Francisco Calvo
Costa Rican football player (born 1992)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Francisco Javier Calvo Quesada (Spanish pronunciation: [fɾanˈθisko xaˈβjeɾ ˈkalβo keˈsaða]; born 8 July 1992) is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq and captains the Costa Rica national team.
|
Calvo with Minnesota United in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francisco Javier Calvo Quesada[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 8 July 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | San José, Costa Rica | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Al-Ettifaq | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005–2010 | Saprissa | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010 | San Jacinto Coyotes | 14 | (5) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2012 | Herediano | 23 | (1) |
| 2012 | Pérez Zeledón | 21 | (5) |
| 2013 | Nordsjælland | 3 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Herediano | 49 | (6) |
| 2015 | → Santos de Guápiles (loan) | 21 | (5) |
| 2015–2016 | Saprissa | 63 | (14) |
| 2017–2019 | Minnesota United | 60 | (5) |
| 2019–2021 | Chicago Fire | 62 | (5) |
| 2022 | San Jose Earthquakes | 13 | (2) |
| 2022–2023 | Konyaspor | 48 | (3) |
| 2024 | Juárez | 17 | (1) |
| 2024–2025 | Hatayspor | 25 | (1) |
| 2025– | Al-Ettifaq | 13 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2011 | Costa Rica U20 | 4 | (1) |
| 2011– | Costa Rica | 115 | (16) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 8 January 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:47, 18 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Early life
After starting with Deportivo Saprissa as a youth player from 2005 to 2010, Calvo moved to the United States to study at San Jacinto College after getting a scholarship and played football at university level during that period.[3]
Club career
On his return to Costa Rica in 2011, Calvo played for Herediano before a stint at Pérez Zeledón where he scored 5 goals in 21 matches.[4] In January 2013 he moved abroad to play for then Danish champions Nordsjælland[5] but he returned to Herediano in summer 2013.[6] In January 2015, Calvo joined Santos de Guápiles as a loan.[7]
In late May 2015, Calvo joined Saprissa. In his first season with Saprissa, he appeared in 39 matches and scored five goals. The following season, he continued to be a set-piece threat as he scored 9 goals in 24 matches playing as a defender.
On 27 December 2016, Calvo joined Major League Soccer side Minnesota United FC.[8] In 2018, Calvo was selected as an MLS All-Star, becoming the first Minnesota United player in club history to receive the honor.[citation needed]
On 3 May 2019, Calvo was traded to Chicago Fire.[9] Following the 2021 season, Calvo's contract option was declined by Chicago.[10]
On 26 January 2022, Calvo signed as a free agent with San Jose Earthquakes.[11] On 5 March 2022, Calvo scored two late set piece goals for a ten-man San Jose team to salvage a 3–3 draw at home against the Columbus Crew. This performance led to him being named in the MLS Team of the Week.[12] He then moved to Konyaspor in the Turkish Süper Lig.
On 15 January 2024, Calvo signed with Juárez in Mexico.[13] On 31 March 2024, he notches his first goal for the club by scoring a header contributing a 2–1 win against Santos Laguna.
On 5 August 2025, Calvo joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq.[14]
International career
On 29 May 2011, Calvo made his debut with the Costa Rica senior team in San José in a friendly game against Nigeria.[15] He was also part of the Costa Rica squad at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Calvo was also a reserve call-up for Costa Rica at the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup,[16] and later impressed senior head coach Ricardo La Volpe to win him a call-up for the Costa Rica squad at the 2011 Copa América. He made his debut in the competition in a game against Colombia, which ended in a 1–0 loss, and played in a 2–0 win against Bolivia.[17] also he played Argentina in a 3–0 loss.
In May 2018, Calvo was named in Costa Rica's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[18] He later reprised the same role at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[19]
On 15 October 2024, he featured in his 100th international match for Costa Rica in a 3–0 victory over Guatemala during the CONCACAF Nations League A.[20]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 8 November 2025[21]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Herediano | 2011–12 | Costa Rican Primera División | 23 | 1 | — | 3[a] | 0 | — | 26 | 1 | ||
| Pérez Zeledón | 2012–13 | 21 | 5 | — | — | — | 21 | 5 | ||||
| Nordsjælland | 2012–13 | Danish Superliga | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| Herediano | 2013–14 | Liga FPD | 29 | 3 | — | 1[a] | 0 | — | 30 | 3 | ||
| 2014–15 | 20 | 3 | — | 4[a] | 1 | — | 24 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 72 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | 80 | 8 | |||
| Santos (loan) | 2014–15 | Liga FPD | 21 | 5 | — | — | — | 21 | 5 | |||
| Saprissa | 2015–16 | 39 | 5 | — | 4[a] | 0 | — | 43 | 5 | |||
| 2016–17 | 24 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4[a] | 1 | — | 28 | 10 | |||
| Total | 63 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | 71 | 15 | |||
| Minnesota United | 2017 | Major League Soccer | 27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 2 | ||
| 2018 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 2 | ||||
| 2019 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | 7 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 60 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 60 | 5 | |||
| Chicago Fire | 2019 | Major League Soccer | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[b] | 0 | 24 | 3 | |
| 2020 | 22 | 1 | — | — | — | 22 | 1 | |||||
| 2021 | 17 | 1 | — | — | — | 17 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 45 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 46 | 4 | |||
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2022 | Major League Soccer | 13 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 2 | ||
| Konyaspor | 2022–23 | Süper Lig | 31 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4[c] | 0 | — | 37 | 3 | |
| 2023–24 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 48 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 55 | 3 | |||
| Juárez | 2023–24 | Liga MX | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 | ||
| 2024–25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 1 | ||||
| Hatayspor | 2024–25 | Süper Lig | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 1 | ||
| Al-Ettifaq | 2025–26 | Saudi Pro League | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 396 | 47 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 424 | 49 | ||
- Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League
- Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup
- Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League
International
- As of match played 18 November 2025[22]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 2011 | 3 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 16 | 3 | |
| 2018 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 16 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 11 | 3 | |
| 2024 | 14 | 3 | |
| 2025 | 13[a] | 2 | |
| Total | 115 | 16 | |
- Includes a non-FIFA friendly played against Catalonia, which is counted as an official match by the Costa Rican Football Federation.
- Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first.[22]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 January 2017 | Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama |  Honduras | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2017 Copa Centroamericana |
| 2 | 13 June 2017 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica |  Trinidad and Tobago | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 11 July 2017 | BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, United States |  Canada | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 4 | 3 June 2018 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica |  Northern Ireland | 3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 5 | 14 November 2019 | Ergilio Hato Stadium, Willemstad, Curaçao |  Curaçao | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A |
| 6 | 17 November 2019 | Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica |  Haiti | 1–0 | 1–1 | |
| 7 | 6 June 2021 | Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, United States | Honduras | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals |
| 8 | 5 June 2022 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica |  Martinique | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A |
| 9 | 4 July 2023 | Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States |  Martinique | 2–1 | 6–4 | 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 10 | 8 September 2023 | St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England |  Saudi Arabia | 1–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 11 | 20 November 2023 | Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama |  Panama | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League A |
| 12 | 2 July 2024 | Q2 Stadium, Austin, United States |  Paraguay | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2024 Copa América |
| 13 | 5 September 2024 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica |  Guadeloupe | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League A |
| 14 | 15 October 2024 |  Guatemala | 3–0 | 3–0 | ||
| 15 | 29 June 2025 | U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, United States |  United States | 1–0 | 2–2 (3–4 p) | 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 16 | 14 October 2025 | Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica |  Nicaragua | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| Last updated 29 June 2025 | ||||||
Honours
Individual