|
===Columbus Crew===
On 20 December 2019, Zelarayán moved to [[Major League Soccer]] side [[Columbus Crew]] for $8 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.columbuscrew.com/post/2019/12/20/columbus-crew-sc-acquires-attacking-midfielder-lucas-zelarayan-designated-player|title=Columbus Crew SC acquires attacking midfielder Lucas Zelarayan as a Designated Player|website=columbuscrew.com|publisher=Columbus Crew|date=20 DecemberDesember 2019|access-date=3 JuneJuni 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cucho Hernandez transfer: Columbus Crew sign Watford's Colombian striker, paying club-record $10 million fee |url=https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/cucho-hernandez-transfer-columbus-crew-sign-watfords-colombian-striker-paying-club-record-10-million-fee/ |access-date=9 OctoberOktober 2022 |website=CBSSports.com }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=FIFA falló a favor de Belgrano en la causa Zelarayán|url=https://belgranocordoba.com/noticia-belgrano/4181/ |access-date=10 April 2023 |website=belgranocordoba.com}}</ref> Zelarayán made his debut against [[New York City FC]], scoring the match-winning goal in the 56th minute.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20200301/crew-1-nyc-fc-0--lucas-zelarayanrsquos-goal-in-debut-gives-crew-season-opening-win|title=Crew 1, NYC FC 0 {{!}} Lucas Zelarayan's goal in debut gives Crew season-opening win|last=Myers|first=Jacob|website=The Columbus Dispatch|access-date=2 MarchMaret 2020}}</ref> He was named the league's [[MLS Newcomer of the Year Award|Newcomer of the Year]] at the end of the 2020 regular season. In the [[MLS Cup 2020|2020 MLS Cup final]], Zelarayán scored two goals and assisted on another in Columbus' 3–0 win over [[Seattle Sounders FC]] to help them win their second ever [[MLS Cup]] title. Zelarayán was named the [[MLS Cup Most Valuable Player]] after his performance.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 DecemberDesember 2020|title=Columbus' Zelarayan named MLS Cup MVP|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/columbus-crew-sc/story/4262117/columbus-crews-lucas-zelarayan-named-mls-cup-mvp|access-date=15 DecemberDesember 2020|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>
During the 2021 MLS season, Zelarayán scored a total of five free-kick goals, with two of them coming in one game vs [[New York City FC]]. Both free kick goals turned out to be crucial for the Crew, as they ended up winning 2–1, with the game winning free kick coming in the 5th minute of second half stoppage time, which earned Zelarayán recognition as MLS Player of the Week.<ref>{{Cite web|last=mlssoccer|title=Recap: New York City FC 1, Columbus Crew 2|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/recap-new-york-city-fc-1-columbus-crew-2|access-date=9 DecemberDesember 2021|website=mlssoccer}}</ref> Zelarayán was named MLS Player of the Week a second time in the 2021 season after scoring 2 goals in a 3–1 victory against [[DC United|D.C. United]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/columbus-crew-s-lucas-zelarayan-named-week-34-mls-player-of-the-week|website=mlssoccer.com|title=Columbus Crew's Lucas Zelarayan named Week 34 MLS Player of the Week|access-date=7 MarchMaret 2022}}</ref> Zelarayán finished the year leading the club in both goals and assists with twelve and seven respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Murphy|first=Pat|date=19 November 2021|title=The Crew announce 2021 individual end of season awards|url=https://www.massivereport.com/2021/11/19/22791215/columbus-crew-announce-2021-end-of-season-individual-awards-lucas-zelarayan-josh-williams-mls|access-date=9 DecemberDesember 2021|website=Massive Report}}</ref> At the end of the season, it was announced that Zelarayán had signed a contract extension with the Crew, keeping him with Columbus through the 2024 Major League Soccer season with an option for 2025.<ref>{{Cite news|last=ColumbusCrew.com|title=Columbus Crew signs midfielder Lucas Zelarayan to new multi-year contract |url=https://www.columbuscrew.com/news/columbus-crew-signs-midfielder-lucas-zelarayan-to-new-multi-year-contract|access-date=9 DecemberDesember 2021|website=ColumbusCrew.com}}</ref>
{{Quote box
| quote = "In training, his quality on the ball is insane. His ability to hit a ball is like when I would talk about (former teammates) [[Sebastian Giovinco|Giovinco]] or [[David Villa]]. When these guys hit a ball, it’s just different. They strike the ball cleanly so much more often than everyone else. It’s like their target on the ball is just bigger because their ability to hit a clean ball happens all the time. They hardly ever mis-hit a ball. Lucas has that quality."
