Rónald Matarrita facts for kids
Matarrita with Costa Rica at the Copa América Centenario in 2016.
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rónald Alberto Matarrita Ulate | ||
| Date of birth | 9 July 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Alajuela, Costa Rica | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Left-back, wing-back | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
Alajuelense | ||
| Number | 13 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2016 | Alajuelense | 67 | (4) |
| 2016–2020 | New York City | 106 | (4) |
| 2021–2022 | FC Cincinnati | 31 | (3) |
| 2023 | Dnipro-1 | 9 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Aris | 1 | (0) |
| 2024– | Alajuelense | 21 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2010–2011 | Costa Rica U17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2012 | Costa Rica U20 | 2 | (0) |
| 2015 | Costa Rica U22 | 3 | (1) |
| 2015– | Costa Rica | 55 | (3) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:33, 9 September 2024 (UTC) |
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Rónald Alberto Matarrita Ulate, born on July 9, 1994, is a talented football player from Costa Rica. He plays as a left-back for the club Alajuelense and is also a key member of the Costa Rica national team.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Rónald Matarrita has played for several football clubs during his career. He started his professional journey in Costa Rica before moving to play in the United States and Europe.
Playing for New York City FC
In January 2016, Matarrita joined New York City FC in the United States. He made his first appearance in a Major League Soccer (MLS) game on March 6, 2016. Later that year, on June 25, he scored his first goal for the team. His strong performance in his first season earned him the "Defensive Player of the Year" award for New York City FC in 2016.
Time with FC Cincinnati
Matarrita moved to FC Cincinnati in December 2020. He played for this club for two seasons. After the 2022 season, he left FC Cincinnati.
Joining Aris in Greece
On June 20, 2023, Matarrita signed a three-year contract with Aris, a club in the Super League Greece.
International Career for Costa Rica
Rónald Matarrita has proudly represented his home country, Costa Rica, at different levels of football. He played for the Costa Rica national teams for players under 17, under 20, and under 22 years old.
Senior Team Debut and Goals
He made his first appearance for the senior Costa Rica national team on September 5, 2015, in a friendly match against Brazil. Matarrita scored his first goal for Costa Rica on September 6, 2016. This goal helped his team win 3–1 against Panama in a World Cup qualification game.
World Cup Journey
Matarrita was chosen to play in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. However, just three days before Costa Rica's first game, he had to withdraw from the tournament due to a hamstring injury. This was a tough moment for him, but he continued to represent his country in other matches.
Personal Life
In March 2017, Rónald Matarrita received his U.S. green card. This special status allowed him to be considered a local player for MLS teams.
Achievements and Awards
Rónald Matarrita has achieved several honors throughout his football career.
With Alajuelense
- Costa Rican Primera División: 2013–14 Invierno (This means they won the winter championship in Costa Rica's top league.)
Individual Awards
- CONCACAF Best XI: 2016 (This award recognizes him as one of the best 11 players in the CONCACAF region, which includes North, Central America, and the Caribbean.)
- MLS Team of the Week 2016: Week 6, Week 10, Week 16 (He was recognized multiple times as one of the best players in the MLS for specific weeks in 2016.)
See also
In Spanish: Ronald Matarrita para niños
