Bryan Ruiz

Bryan Ruiz González (born August 18, 1985) is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Liga Deportiva Alajuelense and the Costa Rica national team. He is considered one of the greatest Costa Rican footballers of all time.

Ruiz began his professional career in 2003 with Alajuelense, where he won three league titles and two CONCACAF Champions Cups. In 2006, he moved to Belgian club Gent, where he spent two seasons before joining FC Twente in the Netherlands. He won the Eredivisie title with Twente in the 2009–10 season and was named the Dutch Footballer of the Year.

In 2011, Ruiz joined English club Fulham for a fee of £10.6 million. He spent two seasons with Fulham, making 68 appearances and scoring 12 goals. In 2013, he moved to Portuguese club Sporting CP, where he won the Taça de Portugal in 2015.

In 2018, Ruiz returned to Alajuelense, where he won a fourth league title in 2019–20. He has also represented Costa Rica at the FIFA World Cup in 2006, 2014 and 2018, and the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. He is the all-time leading goalscorer for Costa Rica with 29 goals.

Ruiz is known for his skill, vision and passing ability. He is also a set-piece specialist and has scored many goals from free kicks and penalties. He is considered one of the best players in Costa Rican history and has been named the Costa Rican Footballer of the Year on six occasions.

Here are some additional facts about Bryan Ruiz:

• He is the only Costa Rican player to have scored in three FIFA World Cups.
• He is the only Costa Rican player to have been named the Dutch Footballer of the Year.
• He is the only Costa Rican player to have won the Portuguese Cup.
• He is the only Costa Rican player to have won four Costa Rican league titles.
• He is the only Costa Rican player to have won two CONCACAF Champions Cups.
• He is the only Costa Rican player to have scored 20 or more goals for the national team.