SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Costa Rica GK Keylor Navas was formally recognized on Sunday by the Costa Rican Football Federation (FEDEFUTBOL) for his excellence on the football field.
Prior to Costa Rica’s pre-World Cup send-off match versus Northern Ireland at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Navas was presented with a Golden Glove trophy by FEDEFUTBOL President Rodolfo Villalobos.
“Thank you, Keylor, for lifting “Pura Vida” to the highest,” said Villalobos.
The event was in recognition of Navas’ superb performances at club level with Real Madrid, with whom the Tico goalkeeper won the UEFA Champions League for the third consecutive time with a 3-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday, May 26 in Kiev, Ukraine.
The two-time CONCACAF Player of the Year (2014, 2017) played the first 33 minutes of Costa Rica’s 3-0 victory over Northern Ireland on Sunday.
“The truth is that Keylor deserved this homage,” said Costa Rica DF Cristian Gamboa to reporters following the match.
“We are happy for him and everything that he means for our country. What he is doing is no doubt spectacular. He’s also one to admire, he’s an example,” added Gamboa.
The win over Northern Ireland was Costa Rica’s final match on home soil before departing for Leeds, England where they will face England in an international friendly on Thursday before traveling to Brussels to square off with Belgium on Monday, June 11.
The 2014 World Cup quarterfinalists open their 2018 World Cup campaign on Sunday, June 17 in Group E versus Serbia.
