Celso Borges is a prominent Costa Rican football player known for his midfield prowess.
With 164 international appearances, Borges is the most capped player in Costa Rica's football history.
He began his professional career at Deportivo Saprissa, where he won five national championships.
Biography
Early Life
Celso Borges Mora, born in Costa Rica, is a distinguished professional footballer known for his role as a central midfielder. He began his football journey at a young age, making his professional debut for Deportivo Saprissa on January 15, 2006, at just 18 years old. During his time with Saprissa, he achieved significant success, winning five national championships before moving to Europe.
Career
Borges's career took him to several clubs across different countries. After leaving Saprissa in 2009, he joined Fredrikstad FK in Norway, where he quickly made an impact. In 2012, he signed with AIK Fotboll in Sweden, where he initially played as a striker before transitioning to his preferred position in central midfield, becoming the team's top scorer that season. His journey continued with a move to Deportivo de La Coruña in Spain, where he played from 2015 to 2018, before joining Göztepe S.K. in Turkey. In 2021, he returned to Costa Rica to play for Liga Deportiva Alajuelense.
Borges has also had a remarkable international career, representing the Costa Rica national team since 2008. With 164 caps, he is the most capped player in the nation's history and has participated in three FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, and 2022) and multiple CONCACAF Gold Cups.
Personal Life
Beyond football, Borges is known for his intelligence and eloquence, often referred to as "the brain of Costa Rica". He is multilingual, speaking Spanish, English, Portuguese, and Swedish. A heavy metal enthusiast, he enjoys playing the drums and has covered songs from bands like System of a Down. Interestingly, Borges held Brazilian nationality through his father until 2017, when he opted to become a Spanish citizen.
Collected from open sources (3) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Gallery
Career & Clubs
Saprissa
At the age of 18, Borges made his professional debut for Saprissa on 15 January 2006. He won five national championships with Saprissa.
Fredrikstad FK
On 18 January 2009, Fredrikstad FK sporting director Tor-Kristian Karlsen confirmed that Borges had signed for them, joining on 1 July when Borges's contract with Saprissa expired. Fredrikstad later agreed to pay 1 million kroner (€125,000 ) to Deportivo Saprissa so Borges could join the team immediately and play for Fredrikstad, when the season started on 14 April, against the former league champion Stabæk. In March 2011, Borges stated he would leave Fredrikstad during or after the 2011 season.
AIK
On 1 January 2012, it was confirmed that Borges, as a free agent, was to leave Fredrikstad FK signing a three-year contract with the Swedish football club AIK Stockholm. He received the vacant number 10 jersey, last worn by Martin Kayongo-Mutumba. On 1 April 2012, Borges made his first match for AIK, in a match against Mjällby AIF. He got his first goal for the club in the next game, scoring the game-winning goal against Kalmar FF. During the first half of the season he was used as a striker by manager Andreas Alm. But after the summer vacation he dropped down and started playing as a central midfielder and subsequently was the team's first choice in central midfield. He finished the season ending up as the team's best goalscorer.
Deportivo La Coruña
On 14 January 2015, Borges joined…
Borges currently holds the appearance record for the Costa Rica national football team with 164 caps, scoring 27 goals. He has represented his country in over 50 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup finals. He has also played at the 2011 and 2013 Copa Centroamericana, as well as at the 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cups, and the Copa América Centenario. Borges played in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship held in Peru, in which he scored a goal and was considered among the best players of the tournament. After the tournament he was picked as one of ten players to watch out for in the future. Borges also participated in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Canada. He made his debut for the Costa Rican senior team in a June 2008 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Grenada and, in September of the same year, scored his first international goal against Suriname. After featuring prominently during the team's unsuccessful 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, Borges helped the team to a second-place finish at the 2011 Copa Centroamericana, as well as the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup later that year. In June 2014, Borges was named in Costa Rica's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. During the round of 16, Borges was the first of five Costa Rican players to successfully convert his kick in a 5–3 penalty shootout win over Greece. In May 2018 he was named in Costa Rica's 23 man squad for…
Club
As of match played 3 November 2025
International
As of match played 13 November 2025
Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Borges goal (includes unofficial goals scored).
- Club
- Deportivo Saprissa (2006–2009)
- Club
- Fredrikstad FK (2009–2011)
- Club
- AIK Fotboll (2012–2015)
- Club
- Deportivo de A Coruña (2015–2018)
- Club
- Göztepe S.K. (2018–2020)
- Club
- Costa Rica national under-17 football team (2005–2005)
- Club
- Costa Rica national under-20 football team (2006–2007)
- Club
- Costa Rica Olympic football team (2007–2007)
- Club
- Costa Rica men's national football team (2008–2025)
- Club
- Deportivo de A Coruña (2020–2021)
- Club
- Liga Deportiva Alajuelense (2021–)
- National team
- Costa Rica
Personal
Through his father, Borges was also a Brazilian national until 2017, when he relinquished his Brazilian nationality to become a Spanish citizen. Borges is usually considered one of the most educated players of the Costa Rica national football team. El País' Diego Torres described him as "the brain of Costa Rica" and "a gleaned midfielder with elegant diction", while La Nación's Antonio Alfaro called him "the exemplary Costa Rican player." Aside from his native Spanish, Borges can also speak English, Portuguese and Swedish. A heavy metal fan, citing Slipknot, Metallica, Dream Theater and Killswitch Engage as his favorite bands, Borges plays the drums, and has covered System of a Down's "Toxicity" alongside Peruvian musician Kurt Dyer.
Clubs
- Liga Deportiva Alajuelense2021current
- Costa Rica national under-17 football team2005–2005
- Costa Rica national under-20 football team2006–2007
- Deportivo Saprissa2006–2009
- Costa Rica Olympic football team2007–2007
- Costa Rica men's national football team2008–2025
- Fredrikstad FK2009–2011
- AIK Fotboll2012–2015
- Deportivo de A Coruña2015–2018
- Göztepe S.K.2018–2020
- Deportivo de A Coruña2020–2021
Played together with
Abdiel ArroyoLiga Deportiva Alajuelense · 2018–2018
Abdoulaye BaDeportivo de A Coruña · 2020–2020
Abel AguilarDeportivo de A Coruña · 2012–2013
Adama TraoréDeportivo de A Coruña · 2026
Adolfo MachadoDeportivo Saprissa · 2013- Adrián López RodríguezDeportivo de A Coruña · 2007–2010
Adrián López ÁlvarezDeportivo de A Coruña · 2006–2011
Adrián López ÁlvarezDeportivo de A Coruña · 2017–2018
Adrián OrtoláDeportivo de A Coruña- Ager AketxeDeportivo de A Coruña · 2019–2020
Ahmed YasinAIK Fotboll · 2016–2018
Albert LuqueDeportivo de A Coruña · 2002–2005
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Celso Borges Mora is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Liga FPD club Alajuelense. With 164 international appearances, he is the most capped player in Costa Rica's history.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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