Cristian Omar Espinoza (born 3 April 1995) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Nashville SC.
Club career Huracán Born in Buenos Aires, Espinoza graduated from Huracán's youth setup. He made his first team debut on 24 March 2013, coming on as a second half substitute in a 2–2 home draw against Instituto for the Primera B Nacional championship.
Espinoza scored his first professional goal on 26 May, netting his side's last in a 3–1 home win against Crucero del Norte. He subsequently established himself as a regular starter, scoring two goals in 2014 and helping his side promote to Primera División.
Espinoza made his debut in the main category of Argentine football on 3 May 2015, in a 1–1 away draw against Rosario Central. His first goals in the category came on 2 August, netting a brace in a 3–3 draw at Crucero del Norte.
Villarreal On 4 August 2016, Espinoza signed a five-year contract with La Liga side Villarreal CF. Fifteen days later, he was loaned to fellow league team Deportivo Alavés until the end of the season.
Espinoza made his debut in the main category of Spanish football on 28 August 2016, replacing Ibai Gómez in a 0–0 home draw against Sporting de Gijón. After being rarely used, he left the club the following 30 January.
On 31 January 2017, Espinoza was loaned to Segunda División side Real Valladolid until June.
San Jose Earthquakes On 2 January 2019, Espinoza was loaned to Major League Soccer side San Jose Earthquakes on a season-long loan. On December 11, it was announced that he had joined San Jose on a permanent deal for a then-club-record transfer fee.
Espinoza thrived in San Jose as a creative playmaker, becoming the club's all-time assist leader with 51 on July 12, 2023, before eventually extending the record to 83, in addition to adding two assists in two playoff appearances. He also holds the club record for appearances in consecutive matches at 122. He earned MLS All-Star selections in 2023 and 2025.
Nashville SC On 7 January 2026, Espinoza signed a contract with Major League Soccer side Nashville SC as a designated player.
International career On 11 December 2014 Espinoza was included in Argentina under-20's 32-man list for the 2015 South American Youth Football Championship, held in Uruguay. He was included in the final call-up, and made his debut in the competition on 14 January, starting and assisting Tomás Martínez in the third of a 5–2 routing over Ecuador.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsHuracán2012–13Primera B Nacional10100——1012013–14Primera B Nacional282———2822014Primera B Nacional21240——2522015Argentine Primera División17210104102962016Argentine Primera División142—6110213Total909501652011314Alavés (loan)2016–17La Liga6020——80Valladolid (loan)2016–17Segunda División100———100Boca Juniors (loan)2017–18Argentine Primera División 1101020301702018–19Argentine Primera División 4210——52Total152202030222San Jose Earthquakes (loan)2019MLS30221——323San Jose Earthquakes2020MLS233———2642021MLS323———3232022MLS34720——3672023MLS341310—2038132024MLS34411—403952025MLS31420——334Total2183661—6023636Nashville SC2026MLS234—310072Career total3444917221611039657
Honours Huracán Copa Argentina: 2013–14 Supercopa Argentina: 2014
Boca Juniors Primera División: 2017-18
Argentina Youth South American U-20 Championship: 2015
Individual MLS All-Star: 2023, 2025
MLS Player of the Month: April 2023
References
External links