Cristian Arango
Colombian footballer (born 1995)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cristian Daniel "Chicho" Arango Duque (born 9 March 1995) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Colombian club Atlético Nacional, on loan from San Jose Earthquakes, and the Colombia national football team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cristian Daniel Arango Duque | ||
| Date of birth | 9 March 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Medellín, Colombia | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Atlético Nacional (on loan from San Jose Earthquakes) | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012 | Envigado | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2016 | Envigado | 71 | (7) |
| 2015–2016 | → Valencia B (loan) | 26 | (8) |
| 2017 | Millonarios | 12 | (3) |
| 2017–2019 | Benfica | 0 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | → Aves (loan) | 19 | (1) |
| 2018–2019 | → Tondela (loan) | 16 | (1) |
| 2019–2021 | Millonarios | 53 | (21) |
| 2021–2022 | Los Angeles FC | 54 | (32) |
| 2023 | Pachuca | 11 | (5) |
| 2023–2024 | Real Salt Lake | 45 | (23) |
| 2025– | San Jose Earthquakes | 30 | (13) |
| 2026– | → Atlético Nacional (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021– | Colombia | 2 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 8 March 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 28 January 2023 | |||
Club career
Early career
Arango began his professional career with Envigado in 2012, aged 17. For the 2015–16 season, he was loaned out to Valencia B, Valencia's reserve team in the third division, where he scored eight goals in 26 games. At the end of the season, he returned to Envigado to play the 2016 Finalizacion season, where he played in all 20 games, scoring four goals.
In January 2017, his move to Millonarios was made official. He played with them in the 2017 Apertura and the 2017 Copa Libertadores, and although he did not get much playing time due to injuries, his performance interested many European clubs.
Portugal
On 28 June 2017, he was confirmed as a Benfica player, signing a five-year contract[1][2] After playing the preseason with the club, the board decided to send him on loan. In August 2017, Desportivo Aves signed him on a one-year loan.[3] On 10 January 2018, he scored two important goals in a match against Rio Ave; first, he scored in the last minute of the game to tie the score at 3-3 and send the game into extra time. He added another in extra time, and scored his penalty in the shootout to help his club qualify to the semi-finals of the Taça de Portugal. Aves later won the cup, defeating Sporting CP in the final, although Arango did not play.
On 9 July 2018, he was loaned out again, this time to Tondela.[4]
Return to Millonarios
On 10 July 2019, Arango returned to Millonarios, signing a three-year contract.[5]
Los Angeles FC
On 2 August 2021, Arango joined Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC.[6] Arango made an immediate impact, scoring 14 goals in 17 league matches, and was named Newcomer of the Year.[7]
C.F. Pachuca
In February 2023 Chicho joined Liga MX Mexican side team C.F. Pachuca from LAFC on a three year contract.[8]
Arango played the Clausura 2023 with the Tuzos where he was active in 11 games, five as a starter, and scored five goals. [9]
Real Salt Lake
On 10 June 2023, Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake signed Arango through 2025 with an option for 2026.[10] He made his first appearance for the club on 8 July 2023, scoring the opening goal in a 4–0 home win over Orlando City.[11] On 20 February 2024, it was announced that Arango would be the new captain of Real Salt Lake.[12] On 30 March Arango scored a second-half hat-trick, with one of the goals being a penalty, in a 3–1 victory over St. Louis City.[13] On 1 June Arango scored another hat trick in a 5–1 win against Austin FC.[14]
San Jose Earthquakes
On 11 January 2025 it was announced that Arango had been traded to San Jose Earthquakes from Real Salt Lake, for $1.4 million in GAM (General Allocation Money) and one international roster spot for the 2026 season.[15]
International career
On 16 November 2021, Arango made his senior national team debut in a World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.[16]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 6 April 2025[17]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental[c] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Envigado | 2012 | Categoría Primera A | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2013 | 18 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 1 | ||||
| 2014 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||||
| 2015 | 26 | 2 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 31 | 4 | ||||
| 2016 | 20 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 71 | 7 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 85 | 9 | ||
| Valencia B (loan) | 2015–16 | Segunda División B | 26 | 8 | — | — | — | 26 | 8 | |||
| Millonarios | 2017 | Categoría Primera A | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 13 | 3 | |
| Aves (loan) | 2017–18 | Primeira Liga | 19 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 22 | 3 | |
| Tondela (loan) | 2018–19 | Primeira Liga | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — | 20 | 3 | |
| Millonarios | 2019 | Categoría Primera A | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 12 | 3 | ||
| 2020 | 21 | 10 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 23 | 12 | |||
| 2021 | 22 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 9 | ||||
| Total | 53 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 57 | 24 | ||
| Los Angeles FC | 2021 | MLS | 17 | 14 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 14 | ||
| 2022 | 37 | 18 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 40 | 21 | ||||
| Total | 54 | 32 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 35 | ||
| Pachuca | 2022–23 | Liga MX | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 13 | 5 | |
| Real Salt Lake | 2023 | MLS | 13 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | 4 | 2 | 18 | 8 | |
| 2024 | 32 | 17 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 34 | 17 | |||
| Total | 45 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 52 | 25 | ||
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2025 | MLS | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 4 | ||
| Career total | 314 | 105 | 26 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 354 | 119 | ||
- Includes Copa Colombia, Taça de Portugal and U.S. Open Cup
- Includes Taça da Liga
- Includes Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, CONCACAF Champions Cup and Leagues Cup
Honours
Aves
Los Angeles FC
Individual
