Colombian Football Player Wins Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen

A Colombian football player made history last Sunday when his team, Bayer Leverkusen, won the Bundesliga, Germany’s premier football league. At just 20 years old, Gustavo Puerta became the third Colombian to ever win this prestigious competition, following in the footsteps of Colombian football legends Adolfo Valencia, the first Colombian to win a European league with Bayern Munich in 1994, and James Rodriguez, who secured the Bundesliga title twice with Bayern Munich in 2018 and 2019.

Bayer Leverkusen makes history in the Bundesliga

For Gustavo Puerta, the story is incredibly beautiful. Indeed, this marks the first trophy in the Colombian’s career, as well as the first Bundesliga title won by his club, Bayer Leverkusen. Guided by Xabi Alonso, the former Spanish international and World Cup champion turned coach, Bayer Leverkusen went against the odds by ending Bayern Munich‘s record streak of eleven consecutive season titles, with five league matches still remaining.

Bayer Leverkusen’s season has been truly exceptional. Undefeated in all competitions this season, Bayer Leverkusen could also surpass the record for the most points in a Bundesliga season, a record currently held by Bayern Munich since 2013 with 91 points, if they win at least four of their next five matches. Furthermore, Bayer Leverkusen remains a contestant in other major competitions, notably the German Cup, where they are finalists, and the Europa League, the second major European inter-club competition, where the German club is a quarter-finalist and well-placed to qualify for the semi-finals.

Gustavo Puerta, a promising Colombian football player

Gustavo Puerta was born on July 23, 2000, in the town of La Victoria, Valle del Cauca Department, in the Pacific region of Colombia. He began his professional career in Colombia with Bogota F.C. in 2021. Quickly recognized for his impressive skills, the midfielder was called up to the Colombian U-20 national team, with which he participated in the 2022 South American Games and the 2023 South American U-20 Championship, two competitions where Colombia secured third place. However, Gustavo Puerta soon attracted the interest of European clubs. In January 2023, the Colombian prospect was transferred to Bayer Leverkusen, with whom he signed a four-year contract.

Although he had limited playing time this season, Gustavo Puerta’s attitude and commitment throughout the season were praised by his coach, Xabi Alonso.