12 Central American Players to Watch out for in World Football 2015
Little by little Central American footballers are starting to get noticed. Every year more and more players leave their countries to try their luck in other countries of the American Continent and Europe.
Joel Campbell and Keylor Navas are some of the most appealing and known Central Americans in world football. Their performance in the 2014 World Cup opened some of the most exclusive doors in England and Spain.
But they are not the only ones. Some youngsters, like Hondurans Jonathan Rubio and Bryan Rochez, also deserve attention.
Let's take a look at 12 footballers from Central America to watch out for in 2015.
12. Jonathan Rubio (Honduras)
1 of 12Jonathan Rubio could very well become Honduras' next superstar, like Carlos Pavon once did.
Rubio is an 18-year-old who can play behind the striker or take the leading position in the attacking zone easily.
He left for Spain when he was 15 on a three-year contract with Fundacion Marcet (in Spanish), based in Barcelona. His skills took him all the way to Portugal's Gil Vicente, a Primeira Liga club.
Rubio was also linked with Espanyol and Rayo Vallecano, according to Honduran sports newspaper Diez (in Spanish).
This kid has fantastic touch. He is elusive and fights hard for every ball.
11. Alexander Lopez (Honduras)
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Alexander Lopez is currently playing for Houston Dynamo, but has had a rough time in his two-year stint.
The 22-year-old has struggled to make the starting XI, as former coach Dominic Kinnear hardly ever used him.
Last March, Kinnear told the club's website that Lopez needed to strengthen his defensive skills and get fit for the 2014 season.
Despite it all the Honduran didn't make a difference on the pitch and only appeared 10 times.
But the upcoming MLS tournament could be Lopez's chance to finally prove himself. Dynamo president Chris Canetti is confident that the new staff, led by Owen Coyle will see that the youngster gets more playing time.
With the national team Lopez has shined with the U17, U20 and U23 squads. He played in the 2009 U-17 World Cup, as well as the 2012 Summer Olympics.
10. Harold Cummings (Panama)
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Harold Cummings is a 22-year-old defender playing for Colombian side Independiente de Santa Fe after spending a year with Peruvian side Juan Aurich.
Cummings' arrival couldn't have come at a better moment, as Santa Fe are set to appear next month in Group 1 of the 2015 Copa Libertadores.
He was also a regular in the U20 and U23 squads. In 2011 he appeared in the U-20 World Cup.
Although the young right-back received his first cap for the national team in 2010, his first real chance came in 2014.
He was an undisputed starter in the Copa Centroamericana, where Panama finished third, behind Guatemala and Costa Rica.
9. Bryan Rochez (Honduras)
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Bryan Rochez will make his debut in the MLS this season. The former Real Espana footballer signed with Orlando City and will play along Kaka.
He is a 20-year-old who has already made an impact in the Honduran league. Rochez has scored 31 times in 65 appearances.
His performance in the attacking zone earned him his first call-up for the national team. He made his debut in the 2014 Copa Centroamericana, held in September.
In the competition, Rochez started one game and came in as a sub in three more.
He is very talented despite being a youngster. If he gets as much playing time with Orlando City as he did with Real Espana, he will definitively be a thriving force.
8. Junior Diaz (Costa Rica)
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Junior Diaz was fundamental for Costa Rica in the 2014 World Cup. He took over the left flank, providing depth to his team when he joined the attack.
Diaz has been playing for German side Mainz 05 since 2012, but locked the starting position only this season.
So far he has completed 71 percent of the passes he has sent, has created 10 goal opportunities, 60 percent of them from the left side, and has scored once.
Diaz is an elusive defender who doesn't compromise his job in the back line despite his constant input to the attacking zone.
7. Johan Venegas (Costa Rica)
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Johan Venegas made his debut with Costa Rica national team last year at the Copa Centroamericana.
In his first two games he came in as a sub and scored in both. In the final match, coach Paulo Wanchope put him in the starting XI.
He returned with Los Ticos in November, when they faced Uruguay in a friendly match that ended in a three-goal draw.
Venegas is currently playing in his home country. He joined Alajuelense in 2013 and has appeared 36 times ever since.
