ORLANDO, Florida. - The fast-approaching 2021 Gold Cup brings with it many opportunities for players, not only to represent a country in an international competition but also to show their individual talent.
The 2021 edition means a chance to make a big impact with their national team, like Costa Rica player Jimmy Marin, aiming to make his Gold Cup inauguration. Although in 2017 Marin made the 26-man roster to represent Costa Rica, he did not see any playing time.
The 23-year-old Marin knows what it is to win on a large scale. He has several accolades at the club level. In 2018 during the Concacaf League Final between Herediano of Costa Rica and FC Motagua of Honduras in a tied 2-2 aggregate game, the attacking midfielder scored a late game-winning goal in the 85th minute, giving his team the Concacaf League trophy.
Besides winning the Concacaf League in 2018, Marin also received individual recognition for his talent by winning that tournament’s Best Young Player Award.
Two years later, Marin was back in a Concacaf League Final, this time as part of Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica, and although Deportivo Saprissa fell to L.D. Alajuelense from Costa Rica in a 3-2 final, Marin continued to grow his international match experiences.
Marin's success at the league level has been evident and it got him called to play with Costa Rica’s senior team in 2018 in a pair of friendlies. The midfielder made his debut against South Korea and played for 86 minutes as a starter before playing against Japan in the second half. Since then, has been called up for several occasions and has 11 caps with the team, starting in three of those matches.
Now with more experience under his belt, Marin is looking to gain some international wins and a Gold Cup debut with Costa Rica under newly anointed head coach Luis Fernando Suarez. With a good mix of experienced and young players, like Marin, the Costa Ricans are shaping up to be a contender.
