Rónald Alberto Matarrita Ulate (born 9 July 1994) is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Liga FPD club Alajuelense and the Costa Rica national team.
Club career
New York City FC Matarrita was signed to New York City FC from Alajuelense on 20 January 2016 for an undisclosed fee. Matarrita made his MLS debut against the Chicago Fire on 6 March 2016. He scored his first goal for New York City during a 2–0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC on 25 June 2016. After a strong first season, he was named New York City's Defensive Player of the Year for 2016.
FC Cincinnati On 29 December 2020, Matarrita was traded to FC Cincinnati in exchange for $500,000 of General Allocation Money. He was released by Cincinnati following their 2022 season.
Aris On 20 June 2023, Matarrita joined Super League Greece club Aris on a three-year contract.
International career Matarrita has represented Costa Rica at under-17, under-20, under-22, and senior levels. He made his senior debut on 5 September 2015 in a friendly against Brazil. He scored his first goal for Costa Rica 6 September 2016, in a 3–1 win over Panama, in a World Cup qualification match. Matarrita was called up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but was ruled out of the tournament three days before Costa Rica's debut due to a harmstring injury.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAlajuelense2013–14Primera División110—10—1202014–15Primera División363—40—4032015–16Primera División201———201Total674—50—724New York City2016Major League Soccer251——202712017Major League Soccer120——201402018Major League Soccer242——202622019Major League Soccer24110—102612020Major League Soccer210—4030280Total106410401001214FC Cincinnati2021Major League Soccer222———2222022Major League Soccer91———91Total313———313Dnipro-12022–23Ukrainian Premier League90———90Aris2023–24Super League Greece100040—50Alajuelense2024–25Liga FPD200010—30Career total216111014010024111
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsCosta Rica20156020161122017402018612019902020102021120202250202320202420Total573
Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Matarrita goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Rónald MatarritaNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition16 September 2016Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica3–03–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification211 November 2016Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago2–02–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification316 November 2018Estadio El Teniente, Rancagua, Chile3–03–2Friendly
Personal Matarrita earned his U.S. green card in March 2017. This status also qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.
Honours Alajuelense Costa Rican Primera División: 2013–14 Invierno
Individual CONCACAF Best XI: 2016 MLS Team of the Week 2016: Week 6, Week 10, Week 16,
References
External links Profile at FC Cincinnati