Cristian Riveros

Paraguayan footballer (born 1982)

Cristian Riveros

Personal information
Full name|  Cristian Miguel Riveros Núñez[1]
Date of birth|  (1982-10-16) 16 October 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth|  Julián Augusto Saldívar, Paraguay
Height|  1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)|  Defensive midfielder
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
1999|  Cristóbal Colón|  |
2000–2005|  Tacuary|  108|  (16)
2002|  → Sportivo San Lorenzo (loan)|  24|  (0)
2005–2007|  Libertad|  50|  (8)
2007–2010|  Cruz Azul|  111|  (17)
2010–2012|  Sunderland|  12|  (1)
2011–2012|  → Kayserispor (loan)|  33|  (2)
2012–2013|  Kayserispor|  30|  (0)
2013–2015|  Grêmio|  43|  (5)
2015–2018|  Olimpia Asunción|  107|  (11)
2018–2019|  Libertad|  53|  (1)
2020–2022|  Nacional Asunción|  59|  (4)
2022–2024|  Libertad|  34|  (4)
International career
2005–2018|  Paraguay|  101[2]|  (16)

Medal record

Representing  Paraguay
Copa América
Runner-up | 2011 Argentina | Team

* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 3 December 2023 (UTC)

Cristian Miguel Riveros Núñez (born 16 October 1982) is a Paraguayan former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

A full international for Paraguay since 2005, he has earned 99 caps for his country, playing at two FIFA World Cup competitions (2006 and 2010) and three Copa América tournaments (2007, 2011 and 2015).

On 19 July 2015, Paraguayan newspaper ExtraPRESS named Riveros the most expensive player in Paraguay.[3]

## Club career

[edit]

### Early career

[edit]

Riveros started his career with local side Cristobal Colón in his hometown of Juan Augusto Saldivar and then moved to other Paraguayan teams such as San Lorenzo and Tacuary before playing for Libertad.

### Cruz Azul

[edit]

On 12 July 2007 he signed for the Mexican club Cruz Azul.[4]

### Sunderland

[edit]

On 11 May 2010, Riveros signed for Sunderland of the English Premier League on a three-year deal, saying "The league is very competitive and I look forward to being very successful with Sunderland. The Premier League is the best league in the world and Sunderland are a very big club with many passionate supporters. I look forward to meeting them."[5]

He made his Premier League debut on 14 August 2010 as a 63rd-minute substitute for Steed Malbranque in a 2-2 draw against Birmingham City in the opening game of the season.[6] However, Riveros quickly fell out of favour and played just 14 league games for, the club, scoring his only goal on the final day of the season in a 3–0 win over West Ham United.[7]

### Kayserispor

[edit]

Riveros joined Turkish Süper Lig side Kayserispor on 6 July 2011 on a season-long loan from Sunderland, and signed a permanent contract on 1 May 2012.

Riveros with Keyserispor.

### Grêmio

[edit]

On 7 June 2013, Riveros joined Grêmio, signing a two-year contract.

### Olimpia Asunción

[edit]

In January 2015 after long and exhausting negotiations, it was announced that Grêmio and Club Olimpia Asunción had reached an agreement to sign Riveros for the 2015 Paraguayan Primera División season. Riveros was Instrumental for Olimpia to win their 40th Local Championship, for his experience and skills and also for his leadership on and off the pitch.[8]

### Libertad

[edit]

On 7 December 2017, sports news outlet D10 Paraguay announced that Riveros would sign a two-year contract with Libertad, returning to the club after 11 years.[9]

### Nacional Asunción

[edit]

He joined Nacional Asunción for the 2020 season.[10]

### Libertad

[edit]

On 18 January 2022 of Paraguay's summer transfer window, Riveros officially completed a transfer to Libertad.[11] Anterior to this, Riveros already performed the 2022 pre-season training with Nacional Asunción,[12] however, he joined Libertad for the third time in his career,[13] being at the request of Argentine coach Daniel Garnero.[14][15] By this way, he was one of three FIFA World Cup players in Libertad's team, being with Oscar Cardozo and Roque Santa Cruz.[16]

## International career

[edit]

Riveros played in Paraguay's first two matches at the 2006 World Cup and played efficiently on the left wing. He picked up his first international goal for Paraguay in a 3–2 defeat to Chile. He also played for Paraguay in the Copa América 2007.

### 2010 FIFA World Cup

[edit]

On 4 May 2010, he was named in Paraguay's preliminary 30-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup,[17] and also made the 23-man penultimate selection alongside club team-mate da Silva.[18]

On 20 June 2010 at the World Cup, Riveros scored a second goal in a 2–0 win over Slovakia, which was set up by former Sunderland defender Paulo Da Silva. Riveros scored a penalty in Paraguay's shoot-out win against Japan in the Round of 16 stage, after the match finished goalless after extra time.

