Cristian Espinoza
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cristian Omar Espinoza | ||
| Date of birth | 3 April 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Nashville SC | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Huracán | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2016 | Huracán | 90 | (9) |
| 2016–2020 | Villarreal | 0 | (0) |
| 2016 | → Alavés (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2017 | → Valladolid (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | → Boca Juniors (loan) | 15 | (2) |
| 2019 | → San Jose Earthquakes (loan) | 30 | (2) |
| 2020–2025 | San Jose Earthquakes | 188 | (34) |
| 2026– | Nashville SC | 5 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2015 | Argentina U20 | 11 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 6 April 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 16 July 2015 | |||
Cristian Omar Espinoza (born 3 April 1995) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Nashville SC.
Huracán
Born in Buenos Aires, Espinoza graduated from Huracán's youth setup. He made his first team debut on 24 March 2013, coming on as a second half substitute in a 2–2 home draw against Instituto for the Primera B Nacional championship.[1]
Espinoza scored his first professional goal on 26 May, netting his side's last in a 3–1 home win against Crucero del Norte.[2] He subsequently established himself as a regular starter, scoring two goals in 2014 and helping his side promote to Primera División.
Espinoza made his debut in the main category of Argentine football on 3 May 2015, in a 1–1 away draw against Rosario Central. His first goals in the category came on 2 August, netting a brace in a 3–3 draw at Crucero del Norte.
Villarreal
On 4 August 2016, Espinoza signed a five-year contract with La Liga side Villarreal CF.[3] Fifteen days later, he was loaned to fellow league team Deportivo Alavés until the end of the season.[4]
Espinoza made his debut in the main category of Spanish football on 28 August 2016, replacing Ibai Gómez in a 0–0 home draw against Sporting de Gijón.[5] After being rarely used, he left the club the following 30 January.[6]
On 31 January 2017, Espinoza was loaned to Segunda División side Real Valladolid until June.[7]
San Jose Earthquakes
On 2 January 2019, Espinoza was loaned to Major League Soccer side San Jose Earthquakes on a season-long loan.[8] On December 11, it was announced that he had joined San Jose on a permanent deal for a then-club-record transfer fee.[9]
Espinoza thrived in San Jose as a creative playmaker, becoming the club’s all-time assist leader with 51 on July 12, 2023 before eventually extending the record to 83,[10] in addition to adding two assists in two playoff appearances.[11] He also holds the club record for appearances in consecutive matches at 122.[10] He earned MLS All-Star selections in 2023 and 2025.[12]
Nashville SC
On 7 January 2026, Espinoza signed a contract with Major League Soccer side Nashville SC as a designated player.[13]
International career
On 11 December 2014 Espinoza was included in Argentina under-20's 32-man list for the 2015 South American Youth Football Championship, held in Uruguay.[14] He was included in the final call-up,[15] and made his debut in the competition on 14 January, starting and assisting Tomás Martínez in the third of a 5–2 routing over Ecuador.
