{{short description|Uruguayan footballer (born 1995)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{family name hatnote|Lemos|Merladett|lang=Spanish}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Mauricio Lemos | image = Mauricio Lemos (2020) (cropped).png | caption = Lemos with Fenerbahçe in 2020 | fullname = Paolo Mauricio Lemos Merladett | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|12|28|df=y}} | birth_place = Rivera, Uruguay | height = 1.87 m | position = Centre-back | currentclub = Peñarol | clubnumber = 3 | youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2013 | youthclubs1 = Defensor Sporting | years1 = 2013–2015 | clubs1 = Defensor Sporting | caps1 = 9 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2015–2016 | clubs2 = Rubin Kazan | caps2 = 4 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2016–2020 | clubs3 = Las Palmas | caps3 = 75 | goals3 = 6 | years4 = 2018–2019 | clubs4 = → Sassuolo (loan) | caps4 = 11 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 2020–2023 | clubs5 = Fenerbahçe | caps5 = 10 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2021–2022 | clubs6 = → Beerschot (loan) | caps6 = 15 | goals6 = 1 | years7 = 2023–2024 | clubs7 = Atlético Mineiro | caps7 = 44 | goals7 = 3 | years8 = 2025 | clubs8 = Vasco da Gama | caps8 = 5 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2026-| clubs9 = Peñarol | caps9 = 4 | goals9 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2014–2015 | nationalteam1 = Uruguay U20 | nationalcaps1 = 22 | nationalgoals1 = 2 | nationalyears2 = 2015 | nationalteam2 = Uruguay U22 | nationalcaps2 = 3 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2017–2023 | nationalteam3 = Uruguay | nationalcaps3 = 3 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{URU}}}} {{MedalSport | Men's Football}} {{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}} {{MedalGold | 2015 Toronto |Team}} | club-update = 13 April 2026 | nationalteam-update = }}
'''Paolo Mauricio Lemos Merladett''' (born 28 December 1995) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Peñarol.
==Club career==
===Defensor=== Born in Rivera, Lemos was a Defensor Sporting youth graduate. On 6 January 2014, aged 18, he was promoted to the main squad.
Lemos made his professional debut on 11 May 2014, starting in a 2–1 home loss against Montevideo Wanderers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.futbol.com.uy/auc.aspx?225231,1318|title=La historia a un paso|trans-title=One step to history|publisher=Fútbol.uy|language=es|date=11 May 2014|accessdate=25 June 2016|archive-date=10 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810053804/http://www.futbol.com.uy/auc.aspx?225231,1318|url-status=dead}}</ref> After appearing in only two matches during his debut campaign, he was more regularly used in his second; however, his appearances were limited due to an appendicitis and call-ups to the under-20 national team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.futbol.com.uy/auc.aspx?260872|title=Arriba botija|publisher=Fútbol.uy|language=es|date=1 February 2015|accessdate=25 June 2016}}</ref>
===Rubin Kazan=== On 3 July 2015, Lemos was loaned to Russian Premier League side FC Rubin Kazan, for one year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rubin-kazan.ru/news_items/4185-maurisio-lemos-igrok-rubina|title=Маурисио Лемос – игрок "Рубина"|trans-title=Mauricio Lemos – Rubin player|publisher=FC Rubin Kazan|language=ru|date=3 July 2015|accessdate=25 June 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035852/http://www.rubin-kazan.ru/news_items/4185-maurisio-lemos-igrok-rubina|archivedate=4 March 2016}}</ref> He made his debut for the club on 3 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 away defeat to Spartak Moscow.
After appearing in eight matches for the club (four in the league), Lemos was bought outright.
