Álvaro Saborío
Costa Rica's all-time leading scorer whose powerful presence up front defined a golden generation of national team football.
Born 1982 (age 44)·Costa Rican footballer·Birthday: March 25·Millennials
Biography
Álvaro Saborío wasn't just a goal scorer; he was a tactical anchor for Costa Rican football. Emerging in the early 2000s, the tall, physical forward combined an aerial threat with a surprising technical touch. His club career took him from Costa Rican powerhouse Saprissa to Switzerland, and most notably, to Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake, where he became a fan favorite and a consistent double-digit goal threat. For the national team, his importance was monumental. He led the line through multiple World Cup qualifying campaigns and tournaments, becoming the nation's top scorer for many years. His brief, quirky retirement in 2017, reversed months later, underscored a passion for the game that outlasted even his own plans.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Álvaro was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Álvaro Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Álvaro's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became Costa Rica's all-time leading men's scorer with 36 international goals (a record later broken).
- Won three MLS Western Conference titles (2009, 2010, 2013) with Real Salt Lake.
- Helped Costa Rica qualify for the 2006 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.
- Won multiple domestic league titles in Costa Rica with Deportivo Saprissa.
Did You Know?
He scored Costa Rica's first-ever goal in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2005.
His brief retirement in 2017 was spent studying to become a sporting director.
He holds the record for the fastest goal in Real Salt Lake history, scored 19 seconds into a 2013 match.
“A striker's job is to score, but you must work for the team first.”
