Costa Rica Greatest All-time 23 member team

 This blogger Artur Yanturin of Russia copied many of my blog teams.  This blog was one of them.  It was my Russia All-Time Team here.  His team was written in 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2014.   His Spartak Moscow All-Time team entry of was published in October 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2017.  His entry of the Dutch-German rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona was written in 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2014.  He also copied many many of my blog entries.

His Facebook and Instagram

Costa Rica World Cup 2014

Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index.

All-CONCACAF
USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador
Central America without Costa Rica and Honduras.

Canada, Trinidad & Tobago
Canada or Canadian born Players
Jamaica/Jamaican Diaspora, 

British Jamaicans

Jamaica international

Caribbean Countries

Costa Rica is the most successful national team in the region after USA and Mexico.   The national team made its debut in the Independence Centenary Games held in Guatemala City in September 1921, winning their first game 7–0 against El Salvador. In the final, Costa Rica defeated 6–0 Guatemala to claim the trophy.

Costa Rica's team in the late 1940s acquired the nickname "The Gold Shorties".Throughout the '50s and '60s, they were the second strongest team in the CONCACAF zone behind Mexico, finishing runners-up in World Cup qualifying in the 1958, 1962 and 1966 qualifiers. Stars of the side during this period included Ruben Jimenez, Errol Daniels, Leonel Hernandez and Edgar Marin. However, Costa Rica was not able to utilize this advantage, hence failed to reach any World Cup at that decade.

Before the 1990's, Los Ticos won three CONCACAFA Championships in 1963, 1969 and 1989. They also went to two Olympics in 1980 and 1984.  Then, in 1990, they shocked the world at the World Cup Finals in Italy.  They advanced to the 2nd round by beating Sweden and Scotland.  

In 2014, Costa Rica made another strong run at the World Cup Finals.  They were grouped in the Group of Death with England, Uruguay and Italy.  They responded by beating both Italy and Uruguay before drawing England in the final and meaningless game.  They beat Greece in the round of 16 before losing to Holland in a penalty shootout during the quarterfinal.  The result was one of the best ever CONCACAFA finish at the WC Finals.

I also created an all-time CONCACAFA team that excluded players from the big three. 

World Cup 1990

Team

GK: Keylor Navas 

After starting out at Saprissa Keylor Navas moved to Albacete in 2010, and then to Levante in La Liga.  After a great performance with Levante, he won the La Liga Keeper of the Year award for 2014 with Levante.  Then, he led Costa Rica to the quarter-final of the World Cup in Brazil.  After the World Cup Finals, he earned a transfer to Real Madrid.  With Real Madrid, he won three Champions League title as their starting keeper. He also played in the 2018 World Cup Finals.

Keylor Naves

GK: Luis Gabelo Conejo
Luis Gabelo Conejo was the hero of Los Ticos' World Cup run in 1990, where they reached the 2nd round.  He made the Team of the Tournament.  He had 29 caps for Costa Rica. For his club career, he played mainly for Ramonense and Albacete, during a 17-year professional career. He was a n idol with Albacete as the club reached La Liga for the first time ever in 1991.

GK: Erick Lonnis 
Erick Lonnis was the all-time leading cap leader for a keeper in Costa Rica.  He captained the national team at the Korea/Japan 2002.  He played moots his career with Deportivo Saprissa.  He was the captain for Saprissa during several seasons, where he won four national championships, as well as two CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1993 and 1995. He is an all-time great at there.

RB: Christian Gamboa 

Christian Gamboa spent his club career playing around the world after starting in A.D. Municipal Liberia in 2006.  He played in Norway and Denmark for several clubs before joining West Bromwich Albion in 2014.  He later played for Celtic and Vfl Bochum.  Since 2010, he has been capped over 80 times for Costa Rica.  He went to 2014 and 2018 World Cup Finals.   He made the CONCACAF Best XI in 2017.

RB: Harold Wallace

Wallace started his career with Deportivo Saprissa in 1993, He then played for Belén and Zacatepec before he signed with Saprissa's arch-rivals Alajuelense, where he had a long career.  With 101 caps, he played in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. He also played at two Copa América tournaments, four CONCACAF Gold Cups and three UNCAF Nations Cups.

