Franco Israel
Uruguayan footballer (born 2000)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Franco Israel Wibmer (born 22 April 2000) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Torino and the Uruguay national team.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Franco Israel Wibmer[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 22 April 2000[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Nueva Helvecia, Uruguay | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Torino | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 81 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2016 | Club Artesano | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2018 | Nacional | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2020 | Juventus | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2022 | Juventus U23 | 50 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2025 | Sporting CP | 24 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Torino | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Uruguay U17 | 6 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Uruguay U18 | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Uruguay U20 | 14 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023– | Uruguay | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18 October 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 13 October 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life
Israel was born on 22 April 2000 in Nueva Helvecia, a city in the Colonia Department of Uruguay. He is of maternal German descent, whereas his father's side is of Italian heritage, tracing his ancestry to Bobbio Pellice, a comune in the Piedmont region.[4] Along with his native Uruguayan passport, Israel also holds an Italian passport.[5] Israel has one older brother, Alec, whom he lived with during his tenure with Nacional. During his youth, Israel played basketball and football as a child, before opting for the latter, when the games of the two teams he represented began being scheduled on the same day.[6]
Club career
Early career
Israel started his football career in the youth ranks of local club Artesano, before joining Nacional's youth setup in 2016, moving subsequently to the city of Montevideo.[6]
Juventus U23
Having impressed in Nacional's 2018 U-20 Copa Libertadores campaign, which they won, Italian club Juventus decided to sign him on 17 August 2018, on a five-year deal for a transfer worth €2.2 million.[7][8][6] He made his professional debut on 28 September 2020 in Juventus U23's 2–1 league win against Pro Sesto.[9] On 24 November, the first team's squad Andrea Pirlo called up Israel for a UEFA Champions League match against Ferencváros; he was eventually called up three other times in the 2020–21 season.[10]
Sporting CP
On 5 July 2022, Israel signed a five-year contract with Portuguese club Sporting CP for a fee of €650,000 for 60% of his economic rights.[6][11] He made his competitive debut for club, on 4 October, in a Champions League away match against Marseille, where he replaced Marcus Edwards early into first half, after starting goalkeeper Antonio Adán was sent off; he conceded two goals as the match ended in a 4–1 loss.[12] In the reverse fixture a week later, Israel made his first start, featuring in the 2–0 home loss against the same opponent.[13]
Torino
On 27 July 2025, Israel joined Serie A club Torino on a three-year contract.[14]
International career
Israel is a former Uruguay youth international. He has represented Uruguay at several tournaments including the 2019 South American U-20 Championship and the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[15][16]
In June 2023, Israel received his first call-up to the senior team.[17] He made his debut on 14 June 2023 in a 4–1 win against Nicaragua.[18] In June 2024, he was named in Uruguay's 26-man squad for the 2024 Copa América.[19]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 30 November 2025[2]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Juventus U23 | 2020–21 | Serie C | 18 | 0 | — | — | — | 2[b] | 0 | 20 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22 | Serie C | 32 | 0 | — | — | — | 7[c] | 0 | 39 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 50 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | 59 | 0 | |||||
| Juventus | 2020–21 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021–22 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Sporting CP | 2022–23 | Primeira Liga | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4[e] | 0 | — | 23 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | Primeira Liga | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8[d] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| Total | 24 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 0 | ||
| Torino | 2025–26 | Serie A | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 82 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 121 | 0 | ||
- Includes Taça de Portugal, Coppa Italia
- One appearance in Coppa Italia Serie C, six appearances in Serie C promotion play-offs
- Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
International
- As of match played 13 October 2025[2]
- Includes a Non-FIFA friendly played against Basque Country, which is counted as an official match by Uruguayan Football Association.
Honours
Nacional U20
Sporting CP
Uruguay U20
- South American Games silver medal: 2018[24]
Uruguay
- Copa América third place: 2024[25]
