Francisco Calvo

{{short description|Costa Rican football player (born 1992)}} {{family name hatnote|Calvo|Quesada|lang=Spanish}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Francisco Calvo | image = Francisco Calvo - 2019.jpg | caption = Calvo with Minnesota United in 2019 | fullname = Francisco Javier Calvo Quesada<ref name="FIFA 2022">{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce44/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Costa Rica (CRC) |publisher=FIFA |page=7 |date=15 November 2022 |access-date=15 November 2022}}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|7|8|df=yes}} | birth_place = San José, Costa Rica | height = 1.80 m<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tournament.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF |title=2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players |website=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |date=4 June 2018 |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619164139/https://tournament.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF |archive-date=19 June 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | position = Centre-back | currentclub = Al-Ettifaq | clubnumber = 5 | youthyears1 = 2005–2010 | youthclubs1 = Saprissa | collegeyears1 = 2010 | college1 = San Jacinto Coyotes | collegecaps1 = 14 | collegegoals1 = 5 | years1 = 2011–2012 | clubs1 = Herediano | caps1 = 23 | goals1 = 1 | years2 = 2012 | clubs2 = Pérez Zeledón | caps2 = 21 | goals2 = 5 | years3 = 2013 | clubs3 = Nordsjælland | caps3 = 3 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2013–2015 | clubs4 = Herediano | caps4 = 49 | goals4 = 6 | years5 = 2015 | clubs5 = → Santos de Guápiles (loan) | caps5 = 21 | goals5 = 5 | years6 = 2015–2016 | clubs6 = Saprissa | caps6 = 63 | goals6 = 14 | years7 = 2017–2019 | clubs7 = Minnesota United | caps7 = 60 | goals7 = 5 | years8 = 2019–2021 | clubs8 = Chicago Fire | caps8 = 62 | goals8 = 5 | years9 = 2022 | clubs9 = San Jose Earthquakes | caps9 = 13 | goals9 = 2 | years10 = 2022–2023 | clubs10 = Konyaspor | caps10 = 48 | goals10 = 3 | years11 = 2024 | clubs11 = Juárez | caps11 = 17 | goals11 = 1 | years12 = 2024–2025 | clubs12 = Hatayspor | caps12 = 25 | goals12 = 1 | years13 = 2025– | clubs13 = Al-Ettifaq | caps13 = 30 | goals13 = 4 | nationalyears1 = 2011 | nationalteam1 = Costa Rica U20 | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 1 | nationalyears2 = 2011– | nationalteam2 = Costa Rica | nationalcaps2 = 115 | nationalgoals2 = 16 | pcupdate = 14 May 2026 | ntupdate = 22:47, 18 November 2025 (UTC) }}

'''Francisco Javier Calvo Quesada''' ({{IPA|es| 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.

==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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nacion.com/puro-deporte/futbol-nacional/francisco-calvo-se-abre-su-camino/VOGRIM65MNDIPNMB3JJTTFNOSY/story/|title=Francisco Calvo se abre su camino|website=Lanacion.com|access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wvw.aldia.cr/nacion/futbol/unafut/2012/invierno/jugador_7_348.html |title=Francisco Calvo statistics |website= |access-date=8 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523012016/http://wvw.aldia.cr/nacion/futbol/unafut/2012/invierno/jugador_7_348.html |archive-date=23 May 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In January 2013 he moved abroad to play for then Danish champions Nordsjælland<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nacion.com/puro-deporte/futbol-internacional/francisco-calvo-firmo-con-el-campeon-danes/2XUYGHUZP5BGHO7JVZJI4POCJ4/story/|title=Francisco Calvo firmó con el campeón danés|website=Lanacion.com|access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref> but he returned to Herediano in summer 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nacion.com/puro-deporte/futbol-nacional/francisco-calvo-esta-cerca-de-regresar-al-herediano/NHUEZWKBIZDMRFMOZQQEN4XVG4/story/|title=Francisco Calvo está cerca de regresar al Herediano|website=Lanacion.com|access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref> In January 2015, Calvo joined Santos de Guápiles as a loan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nacion.com/puro-deporte/futbol-nacional/francisco-calvo-firmo-con-saprissa-a-partir-del-invierno-2015/MIJB5M5XNJHM3MRWXJ7XT5H4FQ/story/|title=Francisco Calvo firmó con Saprissa a partir del Invierno 2015|website=Lanacion.com|access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|title=MNUFC Signs Dynamic Defender Francisco Calvo |url=http://www.mnufc.com/post/2016/12/27/mnufc-signs-dynamic-defender-francisco-calvo |publisher=Minnesota United FC |date=27 December 2016 |access-date=27 December 2016}}</ref> 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|date=January 2019}}