CB/RB: Gilberto Martinez

Gilberto Martinez was capped 61 times for Costa Rica.  He played for Costa Rica at the World Cup Finals in 2002 and 2006.  He also payed the 2001 Copa America. After the World Cup Finals in 2002, he left Deportivo Saprissa to play in Europe,  He joined Brescia in Italy, where he played over 200 games.  He had brief loan spells with Roma and Lecce. He also played for Monza and ACD Nardo. He spent over 10 seasons playing in Italy in both Serie A and Serie B.  

Gilberto Martinez

CB:  Mario Cordero

Mario Cordero played for Costa Rica between 1950 and 1963.  He was considered a legend with Saprissa and one of Costa Rica's greatest defenders.  He was better known as Catato or Piernas de Oro.  Catato was the leader and captain of Deportivo Saprissa during the 50's and early 60's. He had one season in the Mexican league, with Atletico Marte.

CB: Giancarlo González
Giancarlo González had been capped over 87 times at the time of writing.  He was included in the BBC's team of the tournament for World Cup Finals in 2014. He went to Russia for the World Cup Finals four years later. He earned a big move to Palermo in Italy after the 2014 World Cup Finals.  In 2017, he joined Bologna. He previously played domestic football in Norway and the USA.  

CB: Roger Flores

Roger Flores was the captain of the national team that advanced to the 2nd round of the Italia 1990.  He played for the two most popular teams, Alajuelense and Saprissa.  He started out in Alajuela in the mid 80's, and was part of the team that won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1986. With Saprissa, he won another two more CONCACAF Champions Cup.

LB: Carlos Castro

Castro began with Alajuelense. In 2003, he moved abroad to play for Rubin Kazan in Russia.  He also played in Norway before going home in 20008 with Alajuelense again.  He played for several clubs in his home country before his retirement.  He made his senior debut for the Ticos in a June 2000.  He would have 48 caps between 2000 and 2007 playing in the 2002 World Cup Finals.  He was voted into 2003 Gold Cup Best XI.  

LB: Alvaro Grant

Grant played for Saprissa and Guadalupe at youth and junior level but made his senior debut for Herediano in 1956 and remained with the club until his retirement in July 1973. He totalled 298 league games for the Rojiamarillos and 49 cup games. Grant was named by both Radio Monumental and Al Dia newspaper in their squad of the best players of Costa Rica in the 20th century.  He had 46 caps between 1959 and 1969.

DM:  Mauricio Solis
Mauricio Solis was an important player during the late 1990's and 2000's.  He was capped 110 times between 1993 and 2006.  Solís was the second Costa Rican behind Luis Marín to reach 100 caps. He went to both World Cup Finals in 2002 and 2006.  He also played at the 1997 and 2001 Copa América.  For his club career, he played in England, the MLS and Mexico.  He played mainly for C.S. Herediano in Costa Rica.

CM: Celso Borges
His father Alexandre Guimarães who was born in Brazil represented Los Ticos at the World Cup in 1990, where Costa Rica reached the second round.  Celso Borges himself helped Costa Rica to reach the quarter-final at World Cup Finals in 2014.  He was one of the best players at the World Cup U-16 in 2005. He played professionally with Deportivo Sarprissa and AIK in Sweden. At the time of writing, he plays for Göztepe S.K. in Turkey.

Celso Borges

AM:  Walter Centeno
Walter Centeno is the cap record holder for Costa Rica, having gained 137 cap.  He is considered one of the best players of his generation.  He played in the World Cup Finals of 2002 and 2006.  He went to three Copa America tournaments. For his club career, he played mainly for Saprissa, winning a CONCACAF Champions League. He also had a brief spell in Greece.

AM: Wilmer Lopez

Lopez started with Carmelita in 1993.  The following next season, he was bought by Alajuelense, becoming one of the most beloved players, playing 13 seasons for them. He played 76 times for Costa Rica between 1995 and 2003.  He played in all 3 games during the 2002 World Cup. He also played at the 1995 and 1997 UNCAF Nations Cups as well as 4 Gold Cups and the 1997 Copa América. He also was a non-playing squad member at the 2001 Copa América.

RW/FW: Joel Campbell

Campbell's career began with Saprissa in 2009,  and joined Arsenal in 2010 where he was under contract until 2018.  He spent most of his career there on loan including stints with Real Betis, Sporting CD, Villarreal, etc.  Since 2011, he had 126 caps for Costa Rica.  He starred at the 2014 World Cup Finals, and played in 2018 and 2022 editions.  He was voted the Super League Greece Team of the Year for 2013–14 season while he was on loan there.

