Christian Rivera (Colombian footballer)

Christian Rivera
Personal information
Full name Christian Hernando Rivera Cuéllar
Date of birth (1996-01-14) 14 January 1996 (age 29)
Place of birth Cali, Colombia
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Tijuana
Number 14
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016 Deportivo Cali 10 (0)
2016–2017 Deportivo Pasto 32 (2)
2017–2019 Deportivo Cali 70 (4)
2020– Tijuana 112 (11)
2023 → Querétaro (loan) 16 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 05:29, 9 March 2024 (UTC)

Christian Hernando Rivera Cuéllar (born 14 January 1996) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Liga MX club Tijuana.

Club career

Born in Cali, Rivera is the son of Hernando and Yenny.[1] He began playing football at age four at the Universidad Santiago de Cali, where his mother worked as a teacher.[1] When Rivera turned nine, he joined the Sarmiento Lora academy where he had to balance his football training and studies.[1] In 2012, Rivera was selected from three players at Sarmiento Lora, including future first team teammate Alveiro Sánchez, to join local club Deportivo Cali.[1] He made his professional debut for Cali on 17 February 2016 against Fortaleza. He came on as a late stoppage time substitute as Cali won 1–0.[2] Midway through the 2016 season, at the start of the Torneo Finalización, Rivera joined Deportivo Pasto, making his debut on 10 July against Boyacá Chicó as a halftime substitute in the 2–0 victory.[3]

The next season, on 3 February 2017, Rivera scored his first professional goal for Pasto against Cortuluá. His 89th-minute goal was the fourth in a 4–0 victory.[4] Prior to the second half of the season, Rivera returned to Deportivo Cali, making his debut on 5 July 2017 against Cúcuta Deportivo.[5] On 26 July, Rivera scored a brace for Cali against Cúcuta Deportivo in the second leg of the Copa Colombia in a 3–1 victory.[6]

During the 2019 season, Rivera finished as the top goalscorer in the Copa Colombia where he led Deportivo Cali to final against Independiente Medellín.[7]

Tijuana

On 3 January 2020, Rivera joined Liga MX club Tijuana on loan with a purchase option.[8] He made his debut for the club on 10 January 2020 against Santos Laguna, coming on as a 58th minute substitute in a 2–1 victory.[9] Prior to the Torneo Guardianes 2021, Rivera joined Tijuana on a permanent basis.[10]

Career statistics

As of match played 27 April 2024[11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Deportivo Cali 2016 Categoría Primera A 10 0 0 0 3 0 — 13 0
Deportivo Pasto 2016 Categoría Primera A 14 0 2 0 — — 16 0
2017 Categoría Primera A 18 2 4 0 — — 22 2
Total 32 2 6 0 — — 38 2
Deportivo Cali 2017 Categoría Primera A 10 0 3 2 — — 13 2
2018 Categoría Primera A 16 2 2 0 2 0 — 20 2
2019 Categoría Primera A 44 4 7 3 4 0 — 55 7
Total 70 6 12 5 6 0 — 88 11
Tijuana 2019–20 Liga MX 10 0 6 1 — — 16 1
2020–21 Liga MX 30 0 — — — 30 0
2021–22 Liga MX 32 1 — — — 32 1
2022–23 Liga MX 12 0 — — 2 0 14 0
2023–24 Liga MX 32 7 — — 1 0 33 7
Total 116 8 6 1 — 3 0 125 9
Querétaro (loan) 2022–23 Liga MX 16 1 — — — 16 1
Career total 244 17 24 6 9 0 3 0 280 23

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Christian Rivera, el motor del Deportivo Cali". El Espectador. 1 November 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Deportivo Cali 1–0 Fortaleza". Soccerway.
  3. ^ "Boyacá Chicó 0–2 Deportivo Pasto". Soccerway.
  4. ^ "Cortuluá 0–4 Deportivo Pasto". Soccerway.
  5. ^ "Cúcuta Deportivo 3–3 Deportivo Cali". Soccerway.
  6. ^ "Deportivo Cali 3–1 Cúcuta Deportivo". Soccerway.
  7. ^ "Cristian Rivera llega en prestamo a los Xolos de Tijuana". Caracol. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Christian Rivera se va para México: dejó al Cali y es nuevo jugador de Xolos de Tijuana". Caracol Televisión. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  9. ^ "El Tijuana doblegó al Santos Laguna al inicio de Liga MX". UNANIMO Deportes. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  10. ^ Romero, Marcos (29 November 2020). "Arranca la pretemporada de Xolos con ilusiones renovadas". Organización Editorial Mexicana. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  11. ^ Christian Rivera at Soccerway