Luis Cristaldo
Encyclopedia
Luis Héctor Cristaldo Ruiz Díaz (born August 31, 1969 in Formosa, Argentina
) is an Argentine-Bolivia
n football midfielder
who currently plays for Guabirá
. He holds the record for the most appearances for the Bolivian national team
with 93 international matches and 5 goals between 1989 and 2005, including two appearances in the 1994 FIFA World Cup
. Cristaldo made his international debut on September 10, 1989 in a World Cup Qualifier against Uruguay
in Montevideo
(2-0 loss).
Born in Argentina, he relocated to Santa Cruz, Bolivia
at the age of 15. Cristaldo then began attending the prestigious Tahuichi football academy, and by the time he was 18 years-old he made his official debut in first division. He played for Bolivian teams Oriente Petrolero
(1990–92) and Bolívar
(1993–98), winning 4 national titles combined during those years.
In 1998, he went abroad to play for Sporting de Gijón
in Spain and later with Cerro Porteño
and Sol de América
in Paraguay, not to mention a previous spell he had during 1994 with Argentine club Mandiyú de Corrientes
and legendary Diego Maradona
as the manager.
In 2001, Cristaldo returned to Bolivia and played with The Strongest
for the next six years. In 2007, while making his second spell with Oriente Petrolero he called it quit, laying his football career to rest permanently after seventeen years of professional football.
(1)
Formosa, Argentina
Formosa is the capital city of the Argentine province of Formosa, on the banks of the Paraguay River, about from Buenos Aires, on National Route 11. It has a population of about 210,000 as per the ....
) is an Argentine-Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
n football midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who currently plays for Guabirá
Guabirá
Club Deportivo Guabirá is a Bolivian football club from Montero that currently plays in the Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano. Their home ground is the Estadio Gilberto Parada....
. He holds the record for the most appearances for the Bolivian national team
Bolivia national football team
The Bolivia national football team is the national team of Bolivia and is controlled by the Federación Boliviana de Fútbol. After playing in the 1930 and 1950 World Cups, they qualified just once—in 1994...
with 93 international matches and 5 goals between 1989 and 2005, including two appearances in the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
. Cristaldo made his international debut on September 10, 1989 in a World Cup Qualifier against Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
in Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
(2-0 loss).
Born in Argentina, he relocated to Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, commonly known as Santa Cruz, is the capital of the Santa Cruz department in eastern Bolivia and the largest city in the country...
at the age of 15. Cristaldo then began attending the prestigious Tahuichi football academy, and by the time he was 18 years-old he made his official debut in first division. He played for Bolivian teams Oriente Petrolero
Oriente Petrolero
Club Deportivo Oriente Petrolero is a Bolivian football club based in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Founded on November 5, 1955 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia by workers of the Bolivian oil company . They play at the 38,000-capacity Estadio Tahuichi Aguilera. Oriente have been Bolivian champions four times, Copa...
(1990–92) and Bolívar
Club Bolívar
Club Bolívar, a football team from Bolivia, was founded in La Paz on April 12, 1925, with the name Atletico Bolívar Literario Musical later changed to "Club Atlético Bolívar"...
(1993–98), winning 4 national titles combined during those years.
In 1998, he went abroad to play for Sporting de Gijón
Sporting de Gijón
Real Sporting de Gijón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club from Gijón, Asturias. Founded in 1 June 1905, it currently plays in Spanish first division....
in Spain and later with Cerro Porteño
Cerro Porteño
Club Cerro Porteño is a professional Paraguayan football club, based in the neighbourhood of Barrio Obrero in Asunción. Founded in 1912, Cerro has won 28 Primera División titles and is one of the most popular football club in Paraguay...
and Sol de América
Sol de América
The term Sol de América may refer to:* Club Sol de América, a Paraguayan sports club* Sol América, an airline based in Caracas...
in Paraguay, not to mention a previous spell he had during 1994 with Argentine club Mandiyú de Corrientes
Textil Mandiyú
Club Deportivo Textil Mandiyú, commonly referred as Textil Mandiyú is an Argentine Football club. Its home town is Corrientes, in the Province of the same name in North East Argentina...
and legendary Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
as the manager.
In 2001, Cristaldo returned to Bolivia and played with The Strongest
The Strongest
The Strongest is a Bolivian football club based in La Paz founded on April 8, 1908. Their team colours are yellow and black. Although they have a home ground, the Rafael Mendoza Castellón , they play most of their games at the Estadio Hernando Siles, Bolivia's national ground...
for the next six years. In 2007, while making his second spell with Oriente Petrolero he called it quit, laying his football career to rest permanently after seventeen years of professional football.
Club
Oriente PetroleroOriente Petrolero
Club Deportivo Oriente Petrolero is a Bolivian football club based in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Founded on November 5, 1955 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia by workers of the Bolivian oil company . They play at the 38,000-capacity Estadio Tahuichi Aguilera. Oriente have been Bolivian champions four times, Copa...
(1)
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- Liga de Fútbol Profesional BolivianoLiga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano-List of champions:*Torneo adecuacion was celebrate to adequate seasons to European style -Titles by team :-List of all-time topscorers:...
: 1990 BolívarClub BolívarClub Bolívar, a football team from Bolivia, was founded in La Paz on April 12, 1925, with the name Atletico Bolívar Literario Musical later changed to "Club Atlético Bolívar"...
(3) - Liga de Fútbol Profesional BolivianoLiga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano-List of champions:*Torneo adecuacion was celebrate to adequate seasons to European style -Titles by team :-List of all-time topscorers:...
: 1994, 1996, 1997 The StrongestThe StrongestThe Strongest is a Bolivian football club based in La Paz founded on April 8, 1908. Their team colours are yellow and black. Although they have a home ground, the Rafael Mendoza Castellón , they play most of their games at the Estadio Hernando Siles, Bolivia's national ground...
(3) - Liga de Fútbol Profesional BolivianoLiga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano-List of champions:*Torneo adecuacion was celebrate to adequate seasons to European style -Titles by team :-List of all-time topscorers:...
: 2003 (A), 2003 (C), 2004 (C)
- Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano
External links
- FIFA
- International statistics RSSSF
- BDFA profile
- comunidadboliviana article
- Argentine Primera statistics