FW/RW: Hernán Medford
After three years at Deportivo Saprissa, Hernán Medford headed to Europe in 1990. He played in several different leagues worldwide, including Foggia Calcio, Dinamo Zagreb, Rapid Wien, Rayo Vallecano, and in the Mexican Primera Division, with Pachuca, León and Necaxa.  Pachuca decided to retire Medford's number 17 after he scored his 100th goal in his career. Medford  gained international flame at the World Cup in 1990 when Los Ticos reached the 2nd round.  

Hernán Medford

FW/LW: Bryan Ruiz
Bryan Ruiz was the captain of the national team that reached the quarter-final of the 2014 World Cup Finals.  At the time of writing, he has over 100 caps. He played with Alajuelense at home before moving abroad in 2006.  He played for Genk, Twente, Fulham, PSV and now, Sporting CP.  He is the CONCACAF Player of the Year in 2016.  He is the only Central American footballer to have played in the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League, and the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores.

SS: Rolando Fonseca
Nicknamed El Principito, Rolando Fonseca earned 113 caps for his country. He is also the all-time leading scorer for Costa Rica.  He went to the World Cup Finals in 2002, but was not selected for 2006.  For club football, Fonseca played for Comunicaciones in Guatemala, Independiente Medellín and América de Cali in Colombia, Pachuca and Pachuca in Mexico, as well as having home spells with Deportivo Saprissa, Alajuelense and Municipal Liberia.

Rolando Fonseca

FW: Ronald Gomez  
He was one of the greatest Costa Rican players.  He was capped 93 times.  He went to the WC in 2002 and 2006.  He played in 6 countries.  He started with Alajuelense before heading to play in Europe. He has played in 6 different countries: in Spain with Sporting Gijón and Hercules of Alicante, in Guatemala with Municipal,  in Greece with OFI Crete, in Kuwait with Al Qadsia, in Mexico with Irapuato and in Cyprus with APOEL.  He also played for Saprissa at home.

FW: Alejandro Morera Soto
Alejandro Morera Soto started his career with Alajuelense in 1925. He first joined Espanyol before joining Barcelona FC in 1933. He was a part of the legendary Barcelona of the 1930's, where he was their top scorer for the 1933-1934 season.  He earned the nickname "El fenomeno costarricense" ("The Costa Rican phenomenon") in Barcelona. He scored over 60 goals for them.  He also played for Hercules and La Havre.  He played 7 times and scored 6 goals for Costa Rica.

Alejandro Morera Soto

FW: José Rafael Meza
He was one of the greatest players in Costa Rica during the 1940's.  He started his career with Club Sport Cartaginés.  He went to play for Moctezuma in Mexico, where he was the top league scorer in his first season.  He later joined Estudiantes de La Plata in Argentina and Atlante in Mexico, where he was a top player in the Mexican league. He also played in Colombia and Honduras. The Club Sport Cartaginés' stadium was named after him.

FW: Paulo Wanchope
Paulo Wanchope was probably the most successful Costa Rican player playing in Europe in the modern era. He played for Derby, West Ham. Manchester City, Malaga, FC Tokyo, Chicago Fire, etc. Internationally, he had 73 caps for Los Ticos between 1996 and 2008.  He also played in the 2002 World Cup Finals in Korea/Japan 2002 and then, the World Cup Finals four years later in Germany. He is Costa Rica's second all-time leading scorer at the World Cup Finals.

Paulo Wanchope

Honorable Mention
Mario "Flaco" Pérez , Hermidio Barrantes, José Francisco Porras, Ronald González, Óscar Duarte, Luis Marín, Mauricio Wright, Michael Umaña, Vladimir Quesada, Bryan Oviedo, Harold Wilson, Javier Jiménez, Álvaro Saborío, Christian Bolaños, Francisco “Chico” Hernández Ramírez, Marco Ureña, Errol Daniels, Juan Cayasso, Óscar Ramírez, Alonso Solis, Juan Ulloa, Evaristo Coronado, Jorge Monge, Mauricio Montero, Errol Daniels.

Squad Explanation
-- The original team was created in December, 2014.  At that time,  I was influenced by Costa Rica's World Cup run about 6 months earlier.  It was one of the teams that badly needed a review. This version was created in June, 2023.  "Nearly 9 years later, it would be interesting how time has changed my perspective," I told myself right before I reviewed this team.  This team had the most changes from the original team.

