Franco Israel Wibmer
Date of birth	22 April 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Nueva Helvecia, Uruguay
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Sporting CP
Number	1
Youth career
2010–2016	Club Artesano
2016–2018	Nacional
2018–2020	Juventus
Senior career*
Years	Team
2020–2022	Juventus U23
2022–	Sporting CP
International career‡
2016–2017	Uruguay U17
2017	Uruguay U18
2018–2019	Uruguay U20
2023–	Uruguay
Medal record
Men's football
Representing Uruguay
Copa América
South American Games
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 May 2024; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 March 2024

Franco Israel Wibmer (born 22 April 2000) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Primeira Liga club Sporting CP and the Uruguay national team.

Early life

Israel was born on 22 April 2000 in Nueva Helvecia, Colonia to a family of German descent. He has one older brother named 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.^[4] Along with his native Uruguayan passport, Israel also holds an Italian passport.^[5]

Club career

Early career

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.^[4]

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.^[6]^[7]^[4] He made his professional debut on 28 September 2020 in Juventus U23's 2–1 league win against Pro Sesto.^[8] 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.^[9]

Sporting CP

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.^[4]^[10] 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.^[11] In the reverse fixture a week later, Israel made his first start, featuring in the 2–0 home loss against the same opponent.^[12]

International career

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.^[13]^[14]

In June 2023, Israel received his first call-up to the senior team.^[15] He made his debut on 14 June 2023 in a 4–1 win against Nicaragua.^[16] In June 2024, he was named in Uruguay's 26-man squad for the 2024 Copa América.^[17]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 4 May 2024^[2]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Juventus U23	2020–21	Serie C	18	0	—		—		—		2^[a]	0	20	0
	2021–22	Serie C	32	0	—		—		—		7^[b]	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^[c]	0	—		8	0
	2023–24	Primeira Liga	10	0	6	0	3	0	4^[d]	0	—		23	0
	Total		13	0	7	0	5	0	6	0	0	0	31	0
Career total			63	0	7	0	5	0	6	0	9	0	90	0

^ Appearances in Serie C promotion play-offs
^ One appearance in Coppa Italia Serie C, six appearances in Serie C promotion play-offs
^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League