Lucas Zelarayán declares for the Armenian national team

Lucas Zelarayán has become one of the best players in Major League Soccer debuting in 2020 and helped the Columbus Crew win the MLS Cup final in that season by defeating Seattle Sounders 3-0. The 29-year-old was born in Argentina and started his professional career in Belgrano, where he played from 2012-15.

Zelarayán could make his debut next month

On Tuesday, Zelarayán accepted the invitation he received a few days ago from the Armenia national football team to play in the FIFA international break of October. The 29-year-old has Armenian roots and that is why in 2018 when he received the first invitation he declined because he was hoping he would get called for the Argentina national team.

“I have made a very important decision for me to play for the Armenian national team. It wasn’t a decision made in one day, it was a well-thought step. I have spoken to the FFA president Armen Melikbekyan and the national team head coach Joaquin Caparros during the last year. They presented the program of the federation to me,” Zelarayán told the FFA official website.

“I knew about my Armenian roots, but I haven’t had close relations with the Armenian community in Argentina. That’s why I needed time to make this important decision. After discussing everything with my family in September I made a decision to join the Armenian national team. Now I am excited about it.

I am aware of the big goals this team wants to achieve and I am ready to do my best to make this happen. I am happy to join the Armenian national team during this important period and I hope to have new achievements with the national team,” he added.

That call from Argentina never came for Zelarayán, so now he will make his debut with Armenia during the World Cup qualifiers in Europe. They are in second place in Group J with 11 points in six games and they are four behind Germany, who are in first place.