;'/></svg>)
Personal Information
| Full Name | Francisco Javier Meza Palma |
| Date of Birth | August 29, 1991 |
| Nationality | Colombian |
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 1 1⁄2 in) |
| Role | Centre-back |
Francisco Meza: A Brief Biography
Hailing from Barranquilla, Colombia, Francisco Meza is a Colombian football player who plays for Mexican club UANL as a Center Back. He was born on August 29, 1991.
Background
After several years in the youth teams of Independiente de Santa Fe, Meza debuted at the age of 19 on April 16th, 2011.
He became the leader of the defense. In his first year as a professional, he played over 30 games. In 2012, Meza continued as a starter in the defense, making his first professional goal on February 26th, 2012 in a Colombian league match against Deportes Quindío. Meza got the title of the Apertura Tournament, which ended the drought of 36 years without league titles under the command of Wilson Gutiérrez.
On 11th June 2015, it was official that Meza have signed with Liga MX team Tigres UANL, but he joined the team until January 2016. In the meantime he continued playing for Independiente Santa Fe for the next 6 months.
On 3 December 2015, Pumas UNAM agreed to sign Meza in a season-long loan deal from Tigres UANL.
Debut
Francisco Meza was named in Colombia's squad for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Argentina in November 2015.
Meza made his club career debut for Santa Fe on 16th April 2011.
Rise to Glory
It was the year 2015 when Meza was on peak of his career. Francisco Meza rose to glory and came into prominence after he caught everyone’s attention with his amazing defending skills for Santa Fe and eventually received a national call up in the Columbia national team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Club Career
Meza continued with Santa Fe after playing for the youth teams of Independiente de Santa Fe where he spent most of his club career and made 159 appearances and also managed to score 7 goals.
In 2013, he played his first Copa Libertadores and his second international tournament - after the Copa Sudamericana in 2011. He scored his first goal in Copa Libertadores on May 12th, 2015. In addition to having great performances in the Colombian League, Copa Colombia, and the Copa Sudamericana after great memorable games, on December 9, 2015, Santa Fe became Champion of the Copa Sudamericana with Meza was crowned as a figure and leader.
Francisco Meza currently plays for Tigres UANL having signed in the year 2015. He wore 22 caps and scored 2 goals for his side. He was loaned by his previous club, Santa Fe on a season long deal where he scored a goal in 13 appearances.
In late December 2015, Pumas UNAM signed with Meza on a season long loan deal l from Tigres UANL.
Records
During his campaign with Santa Fe, Meza helped his team with his defending skills to lift Copa Sudamericana in 2015, Categoría Primera A twice in 2012 and 2014 and Superliga Colombiana twice in 2013 and 2015. He also helped Tigres UANL to lift Liga MX twice in 2016 and 2017.
