Olger Escobar

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Olger Escobar

|fullname = Olger Armando Escobar Real

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2006|9|11|df=y}}

|birth_place = Lynn, Massachusetts, United States{{cite web |url= https://www.mlsnextpro.com/players/olger-escobar/ |title= Olger Escobar |publisher=MLSNextPro}}

|height = 1.72 m

|position = Midfielder, winger, striker

|currentclub = CF Montréal

|clubnumber = 29

| youthyears1 = 2018–2023

| youthclubs1 = New England Revolution

|years1 = 2023–2025

|clubs1 = New England Revolution II

|caps1 = 31

|goals1 = 1

|years2 = 2025–

|clubs2 = CF Montréal

|caps2 = 0

|goals2 = 0

|nationalyears1 = 2023

|nationalteam1 = Guatemala U17

|nationalcaps1 = 5

|nationalgoals1 = 4

|nationalyears2 = 2024

|nationalteam2 = Guatemala U18

|nationalcaps2 = 4

|nationalgoals2 = 3

|nationalyears3 = 2023–

|nationalteam3 = Guatemala U20

|nationalcaps3 = 11

|nationalgoals3 = 6

|nationalyears4 = 2023–

|nationalteam4 = Guatemala

|nationalcaps4 = 7

|nationalgoals4 = 1

| pcupdate = 24 April 2025

| ntupdate = 21 March 2025

}}

Olger Armando Escobar Real (born 11 September 2006) is a footballer player who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Major League Soccer club CF Montréal. Born in the United States, he plays for the Guatemala national team.

Early life

As a youth player, Escobar joined the youth academy of American side New England Revolution. He helped the club win the league in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nesoccerjournal.com/podcast-olger-escobar-on-his-journey-through-the-revolution-pathway/|title=Olger Escobar on his journey through the Revolution pathway|publisher=nesoccerjournal.com}}

Club career

=New England Revolution=

Escobar started his career with American side New England Revolution II, a reserve team for Major League Soccer club New England Revolution. On 22 April 2023, he debuted for the club during a 0–1 loss to New York Red Bulls II. Later that year, on 20 October 2023, it was announced that Escobar would be named New England Revolution’s Player of the Year for the 2022–23 MLS NEXT season.{{Cite web|url= https://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/olger-escobar-named-2022-23-unitedhealthcare-revs-academy-player-of-the-year|title= Olger Escobar named 2022–23 UnitedHealthcare Revolution Academy Player of the Year |publisher=revolutionsoccer.net}}

=CF Montréal=

On 23 April 2025, CF Montréal acquired Escobar from New England Revolution, sending $125,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM) and $50,000 in conditional GAM. New England will retain a sell-on percentage of Escobar's future transfer.{{cite web|website=CF Montréal|url= https://en.cfmontreal.com/news/cf-montreal-acquires-olger-escobar-from-the-new-england-revolution|title= CF Montréal acquires Olger Escobar from the New England Revolution|date=24 April 2025|access-date=24 April 2025|language=en}}

International career

=Youth career=

Escobar has represented Guatemala internationally. He played for the Guatemala national under-17 football team at the 2023 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, in which he scored 4 goals in 5 appearances.{{Cite web|url=https://republica.gt/deportes/quien-es-olger-escobar-el-goleador-de-la-seleccion-sub-17-de-guatemala-20232171210|title=Quién es Olger Escobar, el goleador de la Selección Sub-17 de Guatemala|publisher=republica.gt}} In 2024, Escobar played with the Guatemala national under-18 football team at the UEFA Friendship Tournament U18 hosted in Turkey. He would score 3 goals in 4 appearances, helping Guatemala finish fifth place at the tournament.{{Cite web|url= https://emisorasunidas.com/2024/04/30/guatemala-se-lleva-el-quinto-lugar-del-uefa-friendship-tournament/|title= GUATEMALA SE LLEVA EL QUINTO LUGAR DEL UEFA FRIENDSHIP TOURNAMENT|publisher=emisorasunidas.com}}{{Cite web|url= https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/028d-1ad71684ce58-03eee0c3f7ce-1000--new-competitions-cultures-and-connections-first-uefa-fri/|title= New competitions, cultures and connections: First UEFA Friendship Tournaments take place |publisher=UEFA}} Later, that same year Escobar was called up to the Guatemala national under-20 football for the 2024 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. On 27 July 2024, he would score a hat-trick in a 5–1 win against Haiti, helping Guatemala reach the Quarter-finals.{{Cite web|url= https://espndeportes.espn.com/futbol/guatemala/nota/_/id/13962296/guatemala-golea-haiti-se-instala-cuartos-de-final-y-esta-a-un-partido-del-mundial-2025|title=Olger Escobar fue la figura del partido con un triplete, además Marvin Ávila se estrenó en el campeonato y Matthew Evans cerró la goleada|publisher=espndeportes.espn.com|access-date=27 July 2024}} 3 days later, in the Quarter-finals match against the United States, in the final minutes of the match Escobar missed a penalty to tie the game. Guatemala would loose 1–0 and fail to qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup.{{Cite web|url= https://www.prensalibre.com/deportes/futbol-nacional/guatemala-se-despide-del-premundial-sub-20-tras-fallar-un-penal-en-los-ultimos-minutos-breaking/|title= Guatemala se despide del Premundial Sub 20 tras fallar un penal en los últimos minutos|publisher=Prensa Libre|date=30 July 2024|access-date=30 July 2023}}

