Carlos Ruiz (Guatemalan footballer)


Carlos Humberto Ruiz Gutiérrez, initially nicknamed El Pescadito but gradually known as just Pescado or "Fish", is a retired Guatemalan footballer. A product of CSD Municipal's youth academy, Ruiz has played for five MLS clubs, scoring 88 goals in 182 MLS regular-season matches and 16 goals in the post-season, which is the record for the most post-season goals in MLS history. In 2002, he was named the MLS's Most Valuable Player of the season.
He was a member of the Guatemalan national team from 1998 to 2016. He is regarded to be the greatest Guatemalan player of all time. He served as the national team captain, is the player with most caps, and is the all-time top scorer. He played in five World Cup qualification competitions, and in September 2016 he became the all-time top scorer in World Cup qualifiers, with 39 goals.

Club career

Early career (1995–2002)

Ruiz, born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, started his footballing career in local club San Carlos. At the age of 12, he joined the youth divisions of Club Social y Deportivo CSD Municipal, and at 16, he made his professional debut. He became a starter for Municipal and a young star in the Guatemalan league until 2000, when he traveled to Europe to play for a short time alongside compatriot Guillermo Ramírez at Greek club PAS Giannina. After a stint with PAS, he returned to Municipal.

Los Angeles Galaxy (2002–2005)

In January 2002, Ruiz signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy. He was initially skeptical, telling The New York Times, "I didn't know anything about MLS or soccer in the U.S. Everything we hear about Major League Soccer is not so good... we hear that all the players come here to finish their careers." However, he found the level to be better than he imagined, saying: "In the beginning, I was not happy to come here. But after a couple of games and when I see the level of soccer here, I was excited to play here." Once in MLS, Ruiz shone immediately. In his debut season in 2002, Ruiz scored 24 goals, leading the Galaxy to the MLS Cup by scoring the only golden goal in MLS Cup history. He was named the MLS Most Valuable Player that year. In the playoffs, he scored eight goals and added two assists, totaling 18 points and setting an MLS record for goals and points in a single postseason. Ruiz' overtime goal in extra time of MLS Cup 2002 gave Galaxy the title.
In his second season, Ruiz cooled off significantly, but the forward still finished the season tied with Taylor Twellman for the league lead in goals with 15. He continued to statistically drop in 2004, scoring 11 goals. Ruiz had trials at English side Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 2003–04 season.

FC Dallas (2005–2007)

In 2005, when Landon Donovan expressed his desire to return to MLS, the Galaxy traded Ruiz to FC Dallas for the #1 allocation in the MLS pecking order, so that they could acquire Donovan. Ruiz finished his first year in Dallas with 11 goals and two assists. During the postseason in the conference semifinals, Ruiz scored two goals in the second leg match against the Colorado Rapids, but FC Dallas were eliminated on penalty kicks. In February 2006, MLS fully bought Ruiz's contract rights from his former club, Municipal, and FC Dallas was able to negotiate a multi-year deal. In March 2006, a bicycle kick goal he scored against D.C. United was selected as the "Goal of the Decade" in MLS through online voting.
During a 2007 game against the Houston Dynamo, Ruiz was involved in a controversial incident with Houston midfielder Ricardo Clark. Following a corner kick in which the two players became entangled, Clark violently kicked Ruiz in the upper body as he lay on the pitch hoping to draw a foul. Ruiz then hit Clark's back with his knee during the subsequent play, and both players were sent off, with Clark also receiving the longest suspension in league history.
Following the conclusion of the 2007 season, Ruiz appeared to be unwilling to return to Dallas and to be holding out for a move back to the Galaxy. Earlier attempts to produce a trade faltered due to Ruiz being a grandfathered Designated Player, with the Galaxy already having other players in the same situation. In January 2008, FC Dallas traded Ruiz to the Galaxy for an undisclosed cash allocation and the Galaxy's natural second-round pick in the following year's MLS SuperDraft. At his departure, he said, "I did everything I could to win a championship with Dallas. Unfortunately, it did not happen."

