Francisco Javier Calvo Quesada (; born 8 July 1992) is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Nacional 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.
In July 2026, Calvo joined Uruguayan club Nacional. His debut game came on 11 July 2026 versus Danubio.
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.Francisco Calvo qse viene Argentina que es el partido mas bonitos para nosotros 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 CONCACAF Nations League A.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsHerediano2011–12Liga FPD231—30—261Pérez Zeledón2012–13Liga FPD215———215Nordsjælland2012–13Danish Superliga3000——30Herediano2013–14Liga FPD293—10—3032014–15Liga FPD203—41—244Total7270081—808Santos (loan)2014–15Liga FPD215———215Saprissa2015–16Liga FPD395—40—4352016–17Liga FPD2490041—2810Total63140081—7115Minnesota United2017Major League Soccer27200——2722018Major League Soccer26200——2622019Major League Soccer71———71Total60500——605Chicago Fire2019Major League Soccer23300—102432020Major League Soccer221———2212021Major League Soccer171———171Total45400—10464San Jose Earthquakes2022Major League Soccer13220——152Konyaspor2022–23Süper Lig3132040—3732023–24Süper Lig17010——180Total4833040—553Juárez2023–24Liga MX14100——1412024–25Liga MX3000——30Total17100——171Hatayspor2024–25Süper Lig25110——261Al-Ettifaq2025–26Saudi Pro League30410——314Nacional2026Liga AUF Uruguaya1031020—133Career total42854802221045956
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsCosta Rica2011302012002013002014002015802016602017163201811120196220201020211612022101202311320241432025132202640Total11916
Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first.
+ List of international goals scored by Francisco Calvo No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition120 January 2017Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama1–11–12017 Copa Centroamericana213 June 2017Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica1–02–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification311 July 2017BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, United States1–11–12017 CONCACAF Gold Cup43 June 2018Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica3–03–0Friendly514 November 2019Ergilio Hato Stadium, Willemstad, Curaçao2–12–12019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A617 November 2019Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica1–01–176 June 2021Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, United States2–22–22021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals85 June 2022Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica2–02–02022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A94 July 2023Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States2–16–42023 CONCACAF Gold Cup108 September 2023St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England1–03–1Friendly1120 November 2023Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama1–31–32023–24 CONCACAF Nations League A122 July 2024Q2 Stadium, Austin, United States1–02–12024 Copa América135 September 2024Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica1–03–02024–25 CONCACAF Nations League A1415 October 20243–03–01529 June 2025U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, United States1–02–2 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup1614 October 2025Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica4–1 4–12026 FIFA World Cup qualificationLast updated 29 June 2025
Honours Individual MLS All-Star: 2018 CONCACAF Nations League Finals Best XI: 2021
See also List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
References
External links