Adrián Luna

Adrián Nicolás Luna Retamar (born 12 April 1992) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or forward for Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters, which he captains.

Club career

Youth and early career

Born in Tacuarembó, Luna began his youth career at academies of Progreso, Montevideo Wanderers and Defensor Sporting in Uruguay. He was eventually promoted to Defensor's U-19 and first team in 2010. Luna made his first team debut with Defensor Sporting, on 6 February 2010, against Nacional. In the 2010–11 season Luna was a regular starter for Defensor. He played 41 matches for the Uruguayan club and scored 6 goals. On 23 May 2011, Luna signed a contract with La Liga club Espanyol, with a €1 million fee.

On 17 August 2011, Luna was loaned to Segunda División club Gimnàstic. However, in January 2012, Luna returned to Espanyol and signed a contract with CE Sabadell, in a six-month loan. In August 2012, Luna was loaned to Club Nacional de Football, returning to his country. On 2 September 2013, his contract with Espanyol was rescinded.

On 18 September 2013, he returned to Defensor and stayed at the club for two seasons.

C.D. Veracruz

In September 2015, Luna moved to Mexico, where he joined Liga MX club C.D. Veracruz on a two-year deal. On 4 September 2015, He was loaned out to Venados and represented the Mexican club for one season. He returned from loan in 2016, and went on to play for Veracruz in three seasons.

Melbourne City

On 19 July 2019, Luna signed for Australian club Melbourne City on a two-year deal. In July 2021, Luna left the club at the end of his contract, having scored 8 goals in 51 appearances.

Kerala Blasters

2021–22: Debut season

On 22 July 2021, Kerala Blasters announced that Luna had joined the Indian Super League club on a two-year deal. He made his debut for the club on 11 September 2021 against Indian Navy in the 2021 Durand Cup tournament. Luna scored from a penalty during the match and became the club's first ever goalscorer in Durand Cup. He made his first league appearance in the season opener against ATK Mohun Bagan FC on 19 November, which ended in a 4–2 defeat for Kerala Blasters. He was the assist provider of the second goal scored by Jorge Pereyra Díaz for the Blasters in the game. On 5 December 2021, Luna helped the Blasters to register their first victory of the season against Odisha FC by providing two assists in a match which they won 2–1, and was the recipient of the man of the match award in the game. He was again awarded with the man of the match award in the next game against East Bengal on 12 December, which they drew 1–1. Disappointed by the match officials, Luna expressed his frustration on the referees in the post-match conference. He scored his first league goal for the Blasters' in a 0–3 victory over rivals Chennaiyin FC on 22 December, and was again awarded with the man of the match award. On 2 January 2022, he scored his second goal in the match against FC Goa, where he scored a long-ranger from 30 yards out in a match that ended in a 2–2 draw. After the club captain Jessel Carnerio was declared injured, Luna spent much of the season as club captain in his absence. He played his first match as the captain against Odisha in the second phase of the season, where he assisted for two goals that helped Kerala Blasters to win the game 0–2 on 12 January 2022. He scored a brace against ATK Mohun Bagan on 19 February, where he netted his first goal through a free-kick, and following from the edge of the penalty box. The match in a 2–2 draw at full-time. Luna scored another free-kick in the following match against Chennaiyin on 26 February, which ensured the Blasters a 3–0 victory. His goal in the second leg of the semi-final match against Jamshedpur FC on 15 March sealed the Blasters a place in the final, as the Blasters won 2–1 on aggregate score, and qualified for the finals for the third time in their history.

2022–23: Contract extension

On 22 July 2022, Luna signed a two-year contract extension with Kerala Blasters till 2024.