Return to LA Galaxy and trade to Toronto FC (2008)

He spoke about the Galaxy to ESPN analyst Andrea Canales: "I still think the Galaxy is the best team in the U.S. They're the best organization. The Galaxy have always had famous players. They continue to be a team that people always follow," and added his personal relief to be on the Galaxy team, "I'm so glad I came to the Galaxy and not another team, because I would have felt like I was starting over." In the season opener, however, Ruiz suffered a knee injury and was unable to play for over a month. While Ruiz was injured, the Galaxy found unexpected striking potential in Edson Buddle, and even after coming back from the injury, Ruiz was notably still left off the travel roster for a high-profile game against D.C. United. He scored his first goal of the 2008 season on 19 July in a game against New York Red Bulls.
Ruiz was traded on 19 August 2008 to Toronto FC who in-turn released Laurent Robert to make room for Ruiz. He was expected to help solve TFC's goal scoring woes as he had scored 82 goals in MLS at that point in his career, but he managed only five first team games in Toronto, during which he scored no goals. He was released by Toronto in early 2009 after they signed Dwayne De Rosario.

Olimpia (2009)

On 31 January 2009, Ruiz signed a contract with Paraguayan club Olimpia Asunción under the request of then-coach Ever Hugo Almeida. He scored 10 goals and was a fan favourite. One of his most memorable goals was against Cerro Porteño in the derby which Olimpia won 2–0. He also scored a hat trick against Rubio Ñu in a 5–3 victory for Olimpia.

Puebla (2009–2010)

Ruiz signed with Puebla on 30 June 2009 under head coach José Luis Sánchez Solá. On 25 July 2009, in a game against Tigres, he scored his first goal for Puebla on a penalty kick. He wore number 20, which is the same number he previously wore for LA Galaxy, FC Dallas, and the Guatemala national team.

Aris FC (2010)

Ruiz agreed to join Aris FC on 12 July 2010. He made his debut on 18 August 2010 in the playoff round of the Europa League against Austria Wien, becoming the first Guatemalan footballer ever to appear in a UEFA competition match. The first leg was played in Thessaloniki with Ruiz netting on his debut to give Aris a 1–0 victory. In the second leg played in Vienna, Ruiz scored again in a 1–1 draw, giving Aris a 2–1 aggregate victory and sending them through to the group stage, where he scored one more goal against Rosenborg.

Philadelphia Union (2011)

After trialling with the club during the 2011 MLS pre-season, Ruiz signed with the Philadelphia Union on 22 February 2011. On 26 March he scored Philadelphia's winning goal in the home opener of the 2011 MLS season against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Ruiz also scored the "MLS Goal of the Week" in Week 10 of the season with a game-winning 35 yard strike against the Chicago Fire.

Veracruz (2011)

On 3 August 2011, Ruíz was transferred to Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz. He scored his first goal for the club against Correcaminos during the 4th week of the 2011 Apertura tournament and finished the year with six goals in five matches. Ruiz remained a part of the club until 2013, though he was inactive for nearly a year.

D.C. United (2013)

On 31 January 2013, Municipal announced that Ruiz would be rejoining the club. However, this move was cancelled after Veracruz refused to terminate Ruiz's contract. On 20 February 2013, DC United announced that the club had signed Ruiz via the MLS allocation process to a one-year deal. On 30 October 2013, DC United announced that they had declined the contract option on Ruiz.

Return to Guatemala (2014)

On 8 February 2014, Municipal announced that Ruiz would be rejoining the club. He signed an 18-month contract that made him the highest paid footballer ever in Central America.

Return to FC Dallas (2016)

On 15 September 2016, FC Dallas announced that they had signed Ruiz for a second stint with the club.