-- Many people considered Alejandro Morera Soto as Costa Rica's greatest player.  He was a part of the legendary Barcelona of the 1930's, where he was their top scorer for the 1933-1934 season. Keylor Navas was probably their second greatest player, largely for the 2014 World Cup as well as playing for Real Madrid.  Then, perhaps, Paulo Wanchope and Bryan Ruiz were among the country's greatest.  Walter Centeno and Rolando Fonseca sometimes listed alongside those names. 

-- I selected 6 players from the World Cup 2014 team because no Costa Rican team have done more than that team.  They did not just only advanced to the quarterfinal.  They actually emerged from the Group of Death that included Italy, Uruguay and England.  They did it with ease too.  They only failed at the quarterfinal by penalty kicks against the Netherlands, the finalist in 2010 and the semifinalist in 2014.  The 6 players were Giancarlo Gonzalez, Cristian Gamboa, Celso Borges, Joel Campbell and Bryan Ruiz and Keylor Navas.

-- Costa Rica under manager Bora Milutinović beat Sweden and Scotland to qualify for the second round of the 1990 World Cup Finals. From the 1990 World Cup team, I selected 6 players: Hernan Medford, Roger Flores, Luis Gabelo Conejo and Celso Borges.

-- But surprisingly, the 2002 World Cup team had more players than the World Cup team in 1990 and 2014.  I had 10 players: Erik Lonnis, Ronald Gomez, Wilmer Lopez, Gilberto Martinez, Paulo Wanchope, Harold Wallace, Hernan Medford, Walter Centeno, Carlos Castro and Mauricio Solís.

-- I only have three players who played before the 1990's.  Alejandro Morera Soto had a fantastic career with Barcelona FC.  José Rafael Meza Ivancovich was a pioneer in Costa Rica.  Then, I had Mario Cordero and Alvaro Grant.  

Fello Meza

-- IFFHS selected the following players as their All-Time Best XI for Costa Rica.  They were Keylor Navas, Gilberto Martínez, Mario Cordero, Giancarlo González, Álvaro Grant MacDonald, Wálter Centeno, Juan Cayasso, Bryan Ruíz, Paulo Wanchope, Alejandro Morera and Hernán Medford.

-- In 2020, ESPN Costa Rica came up with their All-Time Best XI: Keylor Navas, Cristian Gamboa, Gilberto Martínez, Giancarlo González, Carlos Castro, Mauricio Solís, Walter Centeno, Wilmer López, Bryan Ruiz, Ronald Gómez and Paulo César Wanchope.  On the same year, Futbol Centro America also came up with two teams.  The first team consisted of Kaylor Navas, Christian Gamboa, Gilberto Martinez, Giancarlo Gonzalez, Carlos Castro, Mauricio Solis, Walter Centeno, Wilmer Lopez, Bryan Ruiz, Rolando Fonseca, and Paulo Wanchope.  The second team were Gabelo Conejo, Hernan Medford, Christian Bolaños, Ronald González, Roger Flores, Luis Marín, Harold Wallace, Celso Borges, Oscar Duarte, and "Bala" Gómez.

Goalkeepers

-- Keylor Navas helped Costa Rica to reach the quarterfinal of the 2014 World Cup Finals.  He also won two Champions League titles as the starting keeper for Real Madrid.  He has achieved more than any other players from Costa Rica.  He was my number one keeper even through Luis Gabelo Conejo was a strong candidate.  

-- Gabelo Conejo was actually rated as the best goalkeeper in Central America until Navas came along.  He was awarded a place on the Team of the Tournament. at the 1990 World Cup Finals.  He helped Costa Rica to reach the second round of the 1990 World Cup Finals conceding only twice.  In the knockout stage, he was out injured and Costa Rica collapsed against Czechoslovakia with Hermidio Barrantes in goal.

Luis Gabelo Conejo

-- In 2023, I narrowed down to three goalkeepers: Hermidio Barrantes, José Francisco Porras and Erick Lonnis. I took Lonnis as the third goalkeeper in 2014 because he was the all-time leading cap leader for a keeper in Costa Rica.  Since then, Navas has overtook him.  In the 2002 World Cup Finals, Erick Lonnis's Costa Rica was eliminated in the group stage through a goal difference of one.  He was criticised by the goal against Turkey which gave Turkey the edge in the goal difference. He also gave up 5 goals against Brazil in the 2002 World Cup in a free scoring game in the first round.  It was my understanding his reputation was tarnished.  However, he played so many times for Costa Rica.  That should count for something.