On 7 October 2022, Luna helped the Blasters in a 3–1 victory against East Bengal in the 2022–23 season opener by scoring the first goal of the game. He teared up after scoring the goal, pointed to the sky and dedicated it to his daughter Julieta, who died on 9 April 2022. "It was a special goal for me because everyone knows what I’m going through…me, my wife, family, son. This goal was for my little daughter,” Luna said after the match. He scored his second goal of the season on 12 November against FC Goa, where he scored the opening goal of the match as the Blasters ended up winning the game 3–1 at full-time. On 4 December, Luna surpassed the club's record of most appearances by a foreign player by making his 31st appearance for the Blasters in a 1–0 win against Jamshedpur FC, where he provided the assist for Dimitrios Diamantakos. Luna netted his third goal of the season in the returning fixture against Jamshedpur on 3 January 2023, where he scored a 'perfectly set-up team-goal' as the Blasters won their eighth match of the season by the score of 3–1. On 7 February, Luna scored a goal and provided an assist in their 2–1 derby match win against Chennaiyin and won the hero of the match award for his two-goal contribution in the match. On 29 March, the Blasters announced that Luna will not be part of their squad for the 2023 Indian Super Cup by stating that he requested to opt out from the tournament due to personal reasons.

2023–24: Club captaincy

After Jessel Carneiro joined Bengaluru in May 2023, Luna became the permanent club captain ahead of the 2023–24 season. He played his first match of the season against Gokulam Kerala FC in the 2023 Durand Cup tournament on 13 August 2023, in which he scored a goal in the 75th minute but the Blasters lost the match 3–4. On 20 September, the Blasters officially announced that Luna would captain the side for the upcoming season. Luna scored his first goal of the league season in the season opener against Bengaluru on 21 September, where he scored the second goal for the Blasters in the 69th minute of the match, as the Blasters secured a 2–1 win over the arch-rivals. On 1 October, he scored the Blasters' only goal against Jamshedpur in a 1–0 victory at home. This was also Luna's 12th goal for the club in the Indian Super League and he also surpassed C. K. Vineeth's record to become the second top goalscorer for the club in the league. On 8 October, Luna made his 50th appearance for the club in a 2–1 loss against Mumbai City, and became the first foreign player in Kerala Blasters' history to make 50 appearances for the club. During the match against Odisha FC on 27 October, Luna scored his 15th goal for the club and equalled Bartholomew Ogbeche's record to become the all-time top-scorer for the club across all competitions. In the match, he scored the second goal in the 84th minute and helped the Blasters in 2–1 victory. In the home against Hyderabad FC on 25 November, which also marked Luna's 50th Indian Super League appearance for the club, he assisted for Miloš Drinčić's goal and helped the Blasters in a 1–0 win. On 14 December, various reports came that Luna had sustained a knee injury during the training session ahead of the match against Punjab FC potentially ruling him out for the rest of the season. On 16 December, the Blasters confirmed that Luna underwent a minor arthroscopic surgery for a chondral knee injury.

After the recovery, he was back in the field for Kerala Blasters in 19 April 2024, in the Indian Super League playoff knockout match against Odisha FC. He came in as a substitute for Fedor Černych in the 81st minute, but the team eventually lost by the scoreline of 2-1.

2024-present: Contract extension till 2027

In 18 May 2024, the Blasters announced that Luna has signed a three-year contract extension with the club till 2027.

International career

Luna has been capped by the Uruguay national under-17 football team for the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He has also represented Uruguay national under-20 football team for the 2011 South American Youth Championship and the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He has totally made 19 appearances across both the age groups.

Style of play

A versatile player, Luna plays mainly as a attacking midfielder, but can also operate in several other positions and has been used as a left winger or second striker. He has even been deployed in a deeper creative midfield position and on occasion, a box-to-box role or as a false 9. Considered as one of the best players in the history of Indian Super League, he is known for his technique, work-rate off the ball, vision and wide range of passing. In addition to his footballing attributes, Luna has been regarded for his leadership, determination, and influence on the pitch during his time with Kerala Blasters.

Personal life

On 4 July 2022, Luna revealed through social media that his six-year-old daughter Julieta died on 9 April 2022 after a battle with cystic fibrosis. In August 2022, Luna married his long-time girlfriend Mariana Hernandez.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 27 October 2023

International

Scores and results list Uruguay's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Luna goal.

Honours

Melbourne City

• A-League Premiership: 2020–21
• A-League Championship: 2021

Kerala Blasters

• Indian Super League runner-up: 2021–22

Individual

• Indian Super League Player of the Month: October 2023, November 2023
• Kerala Blasters Fans' Player of the Season: 2021–22, 2022–23

References

External links

• CE Sabadell official profile
• Gimnàstic official profile (in Catalan)
• Adrián Luna – FIFA competition record (archived)