Fidel Escobar
{{short description|Panamanian footballer (born 1995)}}
{{family name hatnote|Escobar|Mendieta|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Fidel Escobar
| image = ENG-PAN (13) (cropped) 2.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Escobar with Panama at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
| fullname = Fidel Escobar Mendieta
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1995|1|9}}
| birth_place = Panama City, Panama
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub = Deportivo Saprissa
| clubnumber = 21
| years1 = 2012–2013
| clubs1 = San Francisco
| caps1 = 16
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2014–2020
| clubs2 = San Miguelito
| caps2 = 65
| goals2 = 6
| years3 = 2016–2017
| clubs3 = → Sporting B (loan)
| caps3 = 14
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2017–2018
| clubs4 = → New York Red Bulls (loan)
| caps4 = 12
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2017–2018
| clubs5 = → New York Red Bulls II (loan)
| caps5 = 6
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2019
| clubs6 = → Correcaminos UAT (loan)
| caps6 = 0
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2019–2020
| clubs7 = → Córdoba (loan)
| caps7 = 20
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2020–2022
| clubs8 = Alcorcón
| caps8 = 24
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2022
| clubs9 = → Cultural Leonesa (loan)
| caps9 = 14
| goals9 = 1
| years10 = 2022–
| clubs10 = Deportivo Saprissa
| caps10 = 88
| goals10 = 5
| nationalyears1 = 2015
| nationalteam1 = Panama U20
| nationalcaps1 = 7
| nationalgoals1 = 3
| nationalyears2 = 2015–
| nationalteam2 = Panama
| nationalcaps2 = 85
| nationalgoals2 = 3
| pcupdate = 9 November 2024
| ntupdate = 18 November 2024
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's football}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|PAN}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Medal|RU|2023 United States–Canada|Team}}
{{MedalCompetition|CONCACAF Nations League}}
{{Medal|RU|2025 United States|Team}}
}}
Fidel Escobar Mendieta (born 9 January 1995) is a Panamanian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Liga FPD club Saprissa and the Panama national team.
Club career
=San Francisco=
Born in Panama City, Escobar graduated from San Francisco's youth setup, and made his senior debut during the 2012–13 campaign, aged only 18. During the next season he established himself as a first team regular making 14 starts and scoring one goal. On 26 October 2013, Escobar scored his first goal for Los Monjes in a 2–0 victory over Chorrillo.{{cite web|title=Chepo y San Francisco creen en las semifinales
|url=http://lpf.com.pa/w/chepo-y-san-francisco-creen-en-las-semifinales/|website=lpf.com.pa|access-date=27 October 2013|language=es}}
=Sporting San Miguelito=
After impressing with San Francisco, Escobar was signed by Sporting San Miguelito for the 2014 Clausura season. He made 14 appearances scoring one goal in his first season at the club. On 16 March 2014, Escobar scored his first goal with San Miguelito in a 2–2 draw with Alianza.{{cite web|title=Chorrillo es líder tras 11 jornadas completas
|url=http://lpf.com.pa/w/chorrillo-es-lider-tras-11-jornadas-completas/|website=lpf.com.pa|access-date=14 March 2014|language=es}} In his two and a half seasons with the club Escobar made 65 league appearances scoring six goals.
