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| Celso Borges | |
|---|---|
| Name | Celso Borges |
| Fullname | Celso Borges Mora |
| Birth date | 27 May 1988 |
| Birth place | San José, Costa Rica |
| Height | 1.84 m |
| Position | Midfielder |
| Youthclubs | Deportivo Saprissa |
| Currentclub | Deportivo Saprissa |
| Clubnumber | 19 |
Celso Borges is a professional footballer from Costa Rica who plays as a central midfielder. He has had a long club career spanning Central America, Europe and Turkey, and has been a central figure for the Costa Rica national team across multiple FIFA World Cups and CONCACAF tournaments. Known for his passing range, positional intelligence and leadership, he has been both club captain and national team mainstay.
Born in San José, Borges grew up in a family with strong ties to sport and the arts, as his parents were active in public life in Costa Rica. He progressed through the youth system at Deportivo Saprissa, where he featured alongside contemporaries who later played in the Costa Rican Primera División and abroad. At youth level he took part in regional tournaments and was scouted by clubs in Spain and Portugal following performances in youth international fixtures with Costa Rican age-group teams.
Borges made his senior debut with Deportivo Saprissa in the Costa Rican Primera División, quickly establishing himself and attracting attention from European scouts. He moved to Fredrikstad FK in Norway before transferring to AIK Fotboll in Sweden, where he won domestic honours and earned recognition in the Allsvenskan. A subsequent transfer brought him to Deportivo La Coruña in Spain, where he competed in both La Liga and the Segunda División, contributing as a regular starter in midfield. After several seasons in Spain he joined KV Oostende in Belgium and later moved to the Turkish Süper Lig with Çaykur Rizespor and Göztepe S.K., before returning to Deportivo Saprissa. Throughout his club career Borges demonstrated adaptability across leagues including Eliteserien, Allsvenskan, La Liga, Belgian Pro League and Süper Lig.
Borges has been a prominent figure for the Costa Rica national team, representing the nation at multiple editions of the FIFA World Cup including 2014 and 2018, as well as regional competitions such as the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the Copa Centroamericana. He earned his first senior caps following strong showings at youth levels and became a fixture in the squad under managers who led Costa Rica through World Cup qualification campaigns and tournament finals. Notably, he played a key role in Costa Rica's memorable run at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, partnering with teammates in midfield and contributing to victories against teams from Italy, England and across other competitive national teams.
Borges is primarily deployed as a deep-lying playmaker and box-to-box midfielder, valued for his vision, range of passing, and reading of the game. Analysts and coaches have compared his role to that of established midfielders who link defence and attack in possession-based systems used by clubs in Spain and Portugal. He has been praised by managers and commentators for leadership qualities, set-piece delivery, and defensive positioning, while critics have occasionally pointed to limitations in pace and dribbling when facing high-pressing teams from England and Germany.
Borges comes from a family with notable public profiles in Costa Rica; his relatives have been associated with sports and cultural institutions in San José. Off the pitch he has been involved in charitable initiatives and community programs in his homeland, participating in events with local clubs, youth academies and national sports organizations. He speaks multiple languages learned during his time in Europe and has been an advocate for youth development in Costa Rican football.
Club - Appearances and goals across Deportivo Saprissa, Fredrikstad FK, AIK Fotboll, Deportivo La Coruña, KV Oostende, Çaykur Rizespor and Göztepe S.K.; totals include domestic league matches in Costa Rican Primera División, Eliteserien, Allsvenskan, La Liga, Belgian Pro League and Süper Lig.
International - Over 100 caps for Costa Rica, with appearances in FIFA World Cup tournaments, CONCACAF Gold Cup campaigns and Copa Centroamericana editions; registered goals and assists in competitive qualifiers and friendly fixtures.
- Domestic league titles with Deportivo Saprissa in the Costa Rican Primera División. - Allsvenskan title and domestic cup honours during tenure at AIK Fotboll. - Individual recognitions include selections to domestic league teams of the season and national team awards for service and leadership in Costa Rica.
Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Costa Rican footballers Category:Association football midfielders