Fidel Escobar

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Escobar and the second or maternal family name is Mendieta.

Fidel Escobar
File:ENG-PAN (13) (cropped) 2.jpg
Escobar with Panama at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Fidel Escobar Mendieta
Date of birth (1995-01-09) 9 January 1995 (age 31)
Place of birth Panama City, Panama
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Deportivo Saprissa
Number 21
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 San Francisco 16 (1)
2014–2020 San Miguelito 65 (6)
2016–2017 → Sporting B (loan) 14 (0)
2017–2018 → New York Red Bulls (loan) 12 (0)
2017–2018 → New York Red Bulls II (loan) 6 (1)
2019 → Correcaminos UAT (loan) 0 (0)
2019–2020 → Córdoba (loan) 20 (0)
2020–2022 Alcorcón 24 (0)
2022 → Cultural Leonesa (loan) 14 (1)
2022– Deportivo Saprissa 128 (7)
International career‡
2015 Panama U20 7 (3)
2015– Panama 96 (4)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing File:Flag of Panama.svg Panama
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Runner-up 2023 United States–Canada Team
CONCACAF Nations League
Runner-up 2025 United States Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 2 November 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 18 November 2025

Fidel Escobar Mendieta (born 9 January 1995) is a Panamanian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Liga FPD club Saprissa and the Panama national team.

Club career

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San Francisco

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Born in Panama City, Escobar graduated from San Francisco's youth setup, and made his senior debut during the 2012–13 campaign, aged only 18. During the next season he established himself as a first team regular making 14 starts and scoring one goal. On 26 October 2013, Escobar scored his first goal for Los Monjes in a 2–0 victory over Chorrillo.[2]

Sporting San Miguelito

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After impressing with San Francisco, Escobar was signed by Sporting San Miguelito for the 2014 Clausura season. He made 14 appearances scoring one goal in his first season at the club. On 16 March 2014, Escobar scored his first goal with San Miguelito in a 2–2 draw with Alianza.[3] In his two and a half seasons with the club Escobar made 65 league appearances scoring six goals.

Sporting B (loan)

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As a result of his impressive play with his club and at the Under-20 World Cup Escobar received the attention of European clubs. During July 2016, Escobar was sent on loan with an option to buy to Sporting Clube de Portugal's reserve side Sporting B.[4] Escobar made his debut for Sporting B on 6 August 2016 playing the entire match in a 1–2 loss to Portimonense S.C.[5] In January 2017, Escobar attempted to terminate his contract with Sporting in search of other opportunities and was threatened with legal action by the Portuguese side.[6] Escobar eventually apologized to the club and was reinstated for the second half of the season. He made his return to the side on 15 April 2017, starting in a 2–0 victory over União da Madeira.[7]

New York Red Bulls (loan)

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On 27 July 2017 it was announced that Escobar was joining New York Red Bulls on an 18-month loan.[8] For his play on 10 March 2018, in which he helped lead New York to a 4–0 victory over Portland Timbers in the team's first league match of the season, Escobar was named to the Starting XI for Major League Soccer's Team of the Week.[9]

Escobar was loaned to affiliate side New York Red Bulls II of the United Soccer League for the match against Tampa Bay Rowdies on 14 April 2018. He opened the scoring for New York in the 5–0 victory.[10]

Escobar's loan was not extended by the Red Bulls at the end of their 2018 season.[11]

Córdoba (loan)

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On 10 July 2019, after a six-month spell at Correcaminos UAT, Escobar joined Spanish Segunda División B side Córdoba CF on loan for one year.[12]

Alcorcón

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On 28 July 2020, Escobar agreed to a three-year contract with AD Alcorcón in Segunda División.[13] On 31 January 2022, he was loaned to Primera División RFEF side Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa.[14]

International career

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Escobar played at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.[15] He made his debut in the competition on 30 May 2015 scoring an 84th-minute equalizer in a 2–2 draw against heavily favored side Argentina.[16]

Escobar made his senior debut for Panama in a February 2015 friendly match against the United States.

In May 2018 he was named in Panama's preliminary 35 man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, and played all three matches in an eventual group-stage exit.[17]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 2 November 2025[18]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
San Francisco 2012–13 Liga Panameña de Fútbol 2 0 — — — 2 0
2013–14 14 1 — — — 14 1
Total 16 1 — — — 16 1
San Miguelito 2013–14 Liga Panameña de Fútbol 14 1 — — — 14 1
2014–15 25 2 — — — 25 2
2015–16 26 3 — — — 26 3
Total 65 6 — — — 65 6
Sporting B (loan) 2016-17 LigaPro 14 0 — — — 14 0
New York Red Bulls (loan) 2017 Major League Soccer 6 0 1 0 — — 7 0
2018 6 0 — 0 0 — 6 0
Total 12 0 1 0 0 0 — 13 0
New York Red Bulls II (loan) 2017 United Soccer League 1 0 — — — 1 0
2018 5 1 — — — 5 1
Total 6 1 — — — 6 1
Córdoba (loan) 2019–20 Segunda División B 20 0 0 0 — — 20 0
Alcorcón 2020–21 Segunda División 17 0 2 0 — — 19 0
2021–22 7 0 2 0 — — 9 0
Total 24 0 4 0 — — 28 0
Cultural Leonesa (loan) 2021–22 Primera Federación 14 1 — — — 14 1
Deportivo Saprissa 2022–23 Liga FPD 36 0 2 0 — — 38 0
2023–24 41 6 0 0 2[a] 0 8[b] 0 51 6
2024–25 38 2 0 0 2[a] 0 8[b] 0 48 2
2025–26 13 0 0 0 0 0 4[b] 0 17 0
Total 128 8 2 0 4 0 20 0 154 8
Career total 298 17 7 0 4 0 20 0 330 17
  1. ^ a b Appearances in CONCACAF Champions Cup
  2. ^ a b c Appearances in Central American Cup

International

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As of match played 18 November 2025[19]
Panama
Year Apps Goals
2015 2 0
2016 7 1
2017 11 0
2018 11 0
2019 11 0
2020 1 0
2021 8 0
2022 13 1
2023 16 1
2024 5 0
2025 11 1
Total 96 4

International goals

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Scores and results list Panama's goal tally first.[20]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 11 November 2016 Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras File:Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg Honduras 1–0 1–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2. 9 June 2022 Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama File:Flag of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique.svg Martinique 3–0 5–0 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A
3. 4 July 2023 Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, United States File:Flag of El Salvador.svg El Salvador 1–1 2–2 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup
4. 7 June 2025 FFB Stadium, Belmopan, Belize File:Flag of Belize.svg Belize 1–0 2–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

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New York Red Bulls

Panama U20

Panama

Individual

References

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  14. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  15. ^ Fidel Escobar – FIFA competition record (archived)Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
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  18. ^ Fidel Escobar at Soccerway. Retrieved 18 July 2018.Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  19. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
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  • Fidel Escobar at BDFutbolLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  • Fidel Escobar at National-Football-Teams.comLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  • Fidel Escobar at ForaDeJogo (archived)Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  • Fidel Escobar at SoccerwayLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
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