International career

Overall, Ruiz has earned 132 caps and has scored 68 goals for his country. He has played in World Cup qualification campaigns for the FIFA World Cups of 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018. He played his first international match on 11 November 1998, a friendly against Mexico, and scored his first goal against El Salvador at the 1999 UNCAF Nations Cup. Ruiz represented Guatemala at the 1999 Pan American Games. In 2000, as the Guatemala national futsal team had begun its development, Ruiz was selected, along with other 11-a-side football players, as part of the squad that competed at the 2000 Futsal World Championship, hosted by Guatemala. He scored one goal in the tournament.
After scoring eight goals in nine matches during the 2002 World Cup qualification campaign and already having a successful career in the MLS, Ruiz was the focal point of the Guatemalan team in qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, leading the team in scoring as they reached the final stage of the CONCACAF region. However, they would not qualify for the World Cup.
On 14 June 2008, Ruiz broke Juan Carlos Plata's all-time individual goal-scoring record for Guatemala by scoring four goals against Saint Lucia in Guatemala's 2010 World Cup qualification opening match. Ruiz had scored 39 goals, four more than Plata's total. Ruiz also became the first Guatemalan player to score four goals in a World Cup qualification match. On 10 September 2008, Ruiz scored two goals against Cuba in Guatemala's 2010 World Cup qualification in the 3rd match of the 3rd round of qualification of the CONCACAF region. Those two goals extended his all-time individual scoring record for Guatemala to 41 goals, six more than Plata's total.
On 9 February 2009, Ruiz announced his retirement from international football. However, on 4 January 2011, he stated that he was returning to international football, making the UNCAF 2011 championship to be held in Panama his first international tournament in two years. He then participated in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, scoring one goal against Grenada in the first round and another one against Mexico in the quarterfinals in a 2–1 defeat.
On 16 October 2012, Ruiz again announced his retirement from international competition after a 3–1 loss to the United States at Livestrong Sporting Park, which eliminated Guatemala from 2014 World Cup qualification. However, he would return to play for Guatemala again and became the second Guatemalan player to appear in five World Cup qualification processes when he started in the second round of the 2018 World Cup qualification in their opening match against Bermuda. On September 6, 2016, Ruiz scored 5 goals against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in his final farewell match for Guatemala giving him a total of 39 goals in 47 qualifying games, which makes him the highest goalscorer of all-time in FIFA World Cup qualification history.