-- Gabelo Conejo's injury allowed Barrantes to step in against Czechoslovakia in the second round of the 1990 World Cup Finals. He was blamed by some fans for Costa Rica's heavy defeat and received death threats on his return home

--I also looked into  Mario "Flaco" Pérez from the 1960's.  He was a legend with Saprissa.  He won two CONCACAF Championship  in 1963 and 1969.  But I did not know how to rate him against the more modern goalkeepers.

Defenders

-- Ricardo Saprissa was the founder of Deportivo Saprissa, but he was born in El Salvador.  I do not know of his citizenship.  He did not move to Costa Rica until 1932 after he finished his playing career. I listed him as a El Salvadoran for my greatest Central America team.  He was definitely a great contributor to Costa Rican football, but this blog is about playing the game as a Costa Rican player.  He did not qualify.

-- In 2014, my defensive unit was geared toward the 2014 World Cup team.  Costa Rica only gave up two goals one of which was a penalty in the entire tournament.  Under the 2023 review, I changed the team around.  

-- In the center, Gilberto Martinez was an undisputed selection. I did not recall where and how I discovered Mario Cordero in 2014.  In 2023, many press clippings I found considered him to be Costa Rica's greatest defender.  He led Saprissa to four national titles as well as captaining them on a world tour in 1959.  It was the first Latin American team to do so. IFFHS honored him with a spot (my old team predated them by 7 years so I did not find him there), but neither ESPN Costa Rica nor Futbol Centro America acknowledged him. Giancarlo González was voted into the BBC Team of the Tournament for the 2014 World Cup.  He was rock solid in Brazil as Costa Rica only gave up two goals in the entire tournament.  The three seemed untouchable. 

-- I had a few choices for the 4th central defender. Ronald González's name was brought by ESPN Costa Rica. In 2014, I also selected Óscar Duarte and Luis Marin.  Luis Marín is now the most capped central defender.  He was listed as #10 greatest Costa Rican footballer by a list. Mauricio Montero's jersey number was retired by Alajuelense.  In the end, I kept Roger Flore who was the captain of the 1990 World Cup team.  

Roger Flore 

-- Michael Umaña who was more of a central defender was chosen in 2014 as my only rightback.  The backup was Gilberto Martínez who could also play in this position.  So that team did not have a real rightback.  In 2023, I took Christian Gamboa from the 2014 World Cup team.  One website listed him 5 of the greatest footballers from this country.  With 101 caps, Harold Wallace deserved a spot.  He could also play as a defensive midfielder, a position I badly needed a backup.

-- Both ESPN Costa Rica picked Carlos Castro as its leftback while IFFHS took Álvaro Grant.  In 2014, I only selected Bryan Oviedo, but his name was not to be found in my research in 2023.  I probably took him because he played for Everton at the time.  He did not attend the 2014 World Cup Finals because of an injury.  Since then, his career was slowed down by injuries, etc.  So I dropped him and took Castro who was probably undisputed. I also took Alvaro Grant who was chosen by IFHHS as their greatest leftback.

-- Óscar Duarte was born in Nicaragua, but played for Costa Rica.  He was a part of the great defensive unit at the 2014 World Cup Finals, where Costa Rica only gave up a single goal in group stage and reached the quarterfinal.  He also played in the World Cup Finals in 2018.  He played for Deportivo Sarprissa at home.  In 2013, he moved to Club Brugge in Belgium and then, to Espanyol in 2016.

-- Luis Marín earned 128 caps with Costa Rica.  He spent most of his career with Alajuelense, but he also had stints in Uruguay and Israel.  He was Israel Foreign Player of the Year in 2006-2007 while playing with Maccabi Netanya.  He played in all 3 games during both the 2002 and 2006 World Cups Finals.

-- Michael Umaña has played for Los Ticos since 2004.  He went to the World Cup Finals in 2006 and 2014.  He was a part of the great defensive units at Brazil 2014 in which Los Ticos reached the quarter-final.  At the time of writing, he had over 100 caps. He played for many clubs all over the world, including stints in the USA, Iran, etc.

-- Bryan Oviedo played for Everton and Sunderland in England.  He previously played in Norway and Denmark.  He missed the 2014 World Cup Finals through an injury, but went to Russia four years later in 2018. He was selected for his national squad at the Copa América Centenario in 2016. 

