Wilder Cartagena

Alianza Lima

Wilder Cartagena was promoted to the Alianza Lima first team in January 2012. He soon made his Torneo Descentralizado league debut on matchday one in a 2–2 home draw against León de Huánuco. He was used again as a starter by manager José Soto on matchday 27 in away match against Juan Aurich. In the 2013 season, Cartagena made many more appearances for the senior side. On 30 November, Cartagena scored his first senior goal for the club when he equalized in a match against UCV, helping the match to end 1–1.

Vitória de Setúbal

On 21 January 2014, Cartagena signed a contract through June 2015 with Primeira Liga club Vitória Setúbal. Cartagena spoke about how he wished to establish himself at the club and that he hoped his performance at the club would improve his chances to be called up to the Peru senior team. However, Cartagena failed to make an appearance for the club and only was put on the bench once during a match on 28 September against Nacional, which Vitória won 2–0.

Universidad San Martín

On 12 January 2015, Cartagena returned to Peru and joined Torneo Descentralizado club Universidad San Martín due to a lack of playing opportunities at Vitória Setúbal, signing a one year contract. On 15 February, Cartagena made his debut for the club at Cienciano in the Torneo del Inca in a match that ended in a 1–0 loss. At the conclusion of the 2015 season, Cartagena had his contract renewed through the 2016 season. On 5 July 2016, Cartagena…

Youth

Cartagena was called up by manager Juan José Oré to the Peru U17 team to participate in the 2011 South American U-17 Championship in Ecuador. On 12 March 2011, Cartagena made his international debut in the tournament in a 4–2 loss to Argentina in which he played the entire match. Peru were eventually eliminated after placing fourth in Group A, one spot below third which would've seen the team advance to the final round of the tournament. Cartagena was called up to the Peru U20 for the 2013 South American Youth Football Championship in Argentina by manager Daniel Ahmed. Cartagena made his debut for the team on 10 January 2013 in a 3–3 draw with Uruguay and he once again played the full match. Peru placed first in Group B, allowing the team to advance to the final round, but they placed fifth out of six teams.

Senior

Cartagena received his first senior team call-up by Ricardo Gareca for friendlies against Scotland, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Cartagena made his debut as an 84th-minute substitute for Renato Tapia in a 2–0 win over Scotland on 29 May 2018. On 4 June, Gareca named Cartagena to the squad that would compete in the World Cup. On 26 June, Cartagena made his World Cup debut and only appearance of the tournament when he came on as a 79th-minute substitute for André Carrillo in a 2–0 win over Australia. Peru's victory over Australia marked their first win at a World Cup since 1978 over Iran, but they were…

Cartagena spent most of his free time playing football on the streets and on a bad pitch. El Carmen was badly affected by an earthquake that collapsed Cartagena's school, which forced him to go study in Lima. While studying in Lima he made friends who were playing youth football with various clubs and it was there he tried out for Alianza Lima and was accepted. Cartagena started out playing as a goalkeeper for Alianza Lima, but following a scrimmage between his school, which he did not play as a goalkeeper for, and the academy of Alianza Lima, the club moved him into midfield.

Cartagena has a daughter. Cartagena described his relationship with former Orlando City player Pedro Gallese as a "brotherhood" as they have played for the same clubs in the past and their families are very close together.