Antonio Javier Astúa Araya (6 November 1968 – 4 January 2022) was a Costa Rican professional footballer who played as a forward.
Club career Born in Quepos, Astúa played several years for Municipal Puntarenas and played two matches for Mexican outfit Morelia in September 1992.Mexican league stats - Mediotiempo He had a frustrating four-month stint at Chilean side Palestino,Javier Astúa se confiesa - Nación before returning to Costa Rica where he joined Alajuelense. He later played for San Carlos, who released him in November 1995 after an injury-hit spell.Separado Astúa - Nación In March 2006, he was released by Herediano.Sacudida en Herediano - Nación He finished his career at Carmelita before more injury cut short his career.
He was twice the Costa Rica Premier Division top goalscorer, in 1992 and 1994.Goleadores de Campeonato Nacional - UNAFUT
International career Astúa made his debut for Costa Rica in an April 1992 friendly against El Salvador and earned a total of 13 caps, scoring seven goals. He has represented his country in four FIFA World Cup qualification matches and played at the 1993 UNCAF Nations Cup.UNCAF Tournament 1993 - RSSSF
He played his final international game in January 1994 against Norway.
Later life and death Astúa was married and had a daughter and a son,“Extraño el fútbol”, Al Día, who was manager of Third Division side Jicaral in 2013.Jicaral y Siquirres a un paso de la final - DiarioExtra He died on 4 January 2022, at the age of 53.Fallece recordado exjugador del fútbol nacional: Javier Astúa Araya
Career statistics Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Astúa goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Javier AstúaNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 23 August 1992 Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica 5–0 5–1 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification2 5 December 1992 Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino, Tegucigalpa, Honduras 1–2 1–2 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification3 13 December 1992 Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica 1–0 5–0 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification4 3–05 4–06 16 February 1993 Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica 1–0 6–0 1993 UNCAF Nations Cup qualification7 3–0
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