=Senior career=

Olger Escobar received his first Guatemala senior call up in the month of November 2023 for a friendly match against Jamaica.{{Cite web|url=https://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/revolution-ii-forward-olger-escobar-called-up-to-guatemala-national-team|title=Revolution II forward Olger Escobar called up to Guatemala National Team|publisher=New England Revolution}} On 11 November 2023, Escobar would make his debut against Jamaica, coming off as a substitute in the 74th minute replacing Oscar Santis. The result would be a 0–0 draw.{{Cite web|url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/futbol/guatemala/nota/_/id/12870983/olger-escobar-debut-guatemala-queria-seguir-jugando-que-se-agregaran-mas-minutos|title=Olger Escobar y su debut con Guatemala: "Quería seguir jugando, que se agregaran más minutos"|website=ESPN Deportes|language=es}}

On 5 June 2024, Olger Escobar would appear for a second time in a Guatemala 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Dominica. Escobar would later on assist José Martínez in a 6–0 win.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com.au/football/match/_/gameId/698141|title=Guatemala vs. Dominica (6 Jun, 2024) Live Score"|website=ESPN Australia}} That same year, on 1 September 2024 in a friendly against Uruguay, he would assist the equalizer goal in a 1–1 draw. He was praised for his performance by Guatemala’s coach Luis Fernando Tena.{{cite web|website=ESPN Deportes|url= https://espndeportes.espn.com/futbol/guatemala/nota/_/id/14118809/luis-fernando-tena-actuacion-olger-escobar-jovenes-vienen-empujano |title= Luis Fernando Tena se refiere a la actuación de Olger Escobar: "Los jóvenes vienen empujando"|trans-title= Luis Fernando Tena refers to Olger Escobar's performance: "The young players are pushing"|date=1 September 2024|access-date=3 September 2024|language=es}} He would score his debut senior goal on 16 March 2025 against Honduras in a 2–1 victory.{{cite web|website=Inter Miami CF|url= https://www.intermiamicf.com/news/guatemala-edges-honduras-2-1-in-intense-friendly-at-chase-stadium|title= Guatemala Edges Honduras 2–1 in Intense Friendly at Chase Stadium |date=16 March 2025|access-date=17 March 2025}}

Style of play

Escobar mainly operates as a midfielder, winger, or striker. He operated as a winger while playing for American side New England Revolution II and operated as a midfielder while playing for the Guatemala national under-17 football team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.prensalibre.com/deportes/futbol-nacional/olger-escobar-el-juvenil-de-17-anos-que-apunta-a-debut-contra-jamaica-con-la-seleccion-de-guatemala/|title=Olger Escobar, el juvenil de 17 años que apunta a debut contra Jamaica con la Selección de Guatemala|publisher=prensalibre.com}}

Personal life

Escobar is the son of Don Armando Escobar, a footballer who moved to the United States in hopes of having a career. He traces his heritage to Escuintla, Guatemala.{{Cite web|url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/futbol/guatemala/nota/_/id/13265030/olger-escobar-nacido-estados-unidos-honra-padres-jugando-guatemala|title=Olger Escobar, el nacido en Estados Unidos que honra a sus padres jugando para Guatemala|publisher= espndeportes.espn.com}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan=3\|New England Revolution II \|{{nowrap\|2023}} \|MLS Next Pro \|13	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	13	0
2024 \|MLS Next Pro	14	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	14	0
2025 \|MLS Next Pro	4	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	3	1
colspan="3"\|Career total !31	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	31	1

=International=

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan="3"\|Guatemala \|2023	1	0
2024	4	0
2025	2	1
colspan="2"\|Total\|\|7\|\|1

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by Olger Escobar
scope="col"\|No. !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Cap !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition !scope="col" class="unsortable"\|{{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
style="text-align: center;"\|1	16 March 2025	Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States	style="text-align: center;" \|6	{{fb\|HND}}	style="text-align: center;"\|2–1	style="text-align: center;"\|2–1	Friendly	style="text-align: center;"\|{{citation needed\|date=March 2025}}

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Olger Escobar

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Cap

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

!scope="col" class="unsortable"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

style="text-align: center;"|1