Francisco Calvo


Francisco Javier Calvo Quesada 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.

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. In January 2013 he moved abroad to play for then Danish champions Nordsjælland but he returned to Herediano in summer 2013. In January 2015, Calvo joined Santos de Guápiles as a loan.
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. In 2018, Calvo was selected as an MLS All-Star, becoming the first Minnesota United player in club history to receive the honor.
On 3 May 2019, Calvo was traded to Chicago Fire. Following the 2021 season, Calvo's contract option was declined by Chicago.
On 26 January 2022, Calvo signed as a free agent with San Jose Earthquakes. 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. He then moved to Konyaspor in the Turkish Süper Lig.
On 15 January 2024, Calvo signed with Juárez in Mexico. 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.

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. 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, 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. 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. He later reprised the same role at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
On 15 October 2024, he featured in his 100th international match for Costa Rica in a 3–0 victory over Guatemala during the 2024–25 [CONCACAF Nations League A|CONCACAF Nations League A].

Career statistics

Club

International

Honours

Individual