## Career statistics

[edit]

### Club

[edit]

As of 3 December 2023[19]
Club  | Season  | League  | National cup  | League cup  | Continental  | Other  | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals
San Lorenzo | 2002 | Primera Division | 14 | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14 | 0
Tacuary | 2003 | Primera Division | 29 | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 29 | 1
2004 | 30 | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30 | 3
2005 | 18 | 3 |  |  |  |  | 2 | 0 |  |  | 20 | 3
Total  | 77 | 7 |  |  |  |  | 2 | 0 |  |  | 79 | 7
Libertad | 2005 | Primera Division | 17 | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17 | 4
2006 | 24 | 4 |  |  |  |  | 15 | 2 |  |  | 39 | 6
2007 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 | 1 |  |  | 7 | 1
Total  | 41 | 8 |  |  |  |  | 22 | 3 |  |  | 63 | 11
Cruz Azul | 2007-08 | Liga MX | 38 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 6
2008-09 | 37 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 7
2009-10 | 36 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 9
Total  | 111 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 131 | 22
Sunderland | 2010-11 | Premier League | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1
Total  | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1
Kayserispor (loan)  | 2011-12 | Süper Lig | 33 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 40 | 3
Total  | 33 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 40 | 3
Kayserispor | 2012-13 | Süper Lig | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0
Total  | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0
Grêmio | 2013 | Série A | 20 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3
2014 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 43 | 3
Total  | 43 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 69 | 6
Olimpia | 2015 | Primera Division | 40 | 5 |  |  |  |  | 6 | 0 |  |  | 46 | 5
2016 | 42 | 3 |  |  |  |  | 5 | 2 |  |  | 47 | 5
2017 | 25 | 3 |  |  |  |  | 6 | 0 |  |  | 31 | 3
Total  | 107 | 11 |  |  |  |  | 17 | 2 |  |  | 124 | 13
Libertad | 2018 | Primera Division | 27 | 0 |  |  |  |  | 7 | 0 |  |  | 34 | 0
2019 | 26 | 1 |  |  |  |  | 9 | 0 |  |  | 35 | 1
2022 | 17 | 3 |  |  |  |  | 4 | 1 |  |  | 21 | 4
2023 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 |  |  | 3 | 0 |  |  | 21 | 1
Total  | 87 | 5 | 1 | 0 |  |  | 23 | 1 |  |  | 111 | 6
Nacional | 2020 | Primera Division | 25 | 2 |  |  |  |  | 2 | 0 |  |  | 27 | 2
2021 | 34 | 2 |  |  |  |  | 1 | 0 |  |  | 35 | 2
Total  | 59 | 4 |  |  |  |  | 3 | 0 |  |  | 62 | 4
Career total  | 614 | 60 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 95 | 12 | 16 | 1 | 738 | 73

### International

[edit]

As of 27 March 2018[2]
Paraguay

Year | Apps | Goals
2005 | 5 | 0
2006 | 8 | 1
2007 | 14 | 4
2008 | 7 | 2
2009 | 11 | 1
2010 | 13 | 3
2011 | 17 | 3
2012 | 7 | 1
2013 | 5 | 0
2014 | 3 | 0
2015 | 0 | 0
2016 | 5 | 1
2017 | 5 | 0
2018 | 1 | 0
Total | 101 | 16

### International goals

[edit]

Scores and results list Paraguay's goal tally first.[20]
# | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition

|
|
|
|
|
|

1. | 15 November 2006 | Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar, Chile |  Chile | ? | 3–2 | Friendly
2. | 9 September 2007 | Estadio José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela |  Venezuela | 1–0 | 2–3 | Friendly
3. | 2–0
4. | 17 November 2007 | Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay |  Ecuador | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
5. | 5–1
6. | 20 August 2008 | Centre sportif de Colovray Nyon, Nyon, Switzerland |  Saudi Arabia | 1–0[21] | 1–1 | Friendly
7. | 9 September 2008 | Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay |  Venezuela | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
8. | 11 February 2009 | Estadio Alejandro Villanueva, Lima, Peru |  Peru | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly
9. | 20 June 2010 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa |  Slovakia | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup
10. | 11 August 2010 | Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay |  Costa Rica | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly
11. | 17 November 2010 | Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong |  Hong Kong | 7–0 | 7–0 | Friendly
12. | 26 March 2011 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, United States |  Mexico | 1–3 | 1–3 | Friendly
13. | 13 July 2011 | Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta, Argentina |  Venezuela | 3–1 | 3–3 | 2011 Copa América
14. | 11 November 2011 | Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay |  Ecuador | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
15. | 9 June 2012 | Estadio Hernando Siles La Paz, Bolivia |  Bolivia | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
16. | 10 November 2016 | Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay |  Peru | 1–0 | 1–4 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

## Honours

[edit]

### Club

[edit]

Libertad

* Paraguayan Primera División: 2006, 2007

## See also

[edit]