On 3 May 2019, Calvo was traded to Chicago Fire.<ref>{{cite web|title=Minnesota United trades Francisco Calvo to Chicago for cash |url=http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-united-trades-francisco-calvo-to-chicago-for-cash/509431061/ |publisher=Star Tribune |date=3 May 2019 |access-date=3 May 2019}}</ref> Following the 2021 season, Calvo's contract option was declined by Chicago.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagofirefc.com/news/chicago-fire-fc-announce-2021-roster-decisions|title=Chicago Fire FC Announce 2021 Roster Decisions &#124; Chicago Fire FC|website=Chicagofirefc.com}}</ref>

On 26 January 2022, Calvo signed as a free agent with San Jose Earthquakes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/news-earthquakes-sign-costa-rica-national-team-defender-francisco-calvo|title=NEWS: Earthquakes Sign Costa Rica National Team Defender Francisco Calvo &#124; San Jose Earthquakes|website=Sjearthquakes.com|access-date=8 February 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/news-francisco-calvo-selected-to-mls-team-of-the-week|title= NEWS: Francisco Calvo Selected to MLS Team of the Week|website=Sjearthquakes.com|access-date=8 March 2022}}</ref> He then moved to Konyaspor in the Turkish Süper Lig.

On 15 January 2024, Calvo signed with Juárez in Mexico.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=FC Juárez|url=https://www.fcjuarez.com/noticias-detalle.php?c2k9MTc1MQ|title=Francisco Calvo, refuerzo Bravo|trans-title=Francisco Calvo, Bravo reinforcement|date=15 January 2024|access-date=8 February 2024|language=es|archive-date=2 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202041909/https://www.fcjuarez.com/noticias-detalle.php?c2k9MTc1MQ|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=الاتفاق يوقع رسمياً مع الكوستاريكي كالفو |url=https://www.alriyadh.com/2144586}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/lakehouston/sports/article/San-Jac-star-plays-national-soccer-for-Costa-Rica-9376896.php|title=San Jac star plays national soccer for Costa Rica|website=Houston Chronicle|publisher=Hearst Communications|access-date=18 March 2023|date=22 June 2011}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://fedefutbol.org/2011/05/30/una-nueva-figura-sustituira-a-gamboa/ |title=Una nueva figura sustituirá a Gamboa &#124; Federación Costarricense de Fútbol |access-date=10 July 2011 |archive-date=5 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705013810/http://fedefutbol.org/2011/05/30/una-nueva-figura-sustituira-a-gamboa/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref>[http://yashinquesada.navegalo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8736:francisco-calvo-qse-viene-argentina-que-es-el-partido-mas-bonitos-para-nosotrosq&catid=81:la-noticia-del-dia&Itemid=173] {{Dead link|date=December 2019|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en/amp/news/costa-rica-names-23-man-world-cup-squad-featuring-keylor/1bw2iz8pkma5614bzushqyyo7g|title=Keylor Navas & six MLS players named in Costa Rica's 23-man World Cup squad|website=Goal.com|date=14 May 2018|access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref> He later reprised the same role at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fedefutbol.com/2022/11/03/suarez-eligio-a-sus-26-jugadores-para-la-aventura-mundialista-en-catar/ |title=Suárez eligió a sus 26 jugadores para la aventura mundialista en Catar |trans-title=Suárez has selected his 26 players for the World Cup adventure in Qatar |publisher=Costa Rican Football Federation |date=3 November 2022 |access-date=3 November 2022 |language=es}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://elmundo.cr/deportes/costa-rica-vs-guatemala-francisco-calvo-celebra-su-partido-100-con-tremendo-golazo/ |title=Costa Rica vs. Guatemala: Francisco Calvo celebra su partido 100 con tremendo golazo |publisher=El Mundo |language=es |date=15 October 2024 }}</ref>

