Samy Merheg

Youth

Encouraged by his school coach, Merheg began organised football training aged seven, joining Salam Zgharta's academy before moving to their affiliated Koura Football Academy. After impressing at a youth tournament in Barcelona, he earned a scholarship to continue his development at Marcet in 2016, where he also played for partner club Tecnofútbol. He later represented Sant Cugat and Cornellà in Spain. After returning to Colombia, Merheg represented the Risaralda Department youth team between 2019 and 2020. In 2021, he joined VyV Mi Nuevo Tolima, scoring six goals in 10 matches for their under-15 side. He signed with Argentine club Rosario Central in 2022, but could not be registered with the Argentine Football Association due to his age, leading to his return to Colombia. In 2023, he joined Deportivo Pereira, where he scored eight goals in five matches for the under-17 team, and five goals in 10 matches for the under-20 team.

Deportivo Pereira

On 17 February 2024, aged 17 years and 73 days, Merheg made his professional debut with Deportivo Pereira, starting and playing 58 minutes in a 1–0 win against Santa Fe, before being replaced by Andrés Ibargüen. He finished the 2024 season with five games in all competitions. On 15 April 2025, Merheg scored his first goal for Deportivo Pereira and provided an assist in a 2–0 win against Deportivo Cali. He scored a brace on 27 August 2025, including a 90+5th minute winner, helping his side defeat Real…

Born in Colombia, Merheg was eligible to represent both Colombia and Lebanon at international level, as his paternal grandparents were from Lebanon.

Youth

Merheg played for the Lebanon under-16 team in two friendly matches against Malta in November 2022, scoring in the second game on 10 November. In July 2024, he was called up to the Colombia under-20 team for a training micro-cycle. After not receiving a further call-up from Colombia, he accepted an invitation to join the Lebanon under-20 team the following month, making his debut in the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification, where he played the full match in a 3–2 loss to the United Arab Emirates.

Senior

Merheg received his first senior call-up to the Lebanon national team on 5 November 2024 for friendly matches against Thailand and Myanmar. He made his debut on 14 November 2024 aged 17 years and 344 days, coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 0–0 draw against Thailand. Five days later, he scored his first international goals with a brace in a 3–2 victory over Myanmar. On 20 March 2025, Merheg scored another brace in a 4–0 friendly win against Timor-Leste, taking his tally to five in his first five appearances for Lebanon. He continued his scoring form in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, netting his sixth goal in six games during a 5–0 win over Brunei five days later.

Merheg is a physical striker known for his aerial ability, link-up play, and ability to find goalscoring positions.

Merheg was born in Pereira, Risaralda Department, Colombia, to politician Habib Merheg and Juliana Enciso, a politician and former volleyball player. His father is of Lebanese descent from both parents. His maternal uncle is former professional footballer Leonardo Enciso, while his paternal uncle is politician Juan Samy Merheg. As a child, Merheg moved with his family to Bishmizzine, Koura District, Lebanon, where he attended Bishmizzine High School. He began playing football during school breaks at the age of six or seven, having previously been introduced to the sport by his maternal grandfather.