Celso Borges
The elegant midfield engine whose record-breaking career for Costa Rica has made him a symbol of national footballing pride.
Born 1988 (age 38)·Costa Rican footballer·Birthday: May 27·Millennials
Biography
Celso Borges represents a golden generation of Costa Rican football. The son of a national team legend, he carried expectations from a young age, developing a graceful, intelligent playing style at Saprissa before moving to Europe. Borges is not defined by flashy theatrics but by consistent control: a metronomic passer with a deceptively powerful shot, capable of dictating the tempo of a game from the center of the park. His club career has taken him from Scandinavia to Spain, but his true home has always been the Costa Rican national team. Surpassing 150 caps, he became his country's most-capped player, a leader through multiple World Cup campaigns, including the magical run to the quarter-finals in 2014. Borges embodies a calm, professional durability that has made him a respected figure across CONCACAF.
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.
Celso was born in 1988, 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 Celso Was Born
The biggest hits of 1988
#1 Movie
Rain Man
Best Picture
Rain Man
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Celso's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1988Born
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1993Started school
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2001Became a teenager
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Could drive
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2006Could vote
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Turned 21
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2018Turned 30
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 38 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the all-time most capped player for the Costa Rica national football team, surpassing 160 appearances.
- Was a central figure in Costa Rica's historic run to the 2014 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals, starting every match.
- Won multiple league championships in Costa Rica with Deportivo Saprissa and later with LD Alajuelense.
- Enjoyed a sustained professional career in Europe, playing for clubs in Sweden, Greece, and Spain's La Liga.
Did You Know?
He is the son of Alexandre Guimarães, a former Costa Rica international who coached the national team at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.
Borges scored his first international goal against the United States in a 2010 World Cup qualifier.
He is known for his academic pursuits, having studied business administration alongside his football career.
He played alongside Keylor Navas and Bryan Ruiz for over a decade, forming the core of Costa Rica's most successful national team era.
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