Cristian Higuita Explained

Cristian Higuita
Fullname:Cristian Andrés Higuita Beltrán
Birth Date:1994 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Cali, Colombia
Currentclub:Atlético Junior
Clubnumber:13
Position:Midfielder
Youthclubs1:Deportivo Cali
Years1:2011–2014
Clubs1:Deportivo Cali
Caps1:8
Goals1:2
Years2:2015–2019
Clubs2:Orlando City
Caps2:103
Goals2:6
Years3:2016
Clubs3:Orlando City B (loan)
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Years4:2020–
Clubs4:Atlético Junior
Caps4:6
Goals4:0
Nationalyears1:2011
Nationalteam1:Colombia U17
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2013
Nationalteam2:Colombia U20
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2016
Nationalteam3:Colombia Olympic
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:4 October 2020

Cristian Higuita (born 12 January 1994) is a Colombian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Atlético Junior in Categoría Primera A.

Club career

Deportivo Cali

Higuita made his debut with Deportivo Cali in 2009. A year later, he played a minor part in Cali's campaign winning the 2010 Copa Colombia. In 2011, he made his debut for Cali in Categoría Primera A and during the 2014 season helped the club capture the 2014 Superliga Colombiana.

Orlando City

In January 2015 it was reported that Orlando City SC would be signing Higuita along with his Deportivo Cali teammate Carlos Rivas.[1] He started the team's first ever MLS game, a 1–1 draw at home to fellow new expansion side New York City on 8 March.[2] On 1 August 2015, Higuita scored his first goal for the team in a 5–2 win at home to Columbus Crew.[3] Higuita finished the 2015 season with 4.3 tackles per game and a passing success rate of 87.1 percent.[4]

On 6 August 2016, in order to regain match fitness, Higuita was loaned to Orlando City B for their match against Toronto FC II.[5] In September 2016, Higuita was ranked #21 on the MLSSoccer.com ranking of the top 24 players under 24 years of age.[6] Higuita was one of Orlando City's protected players for the 2016 MLS Expansion Draft.[7]

Prior to the beginning of the 2019 season, Higuita was presented with a commemorative plaque in honor of his 100 appearances with Orlando City across MLS, US Open Cup and international friendlies (namely against Ponte Preta, Flamengo and Stoke City). Higuita's contract expired at the end of the 2019 season. He departed as the club's leading appearance maker with 108 across all competitions.[8]

Atlético Junior

On 17 December 2019, Higuita returned to Colombia to sign with Atlético Junior.[9]

International career

Higuita was called up to represent the Colombia U20s at the 2013 South American Youth Football Championship.[10] Higuita made one appearance in the tournament, coming on as a half-time substitute in a 2–1 group stage defeat to Chile.[11] Colombia went on to win the tournament.

Higuita was named in Colombia's provisional squad for Copa América Centenario in 2016 but was cut from the final squad.[12]

Personal

Higuita holds a U.S. green card which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[13]

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalPlayoffsTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Deportivo Cali2012Primera A20001030
2014620040102
Total82004010132
Orlando City2015MLS26120281
201621100211
201726000260
201821410224
20199020110
Total10365000001086
Orlando City B2016USL1010
Atlético Junior2020Primera A60000060
Career totals11785040101278

Honors

Club

Deportivo Cali

2010

2014

National Team

Colombia

2013

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Orlando City set to sign Carlos Rivas, Cristian Higuita from Deportivo Cali. Paul. Tenorio.
  2. Web site: Orlando City & NYCFC Battle To 1-1 Draw In Front Of 62K. 8 March 2015.
  3. Web site: Match Recap: Orlando City Dominates Columbus Crew SC 5-2. 1 August 2015.
  4. Web site: Standout Statistics From Orlando City's First MLS Season. 6 November 2015.
  5. Web site: OCB Earns Last Minute 2-1 Victory Over TFCII. 6 August 2016.
  6. Web site: Cristian Higuita, 24 Under 24. 19 September 2016.
  7. Web site: Orlando City Protects 11 Players From 2016 MLS Expansion Draft. 12 December 2016.
  8. Web site: Orlando City SC Announces 2019 End-of-Season Roster Decisions. Orlando City SC. November 21, 2019.
  9. Web site: Ahora sí: Cristián Higuita es nuevo jugador de Junior . El Heraldo . es.
  10. Web site: Squad for South American Youth Championship announced . 9 January 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130123205004/http://conmebol.com/export/sites/conmebol/Docs/Sudamericano_Sub20/2013/lista-jugadores_Sub20_Argentina_2013.pdf . 23 January 2013 .
  11. Web site: Chile U20 vs. Colombia U20 - Match Summary - January 13, 2013 . ESPN.com . en.
  12. Web site: Falcao left out of Colombia's Copa America squad. goal.com . 4 May 2016 . 11 July 2016.
  13. Web site: Orlando City Soccer Club. www.facebook.com.