==Sporting B (loan)==
As a result of his impressive play with his club and at the Under-20 World Cup Escobar received the attention of European clubs. During July 2016, Escobar was sent on loan with an option to buy to Sporting Clube de Portugal's reserve side Sporting B.{{cite web|title=Sporting: Fidel Escobar está a caminho de Lisboa
|url=http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/liga/05-07-2016/sporting-fidel-escobar-esta-a-caminho-de-lisboa|website=maisfutebol.iol.pt|access-date=5 July 2016|language=pt}} Escobar made his debut for Sporting B on 6 August 2016 playing the entire match in a 1–2 loss to Portimonense S.C.{{cite web|title=SPORTING B-PORTIMONENSE, 1-2: PIRES BISA NA REVIRAVOLTA ALGARVIA
|url=http://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/2--liga/detalhe/sporting-b-portimonense-1-2-pires-bisa-na-reviravolta-algarvia.html|website=record.pt|access-date=6 August 2016|language=pt}} In January 2017, Escobar attempted to terminate his contract with Sporting in search of other opportunities and was threatened with legal action by the Portuguese side.{{cite web|title=Sporting: Fidel no quiere volver a Lisboa|url=http://futbolcentroamerica.com/5762/fidel-escobar-no-quiere-regresar-a-sporting-de-lisboa-y-pide-rescindir|website=futbolcentroamerica.com|access-date=12 January 2017|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906232117/http://futbolcentroamerica.com/5762/fidel-escobar-no-quiere-regresar-a-sporting-de-lisboa-y-pide-rescindir|archive-date=6 September 2017|url-status=dead}} Escobar eventually apologized to the club and was reinstated for the second half of the season. He made his return to the side on 15 April 2017, starting in a 2–0 victory over União da Madeira.{{cite web|title=SPORTING B-UNIÃO DA MADEIRA, 2-0: LEÕES REGRESSAM ÀS VITÓRIAS
|url=http://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/2--liga/detalhe/sporting-b-uniao-da-madeira-2-0-leoes-regressam-as-vitorias.html|website=record.pt|access-date=15 April 2017|language=pt}}
==New York Red Bulls (loan)==
On 27 July 2017 it was announced that Escobar was joining New York Red Bulls on an 18-month loan.{{cite web|title=New York Red Bulls Add Panama International Fidel Escobar on Loan
|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2017/07/27/new-york-red-bulls-add-panama-international-fidel-escobar-loan|website=newyorkredbulls.com|access-date=27 July 2017}} For his play on 10 March 2018, in which he helped lead New York to a 4–0 victory over Portland Timbers in the team's first league match of the season, Escobar was named to the Starting XI for Major League Soccer's Team of the Week.{{cite web|title=Fidel Escobar in Starting XI for Team of the Week presented by Audi|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2018/03/12/fidel-escobar-starting-xi-team-week-presented-audi-sean-davis-carlos-rivas-bench|website=newyorkredbulls.com|access-date=12 March 2018|archive-date=13 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313095326/https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2018/03/12/fidel-escobar-starting-xi-team-week-presented-audi-sean-davis-carlos-rivas-bench|url-status=dead}}
Escobar was loaned to affiliate side New York Red Bulls II of the United Soccer League for the match against Tampa Bay Rowdies on 14 April 2018. He opened the scoring for New York in the 5–0 victory.{{cite web|title=Red Bulls II Romp Past Rowdies|url=https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/907855?referrer_id=2424350|website=uslsoccer.com|date = 14 April 2018|access-date=14 April 2018}}
Escobar's loan was not extended by the Red Bulls at the end of their 2018 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2018/12/04/new-york-red-bulls-announce-end-season-roster-updates|title=New York Red Bulls Announce End of Season Roster Updates|work=NewYorkRedBulls.com}}
==Córdoba (loan)==
On 10 July 2019, after a six-month spell at Correcaminos UAT, Escobar joined Spanish Segunda División B side Córdoba CF on loan for one year.{{cite web|url=http://www.cordobacf.com/noticia/fidel-escobar-tercer-fichaje-del-cordoba-cf|title=Fidel Escobar, tercer fichaje del Córdoba CF|trans-title=Fidel Escobar, third signing of Córdoba CF|publisher=Córdoba CF|language=es|date=10 July 2019|access-date=16 August 2019}}
=Alcorcón=
On 28 July 2020, Escobar agreed to a three-year contract with AD Alcorcón in Segunda División.{{cite web|url=https://www.adalcorcon.com/noticia/fidel-escobar-primer-fichaje-de-la-a-d-alcorcon-2020-2021|title=Fidel Escobar, primer fichaje de la A.D. Alcorcón 2020–2021|trans-title=Fidel Escobar, first signing of A.D. Alcorcón 2020–2021|publisher=AD Alcorcón|language=es|date=28 July 2020|access-date=9 August 2020}} On 31 January 2022, he was loaned to Primera División RFEF side Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa.{{cite web|url=https://www.adalcorcon.com/noticia/salidas-de-futbolistas-de-la-primera-plantilla-alfarera|title=Salidas de futbolistas de la primera plantilla alfarera|trans-title=Departure of footballers from the first team alfarero|publisher=AD Alcorcón|language=es|date=31 January 2022|accessdate=1 February 2022}}
International career
Escobar played at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.{{FIFA player|385030}} He made his debut in the competition on 30 May 2015 scoring an 84th-minute equalizer in a 2–2 draw against heavily favored side Argentina.{{cite web|title=Argentina empató con Panamá en el debut del Mundial Sub-20
|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1797351-argentina-empato-con-panama-en-el-debut-del-mundial-sub-20|website=lanacion.com.ar|date=30 May 2015|access-date=30 May 2015|language=es}}
Escobar made his senior debut for Panama in a February 2015 friendly match against the United States.