==Career statistics== === Club === {{updated|match played 14 May 2026}}<ref>{{Soccerway|francisco-calvo/192533|access-date=4 January 2021}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Herediano |2011–12 |Costa Rican Primera División |23||1|| colspan="2" |—||3{{efn|Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League|name=Con}}||0|| colspan="2" |—||26||1 |- |Pérez Zeledón |2012–13 |Costa Rican Primera División |21||5|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||21||5 |- |Nordsjælland |2012–13 |Danish Superliga |3||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||3||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Herediano |2013–14 |Liga FPD |29||3|| colspan="2" |—||1{{efn|name=Con}}||0|| colspan="2" |—||30||3 |- |2014–15 |Liga FPD |20||3|| colspan="2" |—||4{{efn|name=Con}}||1|| colspan="2" |—||24||4 |- !colspan="2"|Total !72!!7!!0!!0!!8!!1!! colspan="2" |—!!80!!8 |- |Santos (loan) |2014–15 |Liga FPD |21||5|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||21||5 |- |rowspan="3"|Saprissa |2015–16 |Liga FPD |39||5|| colspan="2" |—||4{{efn|name=Con}}||0|| colspan="2" |—||43||5 |- |2016–17 |Liga FPD |24||9||0||0||4{{efn|name=Con}}||1|| colspan="2" |—||28||10 |- !colspan="2"|Total !63!!14!!0!!0!!8!!1!! colspan="2" |—!!71!!15 |- |rowspan="4"|Minnesota United |2017 |Major League Soccer |27||2||0||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||27||2 |- |2018 |Major League Soccer |26||2||0||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||26||2 |- |2019 |Major League Soccer |7||1|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||7||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !60!!5!!0!!0!! colspan="2" |—!! colspan="2" |—!!60!!5 |- |rowspan="4"|Chicago Fire |2019 |Major League Soccer |23||3||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||1{{efn|Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup}}||0||24||3 |- |2020 |Major League Soccer |22||1|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||22||1 |- |2021 |Major League Soccer |17||1|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||17||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !45!!4!!0!!0!! colspan="2" |—!!1!!0!!46!!4 |- |San Jose Earthquakes |2022 |Major League Soccer |13||2||2||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||15||2 |- |rowspan="3"|Konyaspor |2022–23 |Süper Lig |31||3||2||0||4{{efn|Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League}}||0|| colspan="2" |—||37||3 |- |2023–24 |Süper Lig |17||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—|| colspan="2" |—||18||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !48!!3!!3!!0!!4!!0!! colspan="2" |—!!55!!3 |- |rowspan="3"|Juárez |2023–24 |Liga MX |14||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—|| colspan="2" |—||14||1 |- |2024–25 |Liga MX |3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—|| colspan="2" |—||3||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !17!!1!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|—!! colspan="2" |—!!17!!1 |- |Hatayspor |2024–25 |Süper Lig |25||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—|| colspan="2" |—||26||1 |- |Al-Ettifaq |2025–26 |Saudi Pro League |30||4||1||0||colspan="2"|—|| colspan="2" |—||31||4 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !418!!51!!7!!0!!20!!2!!1!!0!!446!!53 |}

{{notelist}}

===International=== {{updated|match played 18 November 2025}}<ref name="NFT">{{NFT player|43895|Francisco Calvo|access-date=24 June 2018}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="15"|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{{efn|Includes a non-FIFA friendly played against Catalonia, which is counted as an official match by the Costa Rican Football Federation.}}||2 |- !colspan=2|Total!!115!!16 |} {{notelist}}

