Keylor Navas

Keylor Antonio Navas Gamboa, born on December 15, 1986, is a distinguished Costa Rican professional footballer who excels as a goalkeeper. Currently, he serves as the captain of Liga MX club UNAM and the Costa Rica national team. Navas is widely recognized as one of the finest goalkeepers of his generation and is celebrated as one of the greatest goalkeepers from the CONCACAF region.

Navas began his football journey in the youth ranks of Saprissa, where he achieved remarkable success, securing six Liga FPD titles. His professional career took off in 2010 when he joined Spanish club Albacete, followed by a move to Levante in La Liga the next year. At Levante, he garnered the LFP Award for Best Goalkeeper in his final season, showcasing his exceptional talent.

In 2014, Navas made a significant leap to Real Madrid for a transfer fee of ten million euros. During his tenure with the club, he amassed an impressive collection of twelve titles, including one La Liga championship and three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles, solidifying his status as the first-choice goalkeeper. In 2019, he transitioned to French club Paris Saint-Germain, where he continued to shine, reaching his fourth Champions League final in his inaugural season.

On the international stage, Navas has represented Costa Rica over 120 times since his debut in 2008. He has participated in three CONCACAF Gold Cups and three FIFA World Cups in 2014, 2018, and 2022. Notably, he was instrumental in helping Costa Rica reach the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup, a historic achievement for the nation.

His accolades include being named CONCACAF Men's Goalkeeper of the Year for three consecutive years from 2016 to 2018 and being recognized as the best male CONCACAF Player of the Decade by the IFFHS. His outstanding performances during the 2017–18 season earned him the UEFA Club Football Award for best UEFA goalkeeper and a spot in the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season in 2018.