He usually plays as a forward or as a winger through the left, from where he can send crosses or step into the box to surprise the goalkeeper.
6. Jaime Penedo (Panama)
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Jaime Penedo is Panama's No. 1 goalkeeper and he has worked hard to accomplish the feat.
Currently playing for Los Angeles Galaxy, Penedo appeared 34 times in his debut season. His average goals conceded equaled 1.06 goals.
He knows how to play with his feet and how to keep the back line structured when in distress.
With the national team, Penedo grabbed the Golden Glove at the 2014 Copa Centroamericana, his latest achievement.
The goalie was part of the Canaleros 2013 Gold Cup squad, which defeated Mexico twice, in the group stage and quarterfinals, and that secured a spot in the final showdown, which they lost to the United States.
5. Marco Pappa (Guatemala)
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Not every day a Guatemalan makes the footballers-to-watch list. Marco Pappa is a pleasant surprise.
The Seattle Sounders midfielder showed the world what he was capable of doing in the 2014 Copa Centroamericana, where he claimed the Golden Ball and Golden Boot after scoring four times.
Pappa's performance was instrumental in helping Los Chapines reach the final showdown, where they lost to Costa Rica 1-2.
With his club, the Guatemalan can play as an attacking midfielder or a winger with the same success.
In 2014 he appeared 33 times, scored six times and had an average pass accuracy of 80 percent. He also created 45 goal opportunities, including five assists.
4. Andy Najar (Honduras)
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Andy Najar left DC United after three seasons to join Anderlecht in 2012. Unfortunately, he spent a whole season on the bench.
The Honduras international's luck changed in 2013, as he appeared in 25 Belgian Pro League games and scored three times, helping his team to secure the championship.
He has been a standard-bearer for the team ever since. This season he appeared in five Champions League games. He scored once, created six goal opportunities and completed 83 percent of the passes he sent.
Najar is a skillful right-winger whose fine touch and speed allow him to break the rivals' lines easily.
3. Keylor Navas (Costa Rica)
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Keylor Navas was one of the 2014 World Cup revelations as he helped Costa Rica reach the quarterfinals for the first time in history.
After securing a six-year contract with La Liga champions Real Madrid, Navas has appeared in La Liga (twice), Champions League (twice) and Copa del Rey (three times).
Los Blancos' heavy schedule is the perfect way to get playing time, which he is definitively taking advantage of.
In the local league he has a 75 percent of claim success and averages three saves per game. He has conceded one goal.
Meanwhile in the Champions League, Navas is unbeaten. He has also made an average of three saves per game and has 66 percent of distribution success.
He continues to amaze with his dives and will definitively keep pushing himself toward perfection, just like he did when he wore the Levante outfit.
2. Bryan Ruiz (Costa Rica)
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After scoring seven goals in the 2014 World Cup qualifier, Bryan Ruiz helped Costa Rica reach the quarter finals after netting against Italy and Greece.
In the first half of the 2014/15 season he appeared 17 times with Fulham, in which he scored four times and created 23 goal opportunities. Now, Ruiz is en route to PSV.
According to the BBC, the Costa Rica forward will spend the remainder of the season with the Dutch club.
Ruiz has been one of the most important footballers for Los Ticos in the past couple of years. Overall, he has played 71 times with the national team and has scored 17 goals.
1. Joel Campbell (Costa Rica)
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Joel Campbell proved his worth during the 2014 World Cup as he scored once and recorded one assist against Uruguay hence becoming Man of the Match.
At that time, the Costa Rican was on a loan with Olympiacos.
Arsene Wenger gave Campbell a chance to return to Arsenal after his superb performance in Brazil.
Unfortunately, he only appeared 10 times with the Gunners and failed to put the ball away.
Eventually the 22-year-old left the Emirates Stadium and is set to make his debut with La Liga side Villarreal.
Campbell's speed, fine touch and dribbling skills will be a great asset for the Yellow Submarine.
"Welcome @joel_campbell12! Villarreal and @Arsenal agree to loan the player until the end of the season! pic.twitter.com/76YDh2ISbc
— Villarreal CF (@VillarrealCF) January 24, 2015"
All stats appear courtesy of CONCACAF.com, Squawka and ESPN FC, unless otherwise noted.
