Wilder Cartagena

Wilder José Cartagena Mendoza (born 23 September 1994) is a Peruvian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Major League Soccer club Orlando City and the Peru national team.

Cartagena began as a goalkeeper, but was switched to the midfield while in the youth ranks of Alianza Lima. In 2012, he made his professional debut for Alianza Lima and in 2014 moved to Portugal to play for Vitória de Setúbal, but he failed to make an appearance for the Portuguese club. In 2015, Cartagena returned to Peru, where he signed with Universiad San Martín, with whom he made 100 league appearances across three seasons. In 2018, Cartagena signed with Mexican club Veracruz, with whom he played a single season for, before returning to Alianza Lima. In 2020, Cartagena joined Argentinian club Godoy Cruz, but he made only infrequent appearances with the club. In mid-2021, Cartagena joined Emirati club Kalba FC before being sent on loan to Major League Soccer club Orlando City a year later. A season later, Cartagena signed a permanent deal with Orlando City.

Early life 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.

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 scored his first goal for the club and the second of his senior career, again against UCV, in a match that ended in a 2–2 draw. At the conclusion of the 2016 season, Cartagena once again had his contract renewed for another season.

In the 2017 season, Cartagena made the most appearances of his career up to that point in a single season, logging 38 appearances and one goal.

Veracruz On 7 January 2018, Cartagena was announced as a Liga MX club Veracruz signing. On 28 January, Cartagena made his debut for the club in a 1–1 draw against Santos Laguna and played the full match. In total, Cartagena would make just 13 appearances for the club across the 2017–18 season.

Return to Alianza Lima On 5 January 2019, Cartagena rejoined Alianza Lima in the Peruvian Primeira División on a one year deal. On 15 February, Cartagena made his first appearance for the club since his return in a 3–0 win over Sport Boys. On 6 March, Cartagena made his senior international cup debut in the Copa Libertadores against Argentinian club River Plate, resulting in a 1–1 draw. In total, Cartagena made 30 domestic appearances and five international appearances for his first club across the 2019 season, but he did not sign a new contract with the club. On 23 February, Cartagena made his debut for the club in a 3–0 loss at Boca Juniors, playing the full match. Six days later, Cartagena scored his first goal for the club, the opening goal of a 3–1 loss to Unión. On 14 March, Cartagena made his first and only Copa de la Superliga appearance in a 4–1 loss to Boca Juniors. Cartagena would only make five appearances across all competitions for the club in the 2020 season. On 20 August, Cartagena made his debut for the club in a 1–0 loss at Sharjah FC. On 25 October, Cartagena made his UAE League Cup debut in a 1–0 loss at Al Orooba. Across the 2021–22 season, Cartagena made 25 appearances across all competitions.

Loan to Orlando City On 2 August 2022, Cartegena joined Major League Soccer club Orlando City on loan from the remainder of the 2022 season with an option to extend through 2023. On 13 August, Cartagena made his debut for the club when he came on as a 91st-minute substitute for Facundo Torres in a 1–0 victory at the New York Red Bulls. Four days later, Cartagena made a single appearance with Orlando City's reserve affiliate Orlando City B against Rochester New York in which he scored the third goal of a 5–2 victory.

On 30 July 2023, Cartagena scored his first goal for the club in a Leagues Cup match against Santos Laguna. Cartagena's goal, which was scored in added time, allowed Orlando City to progress to the knockout state of the competition. On 2 September, during a match against FC Cincinnati, Cartagena was involved in a scuffle with the opposition players in which he received a red card for his role. Cartagena was fined four days later by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for failing to leave the pitch in a timely manner after his ejection. On 30 October, Cartagena scored his first MLS Cup playoffs goal in the first round of Orlando City's series with Nashville SC when he struck the ball from outside the penalty box and hit the ball on the underside of the crossbar and into the goal to help Orlando to a 1–0 win.

Orlando City Cartagena was acquired by the club permanently on 14 December 2023 with a guaranteed contract through 2025. On 20 May, Cartagena was named to the Team of the Matchday for his performance in a 1–0 win over Austin FC two days earlier. In the 2024 season, Cartagena made the most appearances in his senior career across an entire season for a single club, registering 39 appearances across all competitions. Four days later, Cartagena underwent a successful surgery to repair his tendon, but he was placed onto the season-ending injury list. On 12 November, despite missing the entire season through injury, Cartagena signed a one-year contract with a club option for 2027.

Cartagena returned from injury in Orlando City's season-opening match against the New York Red Bulls on 21 February 2026, but was taken off in the 14th-minute of the game due to an injury. On 25 April, Cartagena again returned from injury, this time as a second-half substitute in a 3–2 loss to D.C. United.

International career

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. 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. 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 eliminated in the group stage.

Cartagena was called up by Ricardo Gareca for the 2021 Copa América in Brazil on 10 June 2021. On 21 June, Cartagena made his tournament debut when he came on as a 83rd-minute substitute for Sergio Peña in a 2–1 win over Colombia. Peru would advance to the knockout stage of the tournament but were eliminated by hosts Brazil in the semi-finals and lose to Colombia in the third place match.

On 15 June 2024, Cartagena was called up by Jorge Fossati for the 2024 Copa América in the United States. Cartagena played in all three matches of the group stage, but the Peruvians were eliminated after placing last in Group A.

Personal life 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.

International

Honours Orlando City U.S. Open Cup: 2022