Juan Barrera


Juan Ramón Barrera Pérez is a Nicaraguan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Liga Primera club Real Esteli and captains the Nicaragua national team.

Club career

Nicknamed el Iluminado, he started his professional career at Real Estelí, then had a couple of seasons at Walter Ferretti. In summer 2011 he moved abroad to play for Panamanian outfit Tauro for whom he would play 8 league matches. In February 2012, he rejoined Estelí from Tauro.
In 2013, he became the second Nicaraguan footballer to play in a CONMEBOL First Division, when he was sent out on loan to Deportivo Petare of the Venezuelan Primera División for a six-month stint. He rejoined Estelí in summer 2013.
In early March it was announced that Barrera had signed with Austrian first division team SC Rheindorf Altach becoming the first Nicaraguan to play in Europe

Comunicaciones

On 23 December 2015, Barrera joined Comunicaciones of the Liga Nacional.
Barrera was a part of Comunicaciones until 1 December 2017, in which he announced his farewell from the club through his social media. Barrera appeared in 76 matches, scoring 9 goals.

Metropolitanos

On 15 January 2018, Barrera announced his new club through social media to be Metropolitanos F.C of the Venezuelan first division. This marks his second stint in the Venezuelan first division, his first being with Deportivo Petare F.C in 2013.
He was a part of Metropolitanos F.C for approximately 5 months.

Boyacá Chicó

On 20 June 2018, Barrera announced he signed with Boyacá Chicó F.C of the Colombian league first division.
On 22 July 2018, Barrera got his first start in a 2–2 draw when Boyacá Chicó F.C played their first match of the season against Millionarios F.C.
Barrera got his first win with the team on 18 August 2018, when Boyacá Chicó defeated Atlético Junior 2–1, with Barrera assisting the winning goal in the 87th minute of the game.

International career

Barrera made his international debut for Nicaragua in January 2009, at the UNCAF Nations Cup match against El Salvador and has,. He has represented his country in 12 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and played at the 2009 and 2011 UNCAF Nations Cups as well as at the 2009, 2017, and 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cups.

International goals

DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.26 January 2009Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino, Tegucigalpa, Honduras1–11–12009 UNCAF Nations Cup
2.1 June 2012Bayamón Soccer Complex, Bayamón, Puerto Rico1–31–3Friendly
3.23 March 2015Nicaragua National Football Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua3–05–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
4.29 March 2015Ronald Webster Park, The Valley, Anguilla2–03–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
5.8 December 2015Nicaragua National Football Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua1–05–0Friendly
6.8 December 2015Nicaragua National Football Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua4–05–0Friendly
7.20 January 2017Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama1–13–12017 Copa Centroamericana
8.28 March 2017Nicaragua National Football Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua1–03–02017 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification
9.28 March 2017Nicaragua National Football Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua2–03–02017 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification
10.28 March 2017Nicaragua National Football Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua3–03–02017 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification
11.22 March 2018Nicaragua National Football Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua3–13–1Friendly
12.25 March 2018Nicaragua National Football Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua1–03–3Friendly
13.8 September 2018Arnos Vale Stadium, Arnos Vale, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines2–02–02019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying
14.14 October 2018Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero, Heredia, Costa Rica3–06–02019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying
15.14 October 2018Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero, Heredia, Costa Rica4–06–02019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying
16.14 October 2018Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero, Heredia, Costa Rica6–06–02019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying
17.24 March 2019Wildey Turf, Wildey, Barbados1–01–02019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying
18.7 June 2019Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan, Argentina1–51–5Friendly
19.27 March 2021Estadio Panamericano, San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic1–07–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
20.27 March 2021Estadio Panamericano, San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic5–07–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
21.4 June 2021Nicaragua National Football Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua3–03–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
22.29 January 2022Nicaragua National Football Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua2–04–0Friendly
23.13 June 2022Nicaragua National Football Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua1–04–02022–23 CONCACAF Nations League B
24.24 March 2023Nicaragua National Football Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua2–14–12022–23 CONCACAF Nations League B
25.8 June 2024FFB Stadium, Belmopan, Belize2–04–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification
26.14 October 2024Nicaragua National Football Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua2–23–22024–25 CONCACAF Nations League A

Honours

Real Estelí