1. Early life and career beginnings
Dorlan Pabón was born on January 24, 1988, in Medellín, Colombia. His professional career began at the Colombian club Envigado F.C., where he quickly established himself as a promising talent.
1.1. Envigado
Pabón started his professional career at Envigado F.C.. He notably became a top goalscorer of the 2008 Copa Colombia, sharing the honor with Wilson Mena. During his initial period at Envigado, from 2006 to 2010, he made 67 appearances and scored 26 goals.
2. Club career
Pabón's club career has seen him play for various teams across different continents, adapting to diverse football environments and contributing to successes both domestically and internationally.
2.1. Domestic career (Colombia)
Pabón's performances in the Colombian domestic league brought him significant recognition before his moves to clubs abroad.
2.1.1. Atlético Nacional
In 2010, Pabón transferred to the prestigious Colombian team Atlético Nacional. He played a crucial role in the club's success, notably winning the Categoría Primera A twice, in the 2011-I and 2022-I Apertura tournaments.
During the 2011 Liga Postobón Apertura, Nacional faced La Equidad. After losing the first leg 2-1, Nacional needed to win the second leg by a single goal to force a penalty shootout. Pabón scored two goals in the away leg, which ended 2-1 in Nacional's favor, and successfully converted his penalty in the shootout, helping Nacional secure its 11th national title.
Pabón is also well-remembered for scoring a remarkable free-kick from 40 yd against Peñarol during a 2012 Copa Libertadores group stage game. Nacional went on to win that match 4-0 away from home, with Pabón contributing two of the goals. Although Nacional was eventually eliminated in the Copa Libertadores Round of 16 by Vélez Sarsfield, Pabón ended the Copa Libertadores tournament with 7 goals, ranking second only to Neymar of Santos FC. He was also named player of the week for the tournament between February 21 and 23. Overall, he scored 50 goals in 71 appearances for Nacional during this period.
2.2. International club transfers and loans
Pabón's career saw him venture into European, Mexican, and Brazilian leagues through a series of loan spells and transfers, showcasing his versatility and attacking prowess on different stages.
2.2.1. Parma
Pabón garnered significant interest from several European clubs before joining Serie A club Parma F.C. on June 27, 2012, signing a five-year contract. However, his tenure in Italy was brief, yielding 1 goal in 11 appearances. During the January 2013 transfer window, it was announced that C.F. Monterrey in Mexico had secured his transfer for the following summer.
2.2.2. Real Betis (loan)
Shortly after his transfer to Monterrey was announced, Pabón was loaned to Real Betis in Spain for six months. This arrangement was facilitated by Parma, as FIFA regulations prevent a player from being registered with three different teams in a single season. Consequently, having been registered by Monterrey, he would not have been able to play for Betis directly. Pabón's spell at Betis was more productive than his time in Italy, as he achieved a higher goal-per-game ratio. Notably, he scored a goal against FC Barcelona in the very first minute of a match. He made 17 appearances, scoring 8 goals and providing 6 assists during this loan period.
2.2.3. First spell at Monterrey
Following his loan spell with Real Betis, Pabón commenced his initial period with C.F. Monterrey in Mexico in 2013. During this brief spell, he played 6 matches, scoring 3 goals and assisting 2 others.
2.2.4. Valencia
On August 16, 2013, Pabón returned to La Liga, signing with Valencia CF. Having been impressed by his brief yet impactful loan at Betis during the latter half of the 2012-13 season, Valencia agreed to pay 7.50 M EUR for his services. He made his debut for his new team on September 1, 2013, in a 2-3 home loss to FC Barcelona. His first goal for Valencia came on October 19, 2013, in a 1-2 loss to Real Sociedad. He played 13 matches for Valencia, scoring 3 goals.