===Las Palmas=== On 28 January 2016, Lemos was loaned to La Liga side UD Las Palmas, with a buyout clause.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.udlaspalmas.es/noticias/noticia/el-central-uruguayo-mauricio-lemos-llega-cedido-del-rubin-kazan|title=El central uruguayo Mauricio Lemos llega cedido del Rubin Kazán|trans-title=Uruguayan stopper Mauricio Lemos arrives on loan from Rubin Kazan|publisher=UD Las Palmas|language=es|date=28 January 2016|accessdate=25 June 2016}}</ref> He made his debut in the competition on 20 February, coming on as a second-half substitute for Jonathan Viera in a 1–2 home loss against FC Barcelona.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2015_16/la-liga/jornada_25/pal_bar/|title=El líder aplica la ley de mínimos|trans-title=The leader applies the law of minimums|publisher=Marca|language=es|date=20 February 2016|accessdate=25 June 2016}}</ref>
On 6 May 2016, after appearing in nine matches for the ''Amarillos'', Lemos signed a permanent five-year deal with the club effective in July.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.udlaspalmas.es/noticias/noticia/la-ud-ejerce-la-opcion-de-compra-de-lemos-que-firma-por-cinco-temporadas|title=La UD ejerce la opción de compra de Lemos, que firma por cinco temporadas|trans-title=The ''UD'' exercise the buyout option of Lemos, who signs for five seasons|publisher=UD Las Palmas|language=es|date=6 May 2016|accessdate=25 June 2016}}</ref> He scored his first goal in the main category of Spanish football the following 30 January, netting his team's second in a 3–1 home win against Valencia CF.
On 10 March 2017, Lemos scored a brace in a 4–3 away win against RCD Espanyol.
====Sassuolo (loan)==== On 22 January 2018, Las Palmas announced they had reached an agreement with Italian club Sassuolo for the loan of Lemos.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.italianfootballdaily.com/las-palmas-confirms-lemos-sale-sassuolo/|title=Las Palmas confirms Lemos sale to Sassuolo {{!}} IFD|website=www.italianfootballdaily.com|language=en-US|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412221347/http://www.italianfootballdaily.com/las-palmas-confirms-lemos-sale-sassuolo/|archive-date=12 April 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Fenerbahçe=== On 26 August 2020, Fenerbahçe announced the signing of Lemos on a three-year contract.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fenerbahce.org/haberler/futbol/2020/8/fenerbahcemize-hos-geldin-mauricio-lemos/|title=Fenerbahçemize hoş geldin Mauricio Lemos|trans-title=Welcome to Fenerbahçe Mauricio Lemos|website=fenerbahce.org|language=tr|access-date=26 August 2020}}</ref>
====Beerschot (loan)==== On 31 August 2021, Lemos was loaned to Belgian club K Beerschot VA for the 2021–22 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.beerschot.be/nl/nieuws/beerschot-huurt-mauricio-lemos-van-fenerbahce|title=Beerschot huurt Mauricio Lemos van Fenerbahçe|trans-title=Beerschot sign Mauricio Lemos from Fenerbahçe|website=beerschot.be|language=nl|access-date=16 February 2023|archive-date=1 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901115610/https://www.beerschot.be/nl/nieuws/beerschot-huurt-mauricio-lemos-van-fenerbahce|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Atlético Mineiro=== On 16 February 2023, Lemos joined Brazilian club Atlético Mineiro on a ten-month deal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://atletico.com.br/raca-uruguaia-zagueiro-mauricio-lemos-chega-ao-galo/|title=Raça uruguaia: zagueiro Mauricio Lemos chega ao Galo|trans-title=Uruguayan tenacity: defender Mauricio Lemos joins Galo|website=atletico.com.br|language=pt|access-date=16 February 2023}}</ref>
===Vasco da Gama=== On 15 January 2025, Lemos signed a one-year deal with Vasco da Gama.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vasco.com.br/vasco/vasco-acerta-a-contratacao-do-zagueiro-uruguaio-mauricio-lemos/|title=Vasco acerta a contratação do zagueiro uruguaio Mauricio Lemos|publisher=CR Vasco da Gama|language=pt|date=15 January 2025|access-date=15 January 2025}}</ref>
===Peñarol=== He signed for Urugyuan club Peñarol in February 2026, something he described as a dream. He told the club that "you'll have a fan on the pitch".<ref>https://www.espn.com.mx/futbol/uruguay/nota/_/id/16296210/mauricio-lemos-penarol-mensaje-hincha-llegada-uruguay</ref>
==International career== Lemos has represented Uruguay with the U22 team at 2015 Pan American Games, winning the gold medal.
