Fidel Escobar

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 San Francisco 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.

Sporting San Miguelito 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. In his two and a half seasons with the club Escobar made 65 league appearances scoring six goals.

Sporting B (loan) 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. Escobar made his debut for Sporting B on 6 August 2016 playing the entire match in a 1–2 loss to Portimonense S.C. 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. 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.

New York Red Bulls (loan) On 27 July 2017 it was announced that Escobar was joining New York Red Bulls on an 18-month loan. 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.

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.

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

Córdoba (loan) 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.

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

International career Escobar played at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. 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.

Escobar made his senior debut for Panama on 8 February 2015 in a 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.

On 26 May 2026, he was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A month later, on 27 June, he featured in his 100th international match for Panama in the third group-stage match against England.efn-num|Escobar played in four matches against Martinique which are not recognised as an official international by FIFA.

Career statistics Club

International

International goals Scores and results list Panama's goal tally first.

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition 1. 11 November 2016 Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras 1–0 1–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification 2. 9 June 2022 Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama 3–0 5–0 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A 3. 4 July 2023 Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, United States 1–1 2–2 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup 4. 7 June 2025 FFB Stadium, Belmopan, Belize 1–0 2–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours New York Red Bulls MLS Supporters' Shield: 2018

Panama U20 CONCACAF U-20 Championship runner-up: 2015

Panama CONCACAF Gold Cup runner-up: 2023 CONCACAF Nations League runner-up: 2024–25

Individual CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2023