In May 2018 he was named in Panama's preliminary 35 man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, and played all three matches in an eventual group-stage exit.{{Cite news|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/revealed-every-world-cup-2018-squad-23-man-preliminary-lists/oa0atsduflsv1nsf6oqk576rb|title=Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - Final 23-man lists {{!}} Goal.com|access-date=5 June 2018}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|28 October 2018}}{{Soccerway|fidel-escobar/294835|accessdate=18 July 2018}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|San Francisco
|rowspan="2"|Liga Panameña de Fútbol |2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2013–14
|14 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 1 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!16 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 1 | ||||
| rowspan="4"|San Miguelito
|rowspan="3"|Liga Panameña de Fútbol |14 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 1 | ||||
| 2014–15
|25 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 2 | ||||
| 2015–16
|26 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 3 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!65 | 6 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 65 | 6 | ||||
| Sporting B (loan)
|14 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|New York Red Bulls (loan)
|2017 |rowspan="2"|Major League Soccer |6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | |||
| 2018
|6 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 13 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="3"|New York Red Bulls II (loan)
|2017 |rowspan="2"|United Soccer League |1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2018
|5 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 1 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!6 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 1 | ||||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!113 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 114 | 8 |
=International=
{{updated|match played 18 November 2024|{{NFT player|58223|Fidel Escobar|access-date=8 July 2018}}}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!colspan=3|Panama | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016 | 7 | 1 |
| 2017 | 11 | 0 |
| 2018 | 11 | 0 |
| 2019 | 11 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 8 | 0 |
| 2022 | 13 | 1 |
| 2023 | 16 | 1 |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 |
| Total||85||3 |
==International goals==
:Scores and results list Panama's goal tally first.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/fidel-escobar/294835/|title=F. Escobar|website=Soccerway|access-date=18 July 2018}}
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" | ||||||
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 11 November 2016 | Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras | {{fb|HON|1949}} | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | 1–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2. | 9 June 2022 | Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama | {{fb|MTQ|football-old}} | align=center | 3–0 | align=center | 5–0 | 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A |
| 3. | 4 July 2023 | Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, United States | {{fb|SLV}} | align=center | 1–1 | align=center | 2–2 | 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
Honours
New York Red Bulls
Panama U20
- CONCACAF U-20 Championship runner-up: 2015
Panama
- CONCACAF Gold Cup runner-up: 2023
- CONCACAF Nations League runner-up: 2024–25{{Cite web |date=23 March 2025 |title=Mexico beat Panama with stoppage-time penalty for CONCACAF Nations League title |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/mexico-beat-panama-with-stoppage-time-penalty-concacaf-nations-league-title-2025-03-24/#:~:text=March%2023%20(Reuters)%20%2D%20Raul,Inglewood%2C%20California%2C%20on%20Sunday. |access-date=26 March 2025 |website=Reuters}}
Individual
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{BDFutbol|25635}}
- {{NFT player|pid=58223}}
- {{ForaDeJogo|199501090007}}
- {{soccerway|fidel-escobar/294835}}
{{Deportivo Saprissa squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Panama squads
| bg = #DA121A
| fg = white
| bordercolor = #072357
| list =
{{Panama squad Copa América Centenario}}
{{Panama squad 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Panama squad 2018 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Panama squad 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Panama squad 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Escobar, Fidel}}
Category:Footballers from Panama City
Category:Panamanian men's footballers
Category:21st-century Panamanian sportsmen
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Liga Panameña de Fútbol players
Category:San Francisco F.C. players
Category:Sporting San Miguelito players
Category:Liga Portugal 2 players
Category:Sporting CP B players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:USL Championship players
Category:New York Red Bulls players
Category:New York Red Bulls II players
Category:Correcaminos UAT footballers
Category:Segunda División players
Category:Segunda División B players
Category:AD Alcorcón footballers
Category:Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa players
Category:Deportivo Saprissa players
Category:Footballers at the 2015 Pan American Games
Category:Copa América Centenario players
Category:2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:2018 FIFA World Cup players
Category:2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:Panama men's international footballers
Category:Panamanian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Panamanian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Panamanian expatriate sportspeople in Mexico
Category:Panamanian expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Mexico