* List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 20\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019.
2. ^ a b Mamrud, Roberto (12 April 2018). "Cristian Miguel Riveros - Goals in International Matches". RSSSF.
3. ^ "Los jugadores más caros del fútbol paraguayo".
4. ^ Transfer to Cruz Azul (in Spanish)
5. ^ "Sunderland sign Cruz Azul midfielder Cristian Riveros". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 May 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
6. ^ Whyatt, Chris (14 August 2010). "Sunderland 2 - 2 Birmingham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
7. ^ Darling, Kevin (22 May 2011). "West Ham 0-3 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
8. ^ "Luz verde para la llegada de Cristian Riveros al Decano - Mercado de pases, Olimpia". d10.
9. ^ "Cristian Riveros es virtual jugador repollero para 2018".
10. ^ "Paraguay - C. Riveros - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway".
11. ^ "Paraguay - C. Riveros - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway".
12. ^ "¿Qué ocurre con Cristian Riveros? ¿Se va a Libertad o sigue en Nacional?". 10 January 2022.
13. ^ "Cristian Riveros deja Nacional y enfila rumbo a Libertad". 18 January 2022.
14. ^ "Cristian Riveros fue presentado en Libertad". 19 January 2022.
15. ^ "Ya está Riveros, pedido de Garnero, y ahora van por un arquero". 19 January 2022.
16. ^ "Ya está Riveros, pedido de Garnero, y ahora van por un arquero". 19 January 2022.
17. ^ "Paraguay name their 30-man preliminary World Cup squad". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 May 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
18. ^ "Da Silva and Riveros make the cut". safc.com. Sunderland A.F.C. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
19. ^ "Cristian Riveros". Soccerway.
20. ^ "Cristian Miguel Riveros - Goals in International Matches". RSSSF.
21. ^ "Friendlies - Saudi Arabia vs Paraguay - Soccer - Scoresway - Results, fixtures, tables and statistics". www.scoresway.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cristian Riveros.

* Cristian Riveros at National-Football-Teams.com
* Cristian Riveros – FIFA competition record (archived)

Paraguay squads

* v
* t
* e

Paraguay squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup

* 1 Villar
* 2 Núñez
* 3 Toledo
* 4 Gamarra (c)
* 5 Cáceres
* 6 Bonet
* 7 Cabañas
* 8 Barreto
* 9 Santa Cruz
* 10 Acuña
* 11 Gavilán
* 12 Gómez
* 13 Paredes
* 14 Da Silva
* 15 Manzur
* 16 Riveros
* 17 Montiel
* 18 Valdez
* 19 Dos Santos
* 20 López
* 21 Caniza
* 22 Bobadilla
* 23 Cuevas
* Coach: Ruiz

* v
* t
* e

Paraguay squad – 2007 Copa América

* 1 Villar
* 2 Verón
* 3 Morel
* 4 Manzur
* 5 Cáceres
* 6 Bonet
* 7 Cabañas
* 8 Barreto
* 9 Santa Cruz
* 10 Dos Santos
* 11 Torres
* 12 Zayas
* 13 Salcedo
* 14 Da Silva
* 15 González
* 16 Riveros
* 17 López
* 18 Cardozo
* 19 Santana
* 20 Vera
* 21 Cuevas
* 22 Bobadilla
* Coach: Martino

* v
* t
* e

Paraguay squad – 2010 FIFA World Cup

* 1 Villar
* 2 Verón
* 3 Morel
* 4 Caniza (c)
* 5 J. Cáceres
* 6 Bonet
* 7 Cardozo
* 8 É. Barreto
* 9 Santa Cruz
* 10 Benítez
* 11 Santana
* 12 D. Barreto
* 13 Vera
* 14 Da Silva
* 15 V. Cáceres
* 16 Riveros
* 17 Torres
* 18 Valdez
* 19 Barrios
* 20 Ortigoza
* 21 Alcaraz
* 22 Bobadilla
* 23 Gamarra
* Coach: Martino

* v
* t
* e

Paraguay squad – 2011 Copa América runners-up

* 1 Villar (c)
* 2 Verón
* 3 Piris
* 4 Marecos
* 5 Alcaraz
* 6 M. Cáceres
* 7 Zeballos
* 8 É. Barreto
* 9 Santa Cruz
* 10 Martínez
* 11 Santana
* 12 D. Barreto
* 13 Vera
* 14 Da Silva
* 15 V. Cáceres
* 16 Riveros
* 17 Torres
* 18 Valdez
* 19 Barrios
* 20 Ortigoza
* 21 Estigarribia
* 22 Fernández
* 23 Pérez
* Coach: Martino

* v
* t
* e

Club Libertad - current squad

* 1 Silva
* 2 Ramírez
* 3 Rojas
* 4 Giménez
* 5 Viera
* 6 Campuzano
* 7 Cardozo
* 10 Melgarejo
* 11 Aguilar
* 12 Morínigo
* 13 Cáceres
* 14 Fretes
* 15 Cardozo Lucena
* 17 Espinoza
* 18 Franco
* 19 Recalde
* 20 Fernández
* 21 Sanabria
* 22 Martínez
* 24 Santa Cruz
* 25 González
* 26 Caballero
* 27 Jacquet
* 28 Fernández
* 32 Villalba
* Manager: Aquino

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template