2.2.5. São Paulo (loan)
On January 27, 2014, Pabón signed a one-year loan deal with Brazilian club São Paulo FC. Despite being Valencia's most expensive signing during the 2013-14 transfer window, Pabón found it difficult to adapt at Valencia, and with the arrival of Eduardo Vargas, he faced increased competition for a starting position, leading to his decision to seek a move.
Pabón scored his first goal for São Paulo on February 26, converting a penalty kick in a 3-1 victory against XV de Piracicaba in a 2014 São Paulo State League game. He notably requested permission from Rogério Ceni, the long-time club idol and official penalty taker, to take the penalty. According to Ceni, Pabón had also asked to take a penalty in a previous match against Santos FC, but Ceni stated that "this is not a problem here."
Pabón departed São Paulo on June 3, 2014, with the club expressing gratitude for his contributions. In his final game for the club on May 31, a 2-1 win against Atlético Mineiro, Pabón scored the winning goal in the closing minutes. Reflecting on his time there, he stated, "I remain very happy for the opportunity to have played for a giant club like São Paulo FC, who gave me my first passage into Brazilian football." During his loan spell, he made 7 league appearances, scoring 1 goal, and also played 8 state league matches, scoring 1 goal and assisting 1.
2.3. Return to Monterrey
In June 2014, C.F. Monterrey confirmed the signing of Pabón from Valencia for 7.00 M USD, marking his second and more extended spell with the Mexican club. During this period, he became a key player, contributing significantly to the team's successes. He played a total of 227 games for Monterrey in this second spell, scoring 73 goals. His time with C.F. Monterrey concluded on July 1, 2021, when he and the club mutually agreed to part ways.
3. International career
Pabón made his debut for the senior Colombia national football team in September 2009, in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Chile. His first goal for his country came on October 11, 2011, against Bolivia in La Paz during a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match. Colombia went on to win that game 2-1 thanks to a late goal from Falcao.
His second goal for Colombia was scored on November 15, 2011, against Argentina in Barranquilla, in a match Colombia ultimately lost 1-2. Pabón netted his third international goal on October 16, 2012, against Cameroon in Barranquilla, contributing to a 3-0 victory in a friendly game. He earned 15 caps for the senior national team, scoring 3 goals. He also represented the Colombia Olympic team in 2016, making 6 appearances and scoring 2 goals.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Final | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | October 11, 2011 | Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia | Bolivia | 0-1 | 1-2 | 2014 WCQ |
| 2. | November 15, 2011 | Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia | Argentina | 1-0 | 1-2 | 2014 WCQ |
| 3. | October 16, 2012 | Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia | Cameroon | 3-0 | 3-0 | Friendly |
4. Honours and achievements
Pabón has accumulated several team and individual honors throughout his professional career.
Atlético Nacional
- Categoría Primera A (2): 2011-I, 2022-I
Monterrey
- Liga MX (1): Apertura 2019
- Copa MX (2): Apertura 2017, 2019-20
- CONCACAF Champions League (2): 2019, 2021
Individual
- Liga MX Golden Boot: Clausura 2015
5. Career statistics
The following table details Dorlan Pabón's club career statistics, including appearances, goals, and assists across various competitions.
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Real Betis | 2012-13 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 17 | 8 | 6 | ||
| Total | 17 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 17 | 8 | 6 | |||
| Monterrey | 2013-14 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 7 | 5 | 2 | ||
| Total | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 7 | 5 | 2 | |||
| Valencia | 2013-14 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | 18 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Total | 13 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | 18 | 3 | 0 | |||
| São Paulo | 2014 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 1 | |
| Monterrey | 2014-15 | 35 | 22 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 42 | 29 | 10 | ||
| Monterrey | 2015-16 | 39 | 16 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 40 | 17 | 12 | ||
| Monterrey | 2016-17 | 22 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | - | 24 | 11 | 4 | ||
| Total | 102 | 52 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | - | 113 | 62 | 26 | |||
| Career totals | 139 | 64 | 31 | 12 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 166 | 74 | 35 | |