| source = –[[Josh Williams (soccer)|Josh Williams]], former Columbus Crew teammate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sirkbook.com/2021/03/04/through-joshs-eyes-lucas-zelarayan/|title=Through Josh’s Eyes: Lucas Zelarayan|date=4 MarchMaret 2021}}</ref>
| align = right
| width = 19%
}}
The 2022 season began promisingly for Zelarayán as he scored four goals in the first three games of the season, including a free kick goal as part of his brace in a 3–3 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes. After a fast start in the month of March, which included being named MLS Player of the Month, recurring injury issues<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lister |first=Joe |date=3 JulyJuli 2022 |title=Talking Columbus Crew with Massive Report |url=https://www.brotherlygame.com/2022/7/3/23192608/talking-columbus-crew-with-massive-report |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515030040/https://www.brotherlygame.com/2022/7/3/23192608/talking-columbus-crew-with-massive-report |archive-date=15 MayMei 2023 |access-date=15 MayMei 2023 |website=Brotherly Game}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Holbrock |first=Justin |date=1 June 2022 |title=Lucas Zelarayan to miss 3-5 weeks with injury |url=https://www.nbc4i.com/sports/mls/lucas-zelarayan-to-miss-3-5-weeks-with-injury/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515031929/https://www.nbc4i.com/sports/mls/lucas-zelarayan-to-miss-3-5-weeks-with-injury/ |archive-date=15 MayMei 2023 |access-date=14 MayMei 2023 |website=NBC4 WCMH-TV }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Jacob |date=23 April 2022 |title='Got to stick together': Possibly without Zelarayan, Columbus Crew hoping to end losing streak |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/mls/columbus-crew/2022/04/23/caleb-porter-columbus-crew-aims-end-scoring-drought-when-they-play-sporting-kansas-city/7400296001/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515032539/https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/mls/columbus-crew/2022/04/23/caleb-porter-columbus-crew-aims-end-scoring-drought-when-they-play-sporting-kansas-city/7400296001/ |archive-date=15 MayMei 2023 |access-date=14 MayMei 2023 |website=The Columbus Dispatch}}</ref> were a potential factor in his goalless streak, which lasted for 12 consecutive matches before he scored in the [[Hell Is Real derby]] against [[FC Cincinnati]] on 17 July.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=14 MayMei 2023 |title=Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew Box Score - July 17, 2022 |url=https://theathletic.com/football/game/plays/cincinnati-vs-columbus-crew/gj80Y97yId4GzgC3/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515031815/https://theathletic.com/football/game/plays/cincinnati-vs-columbus-crew/gj80Y97yId4GzgC3/ |archive-date=15 MayMei 2023 |access-date=14 MayMei 2023 |website=The Athletic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lucas Zelarayán 2022 Match Logs |url=https://fbref.com/en/players/3ce30893/matchlogs/2022/summary/Lucas-Zelarayan-Match-Logs |access-date=15 May 2023 |website=FBref.com }}</ref> On 5 October, Zelarayán scored a 56-yard free kick, which gave him the record for the longest free-kick goal in Major League Soccer history.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 MayMei 2023 |title=Charlotte FC vs. Columbus Crew - Football Match Report - October 5, 2022 - ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/report/_/gameId/623471 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515033805/https://www.espn.com/soccer/report/_/gameId/623471 |archive-date=15 MayMei 2023 |access-date=14 MayMei 2023 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>
During week two of the [[2023 Major League Soccer season|2023 season]], Zelarayán scored both of Columbus' goals in a 2–0 victory over D.C. United,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/mls/columbus-crew/2023/03/04/columbus-crew-get-brace-from-lucas-zelarayan-to-beat-d-c-united/69971462007/|title=Lucas Zelarayan's brace leads Crew to 2-0 win over D.C. United in home opener|date=4 MarchMaret 2023|last=Johnson|first=Bailey|work=[[The Columbus Dispatch]]|access-date=6 MarchMaret 2023}}</ref> earning the league's Player of the Week award in the process.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/columbus-crew-s-lucas-zelarayan-named-player-of-the-matchday|title=Columbus Crew's Lucas Zelarayán named Player of the Matchday|date=6 Maret 2023|work=[[Major League Soccer]]|access-date=6 March 2023}}</ref> Zelarayán scored the game-winning goal versus [[Chicago Fire FC]], a 61-yard strike in the 93rd minute, leading Columbus to a 2–1 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sigal |first=Jonathan |date=10-06-2023 |title=Goal of the Year?! Lucas Zelarayán scores must-see winner from beyond midfield |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/goal-of-the-year-lucas-zelarayan-scores-must-see-winner-from-beyond-midfield |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413015016/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/goal-of-the-year-lucas-zelarayan-scores-must-see-winner-from-beyond-midfield |archive-date=13-04-2024 |access-date=13-04-2024 |website=mlssoccer |language=}}</ref> In his final game for the Crew on July 23, Zelarayán scored his last goal for the club—a free-kick in the 2–1 win against [[St. Louis City SC]] in [[2023 Leagues Cup|Leagues Cup]]—setting a club record with 9 free-kick goals across his time with the team.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=24-07-2023 |title=Match Report {{!}} St. Louis CITY SC Drops Opening Leagues Cup Match 2-1 to Columbus Crew |url=https://www.stlcitysc.com/news/match-report-st-louis-city-sc-drops-opening-leagues-cup-match-2-1-to-columbus-cr |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727214056/https://www.stlcitysc.com/news/match-report-st-louis-city-sc-drops-opening-leagues-cup-match-2-1-to-columbus-cr | archive-date=27-07-2023 | access-date=2024-04-13 |website=St. Louis CITY SC |language=}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media
| date =31-07-2023
| title =Bend it like Lucas Zelarayán: 9 Sensational Free Kicks for Columbus Crew SC
|
