Julio César Enciso

Julio César Enciso Espínola, born on January 23, 2004, in Caaguazú, Paraguay, is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League and represents the Paraguay national team.

Club Career:

• Libertad: Enciso began his professional career with Club Libertad in Paraguay, joining their youth setup in 2015 and advancing to the first team in 2019. During his tenure, he made 55 appearances and scored 18 goals, contributing to the team's victories in the Paraguayan Primera División Apertura in 2021 and 2022, as well as the Copa Paraguay in 2019.
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• Brighton & Hove Albion: In 2022, Enciso transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion. As of December 2024, he has made 40 appearances and scored 4 goals for the club.
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International Career:

Enciso has represented Paraguay at various levels, including the U15 and U23 teams. He debuted for the senior national team on June 14, 2021, in a 3–1 Copa América victory over Bolivia. Since then, he has earned 23 caps and scored 2 goals for Paraguay.

Honours and Achievements:

• Club:
  • Paraguayan Primera División Apertura: 2021, 2022
  • Copa Paraguay: 2019
• Individual:
  • BBC Goal of the Season: 2022–23
  • Premier League Goal of the Season: 2022–23
  • Brighton & Hove Albion Goal of the Season: 2022–23
  • FIFA Puskás Award Nominee: 2023

Notable Records:

• Youngest player to score a goal on his debut in the Copa Libertadores at 16 years and 307 days.
• First Paraguayan footballer nominated for the Golden Boy Award.
• First Paraguayan footballer nominated for the Puskás Award, also the first as a finalist for the award.
• Fourth youngest footballer in history to debut for the Paraguay national team at 17 years, 1 month, and 18 days.
• First Paraguayan footballer chosen as the Goal of the Season by BBC Sport, as well as the Premier League Goal of the Season.
• Second youngest player in history to score against Arsenal at their home stadium at 19 years and 111 days.
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Recent News:

In October 2024, while traveling for international duty, Enciso experienced a health scare when he fainted on a plane. He attributed the incident to poor eating habits and lack of sleep, compounded by the high-altitude conditions of Ecuador. A fellow passenger assisted him, and he recovered without serious complications.