:''Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first.''<ref name="NFT"/>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" |+ List of international goals scored by Francisco Calvo ! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition |- !scope=row|1 |20 January 2017||Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama||{{fb|HON|1949}}||align=center|'''1'''–1||align=center|1–1||2017 Copa Centroamericana |- !scope=row|2 |13 June 2017||Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica||{{fb|TRI}}||align=center|'''1'''–0||align=center|2–1||2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |- !scope=row|3 |11 July 2017||BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, United States||{{fb|CAN}}||align=center|'''1'''–1||align=center|1–1||2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup |- !scope=row|4 |3 June 2018||Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica||{{fb|NIR}}||align=center|'''3'''–0||align=center|3–0||Friendly |- !scope=row|5 |14 November 2019||Ergilio Hato Stadium, Willemstad, Curaçao||{{fb|CUW}}||align=center|'''2'''–1||align=center|2–1||rowspan=2|2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A |- !scope=row|6 |17 November 2019||Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica||{{fb|HAI}}||align=center|'''1'''–0||align=center|1–1 |- !scope=row|7 |6 June 2021||Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, United States||{{fb|HON|1949}}||align=center|'''2'''–2||align=center|2–2||2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals |- !scope=row|8 |5 June 2022||Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica||{{fb|MTQ|football-old}}||align=center|'''2'''–0||align=center|2–0||2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A |- !scope=row|9 |4 July 2023||Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States||{{fb|MTQ}}||align=center|'''2'''–1||align=center|6–4||2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup |- !scope=row|10 |8 September 2023||St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England||{{fb|KSA}}|| align=center|'''1'''–0||align=center|3–1||Friendly |- !scope=row|11 |20 November 2023||Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama||{{fb|PAN}}||align=center|'''1'''–3||align=center|1–3||2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League A |- !scope=row|12 |2 July 2024||Q2 Stadium, Austin, United States||{{fb|PAR}}||align=center|'''1'''–0||align=center|2–1||2024 Copa América |- !scope=row|13 |5 September 2024||rowspan=2|Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica||{{fb|GLP}}||align=center|'''1'''–0||align=center|3–0||rowspan=2|2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League A |- !scope=row|14 |15 October 2024||{{fb|GUA}}||align=center|'''3'''–0||align=center|3–0 |- !scope=row|15 |29 June 2025||U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, United States||{{fb|USA}}||align=center|'''1'''–0||align=center|2–2 <br>{{pso|3–4}}||2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup |- !scope=row|16 |14 October 2025||Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica||{{fb|NIC}}||align=center|'''4'''–1 ||align=center|4–1||2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |- | colspan="7"|<small>Last updated 29 June 2025</small> |}

==Honours== '''Individual''' * MLS All-Star: 2018 * CONCACAF Nations League Finals Best XI: 2021<ref>{{cite tweet|author=CONCACAF|user=CNationsLeague|number=1402064406738092034|date=7 June 2021|title=Here is the Best XI of the Concacaf Nations League Finals|access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref>

==See also== * List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{NFT player|43895}}

{{Al-Ettifaq FC squad}} {{Navboxes | title = Costa Rica squads | bg = #ce1126 | fg = white | bordercolor = blue | list1 = {{Costa Rica squad 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup}} {{Costa Rica squad 2011 Copa América}} {{Costa Rica squad 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup}} {{Costa Rica squad Copa América Centenario}} {{Costa Rica squad 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup}} {{Costa Rica squad 2018 FIFA World Cup}} {{Costa Rica squad 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup}} {{Costa Rica squad 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup}} {{Costa Rica squad 2022 FIFA World Cup}} {{Costa Rica squad 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup}} {{Costa Rica squad 2024 Copa América}} {{Costa Rica squad 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup}} }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Calvo, Francisco}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from San José, Costa Rica Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Costa Rican men's footballers Category:21st-century Costa Rican sportsmen Category:Costa Rica men's international footballers Category:Costa Rica men's under-20 international footballers Category:C.S. Herediano footballers Category:A.D. Municipal Pérez Zeledón footballers Category:FC Nordsjælland players Category:Deportivo Saprissa players Category:Santos de Guápiles F.C. footballers Category:Minnesota United FC players Category:Chicago Fire FC players Category:San Jose Earthquakes players Category:Konyaspor footballers Category:Hatayspor footballers Category:FC Juárez footballers Category:Al-Ettifaq Club players Category:Liga FPD players Category:Danish Superliga players Category:Major League Soccer players Category:Süper Lig players Category:Liga MX players Category:Saudi Pro League players Category:Costa Rican expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Denmark Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Mexico Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Saudi Arabia Category:Costa Rican expatriate sportspeople in Denmark Category:Costa Rican expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:Costa Rican expatriate sportspeople in Turkey Category:Costa Rican expatriate sportspeople in Mexico Category:Costa Rican expatriate sportspeople in Saudi Arabia Category:2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup players Category:2011 Copa América players Category:2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup players Category:Copa América Centenario players Category:2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup players Category:2018 FIFA World Cup players Category:2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup players Category:2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup players Category:2022 FIFA World Cup players Category:2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup players Category:2024 Copa América players Category:2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup players Category:Junior college men's soccer players in the United States Category:FIFA Men's Century Club