He received maiden call-up to senior team in October 2017 and was included in the squad to play friendlies against Poland and Austria.<ref name="Las Palmas">{{cite web|title=Lemos convocado por Uruguay para los amistosos frente a Polonia y Austria|url=https://www.udlaspalmas.es/noticias/noticia/lemos-convocado-por-uruguay-para-los-amistosos-frente-a-polonia-y-austria|accessdate=1 July 2019}}</ref> He made his debut on 10 November 2017, playing 90 minutes in a 0–0 draw against Poland.
==Personal life== Lemos is the younger brother of footballer Maximiliano Lemos.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tenfield.com.uy/lemos-mate-en-mano/|title=Los hermanos Lemos en la tribuna|language=es|date=30 May 2017|access-date=28 August 2025}}</ref>
==Career statistics==
===Club=== {{Updated|15 December 2024}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Russian Cup, Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia, Turkish Cup, Belgian Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Defensor |2013–14 |rowspan="2"|Uruguayan Primera División |2||0||colspan="2"|–||0||0||colspan="2"|–||2||0 |- |2014–15 |7||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||7||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !9!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!9!!0 |- |Rubin Kazan |2015–16 |Russian Premier League |4||0||1||0||2{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||colspan="2"|–||7||0 |- |rowspan="5"|Las Palmas |2015–16 |rowspan="3"|La Liga |10||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||10||0 |- |2016–17 |23||5||3||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||26||5 |- |2017–18 |16||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||18||0 |- |2019–20 |Segunda División |26||1||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||27||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !75!!6!!6!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!81!!6 |- |rowspan="3"|Sassuolo (loan) |2017–18 |rowspan="2"|Serie A |8||1||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||8||1 |- |2018–19 |3||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||4||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !11!!1!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!12!!1 |- |rowspan="3"|Fenerbahçe |2020–21 |rowspan="2"|Süper Lig |8||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||10||0 |- |2022–23 |2||0||0||0||3{{efn|name=UEL}}||0||colspan="2"|–||5||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !10!!0!!0!!0!!3!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!15!!0 |- |Beerschot (loan) |2021–22 |Belgian First Division A |15||1||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||16||1 |- |rowspan="3"|Atlético Mineiro |2023 |rowspan="2"|Série A |27||1||2||0||8{{efn|name=CL|Appearances in Copa Libertadores}}||0||4{{efn|name=CM|Appearances in Campeonato Mineiro}}||0||41||1 |- |2024 |8||0||2||0||1{{efn|name=CL|Appearances in Copa Libertadores}}||0||5{{efn|name=CM|Appearances in Campeonato Mineiro}}||2||16||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !35!!1!!4!!0!!9!!0!!9!!2!!57!!3 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !159!!9!!15!!0!!14!!0!!9!!2!!197!!11 |} {{notelist}}
===International=== {{updated|30 June 2023}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- | rowspan="3" |Uruguay |2017||1||0 |- |2018||1||0 |- |2023||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!3!!0 |}
==Honours== '''Atlético Mineiro''' *Campeonato Mineiro: 2023, 2024
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{BDFutbol|20062}} *{{Soccerway|paolo-mauricio-lemos-merladey/325566}}
{{CR Vasco da Gama squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lemos, Mauricio}} Category:Living people Category:1995 births Category:Footballers from Rivera Department Category:Uruguayan men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Defensor Sporting players Category:FC Rubin Kazan players Category:UD Las Palmas players Category:US Sassuolo Calcio players Category:Fenerbahçe S.K. footballers Category:K Beerschot VA players Category:Clube Atlético Mineiro players Category:CR Vasco da Gama players Category:Uruguayan Primera División players Category:Russian Premier League players Category:La Liga players Category:Serie A players Category:Segunda División players Category:Süper Lig players Category:Belgian Pro League players Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players Category:Uruguay men's under-20 international footballers Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for Uruguay Category:Pan American Games footballers for Uruguay Category:Footballers at the 2015 Pan American Games Category:Uruguayan expatriate men's footballers Category:Uruguayan expatriate sportspeople in Russia Category:Uruguayan expatriate sportspeople in Spain Category:Uruguayan expatriate sportspeople in Turkey Category:Uruguayan expatriate sportspeople in Belgium Category:Uruguayan expatriate sportspeople in Brazil Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Russia Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Brazil Category:Pan American Games gold medalists in football Category:Medalists at the 2015 Pan American Games