Raúl Ruidíaz

Universitario

Ruidíaz grew up in the Lima neighbourhood of Villa María del Triunfo. He is of maternal Croatian descent. He made his first steps in club football at Primera División club Universitario de Deportes aged eight. In January 2008, the player was promoted to the first adult team and immediately loaned to América Cochahuayco, the club's filial team, directed by the coach Héctor Chumpitaz, a historic football player of the Peruvian national team in the 1982 World Cup. His first professional goal was against Hijos de Acosvinchos. After the arrival of Jorge Gonzáles, he began to play as a striker. Ruidíaz made his professional debut in the Peruvian First Division on 4 October 2009 against Total Chalaco in the Monumental, at the age of 19. The coach at the time, Juan Reynoso, decided to play him from the start of the match, which finished 2–1 in favor of Universitario. He finished the season by scoring 3 goals in 7 games in the Peruvian 2009 Championship and also won his first National title with Universitario de Deportes. Ruidíaz has often been called pequeño Messi (little Messi) in his home country, mainly because of his ability to charge a player one on one, as well as his unique technical skills. Ruidiaz was listed among the greatest talents of South American football by O Globo Brazilian newspaper in 2010.

Universidad de Chile

On 20 January 2012, Ruidíaz was appointed as new player of the Primera División club Universidad de Chile. Despite some…

2011: Debut and first Copa América

Ruidíaz made his international debut on 7 June 2011 in a 0–0 draw against Japan in Niigata in the Kirin Cup. In the same month, Ruidíaz was called up by coach Sergio Markarián to represent Peru in the Copa América held in Argentina, Ruidíaz was a member of the Peruvian squad that finished 3rd, after a 4–1 victory over Venezuela, Ruidíaz made only one appearance in the tournament in a match against Chile in which Peru lost 1–0.

2016–2018: Second Copa América and first FIFA World Cup

Ruidíaz was named as a member of Peru's 23-man squad for the Copa América Centenario in 2016. In Peru's third group match against Brazil on 12 June 2016, Ruidíaz scored a controversial goal, a winner in the 75th minute by guiding the ball into the net with his arm. After a lengthy discussion between the referee and his assistant, the goal was allowed to stand, and Brazil went on to lose 1–0, resulting in their elimination from the tournament. The result sent Peru through to the knockout stage as winners of Group B. In May 2018, he was named in Peru's provisional 24 man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Club

As of match played 30 November 2024

International

As of match played 12 September 2023

As of match played 27 March 2018. Scores and results list Peru's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ruidíaz goal.

Universitario de Deportes

Torneo Descentralizado: 2009, 2013 Universidad de Chile

Primera División de Chile: 2012 Apertura Seattle Sounders FC

MLS Cup: 2019 CONCACAF Champions League: 2022 Peru

Copa América runner-up: 2019; third place: 2011 Individual

Peruvian Primera División top scorer: 2013 Torneo Descentralizado Liga MX Golden Boot: Apertura 2016, Clausura 2017 Liga MX Best XI: Apertura 2016, Clausura 2017 Liga MX Best Forward: 2016–17 Liga MX Balón de Oro: 2016–17 MLS Cup Playoffs top scorer: 2019 MLS Best XI: 2020, 2021 MLS All-Star: 2021, 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Best XI: 2022