Luis Balbo

Luis Balbo
Balbo with Sturm Graz in 2026
Personal information
Full name Luis Francisco Balbo Vieira
Date of birth (2006-03-28) 28 March 2006 (age 20)
Place of birth Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Sturm Graz
Number 27
Youth career
2016–2017 União da Madeira
2017–2020 Porto
2020–2024 Famalicão
2024–2026 Fiorentina
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2026 Fiorentina 6 (0)
2026– Sturm Graz 6 (0)
International career‡
2022 Portugal U16 1 (0)
2023 Venezuela U17 5 (0)
2025 Venezuela U20 2 (0)
2025 Venezuela U23 1 (0)
2025– Venezuela 6 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Venezuela
FIFA Series
Runner-up2026 Uzbekistan
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:30, 10 October 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:01, 2 October 2026 (UTC)

Luis Francisco Balbo Vieira (born 28 March 2006) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a left-back for the Austrian Bundesliga club Sturm Graz. A former youth international for Portugal and Venezuela, he plays for the Venezuela national team.

Club career

Balbo is a youth product of the academies of the Portuguese clubs União da Madeira, Porto and Famalicão. On 30 January 2024, he joined the Italian club Fiorentina on a contract until 2028.

International career

Balbo was born in Venezuela to Venezuelan parents, and is of Portuguese descent through a grandmother. He moved to Portugal and holds dual Venezuelan and Portuguese citizenship. He made an appearance for the Portugal U16s in 2022. He played for the Venezuela U17s at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He was also called up to the Venezuela U20s at the 2025 South American U-20 Championship.

He was called up to the senior Venezuela national team for a set of friendlies in November 2025. He debuted in a 1–0 win over Australia on 14 November 2025.

Personal life

Luis Balbo has a brother, Luis Estefano, who is also a footballer but plays as a goalkeeper in Portugal.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 15 October 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
LeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Fiorentina 2025–26 Serie A 601030—100
Sturm Graz 2026–27 Austrian Bundesliga 601020—90
Career total 120205000190
  1. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Conference League
  2. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 2 October 2026
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Venezuela 202510
202650
Total60

Honours

Venezuela

References

  1. ↑ Negri, Simone (30 January 2024). "Fiorentina, innesto per il futuro: preso Luis Balbo".
  2. 1 2 "🇻🇪 LUIS BALBO: MI SUEÑO SIEMPRE FUE REPRESENTAR A VENEZUELA | SOLOVENEX". 7 May 2023 – via YouTube.
  3. ↑ CV, Redazione (30 January 2024). "Fiorentina, rinforzo vinotinto per la Primavera: ecco Luis Balbo | Cantera Viola".
  4. ↑ "Luís Balbo". FPF.
  5. ↑ "Lista la Convocatoria de Venezuela Sub-20 para el Campeonato Sudamericano" [Venezuela U-20 call-up list for the South American Championship] (in Spanish). Balonazos. 20 January 2025.
  6. ↑ @SeleVinotinto (10 November 2025). "𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀: Fecha FIFA de noviembre" (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 November 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  7. ↑ Pegan, Martin (15 November 2025). "Venezuela 1-0 Australia: men's international football friendly – as it happened" – via www.theguardian.com.
  8. ↑ dearmas, Bloque. "FIFA Series: Uzbekistán vence a Venezuela por la tanda de penales". Meridiano.net (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 March 2026.