International goals

Ruiz is the most prolific goal-scorer in the history of the Guatemalan national team with 68 goals in 133 matches.
Correct as of 7 October 2016
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreFinalCompetition
1.19 March 1999San José, Costa Rica1–1Draw1999 UNCAF Nations Cup
2.18 June 2000Guatemala City, Guatemala8–1Win2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
3.3 July 2000Montreal, Canada4–1LossFriendly
4.16 July 2000Mazatenango, Guatemala1–1Draw2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
5.22 July 2000Quetzaltenango, Guatemala2–0Win2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
6.8 October 2000Bridgetown, Barbados Barbados3–1Win2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
7.15 November 2000Mazatenango, Guatemala2–1Win2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
8.15 November 2000Mazatenango, Guatemala Costa Rica2–1Win2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
9.6 January 2001Miami, United States Costa Rica2–5Loss2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
10.6 January 2001Miami, United States Costa Rica2–5Loss2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
11.6 January 2002Havana, Cuba1–0WinFriendly
12.31 October 2002Guatemala City, Guatemala1–1DrawFriendly
13.18 February 2003Panama City, Panama5–0Win2003 UNCAF Nations Cup
14.18 February 2003Panama City, Panama Nicaragua5–0Win2003 UNCAF Nations Cup
15.18 February 2003Panama City, Panama Nicaragua5–0Win2003 UNCAF Nations Cup
16.17 July 2003Miami, United States1–1Draw2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
17.5 May 2004Guatemala City, Guatemala Haiti1–0WinFriendly
18.20 June 2004Guatemala City, Guatemala3–1Win2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
19.20 June 2004Guatemala City, Guatemala Suriname3–1Win2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
20.18 August 2004Burnaby, Canada2–0Win2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
21.18 August 2004Burnaby, Canada Canada2–0Win2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
22.8 September 2004San Pedro Sula, Honduras2–2Draw2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
23.13 October 2004Guatemala City, Guatemala Honduras1–0Win2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
24.13 November 2004Washington, D.C., United States1–0WinFriendly
25.21 December 2004Caracas, Venezuela1–0WinFriendly
26.17 January 2005Los Angeles, United States Colombia1–1DrawFriendly
27.26 March 2005Guatemala City, Guatemala5–1Win2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
28.26 March 2005Guatemala City, Guatemala Trinidad and Tobago5–1Win2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
29.8 July 2005Carson, United States Jamaica3–4Loss2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup
30.8 July 2005Carson, United States Jamaica3–4Loss2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup
31.8 July 2005Carson, United States Jamaica3–4Loss2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup
32.8 October 2005San Luis Potosí, Mexico2–5Loss2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
33.12 October 2005Guatemala City, Guatemala Costa Rica3–1Win2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
34.10 October 2006Atlanta, United States Honduras1–2LossFriendly
35.12 June 2007Foxborough, United States Trinidad and Tobago1–1Draw2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
36.14 June 2008Guatemala City, Guatemala6–0Win2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
37.14 June 2008Guatemala City, Guatemala Saint Lucia6–0Win2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
38.14 June 2008Guatemala City, Guatemala Saint Lucia6–0Win2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
39.14 June 2008Guatemala City, Guatemala Saint Lucia6–0Win2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
40.10 September 2008Guatemala City, Guatemala Cuba4–1Win2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
41.10 September 2008Guatemala City, Guatemala Cuba4–1Win2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
42.28 March 2011Mazatenango, Guatemala Bolivia1–1DrawFriendly
43.13 June 2011Harrison, United States4–0Win2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
44.18 June 2011East Rutherford, United States Mexico1–2Loss2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
45.11 October 2011Guatemala City, Guatemala3–1Win2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
46.22 February 2012Luque, Paraguay1–2LossFriendly
47.25 May 2012San José, Costa Rica Costa Rica1–0LossFriendly
48.25 May 2012San José, Costa Rica Costa Rica2–2LossFriendly
49.1 June 2012Guatemala City, Guatemala Costa Rica1–0WinFriendly
50.15 August 2012Washington, D.C, United States Paraguay3–3DrawFriendly
51.7 September 2012Guatemala City, Guatemala Antigua and Barbuda3–1Win2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
52.7 September 2012Guatemala City, Guatemala Antigua and Barbuda3–1Win2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
53.11 September 2012St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda1–0Win2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
54.12 October 2012Guatemala City, Guatemala Jamaica2–1Win2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
55.16 October 2012Kansas City, Kansas, United States United States1–3Loss2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
56.7 September 2014Dallas, Texas, United States2–1Win2014 Copa Centroamericana
57.13 September 2014Los Angeles, California, United States1–2Loss2014 Copa Centroamericana
58.9 July 2015Chicago, Illinois, United States1–3Loss2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup
59.8 September 2015Guatemala City, Guatemala Antigua and Barbuda2–0Win2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
60.25 March 2016Guatemala City, Guatemala United States2–0Win2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
61.28 May 2016Los Angeles, California, United States1–7LossFriendly
62.2 September 2016Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago2–2Draw2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
63.2 September 2016Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago2–2Draw2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
64.6 September 2016Guatemala City, Guatemala9–3Win2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
65.6 September 2016Guatemala City, Guatemala St.Vincent and the Grenadines9–3Win2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
66.6 September 2016Guatemala City, Guatemala St.Vincent and the Grenadines9–3Win2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
67.6 September 2016Guatemala City, Guatemala St.Vincent and the Grenadines9–3Win2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
68.6 September 2016Guatemala City, Guatemala St.Vincent and the Grenadines9–3Win2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Career statistics

Honors

Municipal

Ruiz is currently the 11th all-time leading goal scorer in MLS history. He is also the Goal Scorer in MLS Playoff history with 16 goals in 17 games. He was also a nominee for the 2011 MLS All-Star Game.