Lucas Zelarayán spent his youth years in his home country of Argentina. Born in Córdoba, Argentina, he now represents Armenia internationally. He started his pro career with Belgrano, before moving to Tigres of Liga MX. On December 20, 2019, the Columbus Crew signed Lucas Zelarayán for $8m. He debuted in the first match of the season against NYCFC, curling a shot into the top left corner for a debut goal. His arrival immediately changed the team.
In the MLS is Back Tournament, he introduced his free kick-taking ability against FC Cincinnati. There would be more where that came from. El Mago scored in the following match of the tournament from outside the box as well. He scored on a tough deflection to beat Andre Blake, again from outside the eighteen. Zelarayan scored more goals from outside the area than any other player during his time in the league, and it is not even close. He scored inside the box in September, with a rare header, and a diving one at that. On Decision Day, he scored with a sleek chip. As the announcer said, "He doesn't do boring."
In the first round of the playoffs, the Crew knocked off the Red Bulls 3-2, with a Zelarayan assist. In the second match, they entered extra time with Nashville SC at 0-0. Half an hour later, they won it 2-0. In the Eastern Conference Final, he helped set up the winning Artur goal. The stage was set for MLS Cup 2020, against a formidable and experienced Seattle Sounders team. Zelarayan showed up. In the 25th minute, he crashed the back post and opening the scoring with a left footed volley. In the 82nd, he took a pass from Luis Diaz at the top of the box, realigned his feet, before slicing his shot into the top left corner to clinch the title. Zelarayan arrived in MLS, and immediately brought his team a trophy in his first season. It was clear he was going to be a problem for years to come. He was named the 2020 MLS Newcomer of the Year, as well as MLS Cup MVP.
In 2021, Zelarayan came out flying once again. No. 10 opened his scoring with a magical free kick over the wall and in against DC United. Two matches later, he scored a brace against NYCFC, absolutely smashing a free kick into Sean Johnson's net. The second was yet another free kick, this time with finesse into the upper corner in stoppage time. In the Hell is Real Derby, he laced one in from downtown Cincinnati. The guy is a walking highlight reel. In the very next match, he defeated NYCFC with another curled free kick. In just July, he set the club record for free kicks scored in a season. He was selected as 2021 MLS All-Star, playing half an hour against his former league, Liga MX. Against Cincy, he scored a free kick, to no one's surprise. It was becoming an expectation that he would score if you gave him a free kick outside the box. In October, he scored one of the best goals he scored in a Columbus shirt, and that's saying a lot, but not quite the best. He notched a brace against DC, scoring from the spot, and one from deep. The defending MLS Cup champs missed out on the playoffs by a point. They did, though, defeat Cruz Azul to win the Campeones Cup. Zelarayan scored an MLS career-high of 12 goals.
Zelarayan opened his account in the first game of 2022 with a dribbling showcase. In San Jose the next time out, he smashed one into the top corner. He scored his first free kick of the year later on to make it a brace. He hit a low shot from distance to score yet again against Toronto. After taking 12 games off from scoring, he returned to the scoresheet from the penalty spot. A redirection helped him add another against CF Montreal. It was another brace against NYCFC in early August, calmly curling the first into the top corner, before volleying one off the bounce. Zelarayan's final goal of the year was from a set piece, but in a far different manner than usual. From nearly midfield, he lobbed a shot over Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina. Despite the arrival of Cucho Hernandez and the pure talent on the roster, the Crew missed the playoffs again, by two points. Zelarayan assisted an MLS career-high of 12 goals.
In 2023, Zelarayan contributed his final 10 goals to Columbus. In the second match of the year, he hit an absurd turn inside the box and placed it into the corner. A finish into the roof of the net made it a double. He scored a penalty in two straight matches in April. He redirected a first-time shot in on a Yaw Yeboah cross versus Colorado. He scored what was previously hinted as probably his best goal in MLS against the Chicago Fire, striking from beyond midfield at Soldier Field. Zelarayan rounded the keeper to score at Providence Park. He scored his final MLS goal exactly how you would expect, from downtown Portland. He then played in the 2023 MLS All-Star Game, playing one half against Arsenal. On July 23, 2023, Lucas Zelarayan played his last match for the Columbus Crew. He finished it off with a lovely free kick against St. Louis in Leagues Cup.
On July 31st, the Crew officially announced that Zelarayan would be leaving the club. He was being transferred to Saudi Arabia's Al Fateh. While the transfer fee was undisclosed, the fee was apparently much lower than expected. He recorded 38 goals and 30 assists during his time in the black and gold. Thus far, Zelarayan has scored and assisted 3 goals each for his new club. His goodbyes were said at a 4-1 victory over Club America, in which Cucho Hernandez emotionally pointed up to where Zelarayan was sitting after he scored. Lucas Zelarayan will always be remembered for his incredible goals in Major League Soccer, ranging from free kicks, midfield strikes, and just straight screamers. He would be most definitely be considerably higher on the list if he had stayed with Columbus longer. Lucas Zelarayan comes in at #44.
YEAR | CLUB | MINUTES | GOALS | ASSISTS |
2023 | CLB | 1,707 | 10 | 7 |
2022 | CLB | 2,320 | 10 | 12 |
2021 | CLB | 2,626 | 12 | 7 |
2020 | CLB | 1,039 | 6 | 4 |
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