Midfielders/Wingers

-- During my research, I could not come up with great defensive midfielder, except Mauricio Solís.  He was a journeyman in club football, but he spent 13 years with Los Ticos. With 158 international appearances, Celso Borges is the most capped player in Costa Rica's history.  His father Alexandre Guimarães was on the 1990 World Cup team.  His assisted on Hernán Medford's goal against Sweden that sent Costa Rica to the second round of that World Cup.  Borges himself was a key figure in the 2014 World Cup finals.  He was a two-way midfielder.  RB Harold Wallace would be the third defensive midfielder.

Mauricio Solís

-- Walter Centeno was at point the cap record holder for Costa Rica, having gained 137 cap.   With AEK Athens, he managed to score at against both Real Madrid and Roma as they were held to home draws in the Champions' League.  He was sometimes listed among the top 10 ever greatest player in this country.

-- AM Wilmer Lopez was selected by ESPN Costa Rica and Futbol Centro America on their Best XI.  I did not select him in 2014, but I added him because of the lack of midfielder.s I dropped Óscar Ramírez in 2023.  I also did not have space for Juan Cayasso because of Bryan Ruiz, Wilmer Lopez and Walter Centeno.  

-- Joel Campbell was originally selected for his performance at the World Cup Finals as well as his career with Arsenal.  He was named the Man of the match award in the 2014 World Cup Finals against Uruguay.  He was mainly used as a striker in Brazil.  Unfortunately, his career was not well as what I envisioned after the World Cup Finals in 2014.  However, by 2024,  he has earned 125 caps, and played in three World Cup Finals.  He scored some important goals for the Costa Rica. He again earned his merits.  Besides, this team lacked wide players and Campbell could operate on the wide right.  

-- I seriously looked into right wing Christian Bolaños who also played on the left. He played in 2006, 2014 and 2018 World Cup Finals, and at one point Costa Rica's record player in the World Cup Finals.  Since then, he was replaced by several players including Joe Campbell.  Campbell went to three World Cup Finals.  He started or played in most matches, except one.  I also added Hernán Medford who was the hero of the 1990 World Cup Finals.  He was one of the more famous footballers from Costa Rica before the 2014 generation.  So I did not have a spot for Christian Bolaños.

-- On the left, I did not have anyone.  I relied on Bryan Ruiz who had played as a left winger (as well as some matches on the right), and leftback Carlos Castro.  

-- Nicknamed El Machillo (The Blonde), Oscar Ramírez earned 75 caps for Costa Rica and went to the World Cup Finals in 1990.  For his club career, he played for both Alajuelense and Saprissa.  With Alajuelense he won four national championships during the 1980s and early 1990s, as well as a CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1986. 

Forwards

-- Alejandro Morera Soto scored 63 goals in just 76 matches for FC Barcelona.  In Spain, he was known as the "Costa Rican phenomenon".  At the time of writing, Bryan Ruiz is the only Costa Rican player to have won the CONCACAF Player of the Year award.  He could operate as a forward.  Perhaps, he is Costa Rica's greatest outfielder since Morera.  Paulo Wanchope did not come from the two golden generations, but he was easily the most successful player from Costa Rica playing in Europe after Keylor Navas.  The three of them was considered undisputed.

Bryan Ruiz

-- Juan Ulloa was the national team's all-time goalscorer until Rolando Fonseca surpassed him in 2002.  He spent a brief time in Spain with Real Betis in the 1960's.  However, I had many \candidates ahead of him.

-- Evaristo Coronado played his entire career of 14 seasons for Deportivo Saprissa, where he holds the team record for most appearances made and goals scored ever. He was Costa Rica's top scorer in the 1990 World Cup qualifiers, but was dropped by coach Bora Milutinovic for the World Cup Finals, despite a national cry for his inclusion.  I put him on honorable mentions only.  If he went to the World Cup Finals, he might earn that extra something to put him on this team.

--  I also came across Errol Daniels. He held the scoring record in the Costa Rican league. He scored 197 goals in just 168 matches, but an injury effectively ended his career at the age of just 28.  His goal tally would have been bigger.  I nearly took him.  Instead, I picked José Rafael Meza who was a top forward in Mexico during the 1940's.  He was considered a pioneer in Costa Rican football.  Rolando Fonseca and Ronald Gomez appeared in many top player list.  Fonseca is Costa Rica's all-time leading scorer.  

Formation