Tomás Rincón

Early career

Born in San Cristóbal, Táchira, Rincón started his career with the youth sides of EF Monsenor Arias Blanco. In 2004, aged 16, he moved to UA Maracaibo, and made his senior debut during the 2006–07 season, playing with the B-team in the Venezuelan Segunda División and scoring two goals. Rincón joined Venezuelan Primera División club Zamora in January 2007, and made his top tier debut on 25 March, starting in a 2–0 away loss against Carabobo. He became a regular starter in the 2007–08 season, and scored his first goal for the club on 30 September 2007, in a 4–0 home victory against his former club Macaribo. With Zamora, Rincón also took part in the club's first-ever continental appearance, playing in both matches of the 2007 Copa Sudamericana as they were knocked out by Ecuadorian club Olmedo. Rincón left Zamora in July 2008 after scoring once in 33 league matches, and moved to Deportivo Táchira on a contract until 2010.

Hamburger SV

Rincón, then 22 years old, played on loan for German Bundesliga club Hamburger SV. On 30 January 2009, he signed a contract until 31 December 2009. Rincón played his first match for Hamburg on 4 March 2009 against Wehen Wiesbaden in the DFB-Pokal. He made his Bundesliga debut on 4 April as a substitute in the 87th minute in a 1–0 victory against 1899 Hoffenheim. On 10 December 2009, Hamburger SV purchased him from his former club Deportivo Táchira. Rincón signed a contract until 30 June 2014.

Genoa

On 31…

Nicknamed el general (lit. 'The General'), Rincón is usually deployed in the centre, as a defensive midfielder in front of the back-line, he is also capable of playing as a full-back, wing-back, or wide midfielder along the right flank. He has also been deployed in a box-to-box role, or as an offensive-minded central midfielder, known as the mezzala role in Italy.

Club

As of match played 25 April 2026

International

Scores and results list Venezuela's goal tally first.

Rincón represented Venezuela at under-17 level in the 2005 South American U-17 Championship, and at under-20 level in the 2007 South American U-20 Championship. He played his first senior international game for the full side on 3 February 2008, starting in a 1–0 friendly victory against Haiti at the Estadio Monumental de Maturín. On 22 July 2011, Rincón was voted Adidas' Best Player at the 2011 Copa América in Argentina, receiving 65% of the total votes against ten candidates. Venezuela finished the tournament in fourth place. He also played at the 2015 Copa América, and the Copa América Centenario in 2016 with Venezuela, serving as his team's captain in the latter tournament. Rincón scored his first international goal on 16 November 2018, netting the equalizing goal from the penalty spot in a 1–1 friendly away draw against Japan. He was also a member of the Venezuela national team that took part at the 2019 Copa América in Brazil, and made his 100th international appearance for Venezuela against Trinidad and Tobago on 14 October 2019. On 11 September 2025, Rincón announced his retirement from the national team following his country's 6–3 loss against Colombia at home, which led Venezuela to be eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.