Edwin Andrés Cardona Bedoya (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈeðwiŋ kaɾˈðona]; born 8 December 1992) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Categoría Primera A club Atlético Nacional.

Edwin Cardona
Personal information
Full name Edwin Andrés Cardona Bedoya
Date of birth (1992-12-08) 8 December 1992 (age 31)
Place of birth Medellín, Colombia
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
Atlético Nacional
Number 88
Youth career
2006–2009 Atlético Nacional
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2014 Atlético Nacional 75 (19)
2012Santa Fe (loan) 34 (4)
2013Junior (loan) 37 (7)
2015–2019 Monterrey 80 (31)
2017–2018Boca Juniors (loan) 31 (7)
2019Pachuca (loan) 32 (8)
2020–2021 Tijuana 5 (0)
2020–2021Boca Juniors (loan) 30 (7)
2022–2023 Racing Club 16 (2)
2023–2024 América de Cali 29 (5)
2024– Atlético Nacional 0 (0)
International career
2009–2011 Colombia U20 16 (8)
2014–2021 Colombia 45 (6)
Medal record
 Colombia
Copa América
Third place 2016 United States
Third place 2021 Brazil
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:04, 27 June 2022 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:35, 9 July 2021 (UTC)

Club career

edit

Colombia

edit

Cardona made his professional debut in 2009 with Atlético Nacional aged 17. On 19 July 2009, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against América de Cali. His performances led him to getting called up for the Colombian under-20 team.

He won an Apertura with Nacional in 2011 before being loaned to fellow Colombian side Santa Fe. During his brief spell with Santa Fe, Cardona won the 2012 Apertura. The following year, Cardona would join Atlético Junior on a year-long loan.

In 2014, he was brought back to Atlético Nacional, converting himself to a key player in his first two seasons. During his most prominent time at the club, Cardona went on to dispute the final of the 2014 Copa Sudamericana. Despite losing the final against Argentine club River Plate, he was amongst the best players of the tournament, even earning the best young player award. That same year, Cardona was included in Star XI of the Americas.

In May 2024, he was announced to make his return at Atlético Nacional for the 2024 Clausura.

Monterrey

edit

On 16 December 2014, Cardona signed for Liga MX club Monterrey alongside compatriots Alexander Mejía and Yimmi Chará. On 18 January 2015, Cardona scored his first goal for Los Rayados, netting against Pachuca for the 2014 Clausura. His first brace would come on 7 March against Toluca.

Cardona scored his second brace on 16 August 2015 against Dorados de Sinaloa for the 2015 Apertura. During a match for the 2016 Clausura against Santos Laguna, Cardona was praised for scoring an impressive bicycle kick. Due to this, he was given the nickname "Crackdona" amongst Monterrey fans. The match ended in a 2–1 victory with the first goal for Monterrey being scored by fellow countryman Dorlan Pabón.

On match-day 14, Cardona scored a goal against Club Tijuana by chipping it past Argentine keeper Federico Vilar. Monterrey ended up winning the match thus helping maintain their spot as leaders. The following 8 April, Cardona netted another brace against Jaguares de Chiapas which earned him the man of the match award.

Boca Juniors

edit

On 18 July 2017, the Colombian international joined Argentine giants Boca Juniors on a year-long loan plus a possible six months added if the club advances to the round of 16 at the 2018 Copa Libertadores. Monterrey set a $6 million price tag for Cardona if he were to be signed permanently by Boca Juniors.

On 14 August, Cardona made his official debut against Gimnasia y Tiro for the Copa Argentina where he provided an assist and scored a goal in a 5–0 victory. He made his Superclásico debut on 5 November, scoring a free-kick goal in an eventual 1–2 away win for the Xeneizes.

International career

edit

Youth

edit

Cardona represented his country at the 2009 South American Under-17 Football Championship in Chile, where he became the top scorer with seven goals in seven matches, including a hat-trick in a 3–0 win against Ecuador. In doing so, he tremendously helped his country qualify for the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup due to take place in Nigeria from 24 October to 15 November. Cardona was selected to play for his country in the 2011 Toulon Tournament in France. He scored three goals in the Championships including two goals against Ivory Coast and a goal against Mexico in the semi-final. Colombia went on to win the final in a penalty shoot-out against the host nation France.

Senior

edit

On 3 October 2014, Cardona was called up to the Colombia senior team, for the first time, by manager Jose Nestor Pekerman for the team's friendlies against El Salvador and Canada.[2] As a starter, he made his senior debut against El Salvador.

He was called up again for Colombia's national team on 3 November 2014, this time for friendlies against the United States and Slovenia. He assisted Teófilo Gutiérrez in the 86th minute winning goal for an eventual 2–1 victory over the United States.[3] Cardona would score his first goal for the national team against Kuwait in a 3–1 victory. Cardona scored his first goal during an official competition with the Colombia senior team during the CONMEBOL qualifiers for the Russia 2018 World Cup match against Peru which was won by Colombia 2–0.[4]

In May 2018, he was named in Colombia's preliminary 35-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.[5] However, he did not make the final 23-man cut.[6]

Controversy

edit

In a friendly match between Colombia and South Korea in Suwon on 10 November 2017, with Colombia down 2–0 in the 62nd minute, James Rodríguez attempted to pick up Korean player Jin-Su Kim from the ground in a rough manner after Kim was fouled. Korean captain Sung-Yueng Ki lightly shoved Rodríguez, and Rodríguez then fell to the ground while pretending to cover his eye as if Ki slapped his face.[7] Edwin Cardona was caught up in the ensuing scuffle and was caught on camera making a slant-eyed gesture toward the Korean players.[7] Although the incident went unnoticed by the match referee, the incident sparked outrage on social media and calls for heavy FIFA punishment for the Boca Juniors player.[8][9][10] Cardona apologized the same day via Twitter, saying that "I didn't mean to disrespect anyone, a country or a race, but if anyone felt offended, or interpreted it in that way, I am sorry."[11] In December 2017 FIFA banned Cardona for five international games, although he would still be able to participate in the upcoming World Cup.[12]

Career statistics

edit

Club

edit
As of 15 March 2017[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Atlético Nacional 2009 Categoría Primera A 16 1 2 1 0 0 18 2
2010 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
2011 21 7 7 1 0 0 28 8
Total 46 8 9 2 0 0 55 10
Santa Fe (loan) 2012 Categoría Primera A 34 4 9 5 0 0 43 9
Junior (loan) 2013 Categoría Primera A 37 7 5 0 0 0 42 7
Atlético Nacional 2014 Categoría Primera A 32 10 9 2 18 5 59 17
Monterrey 2014–15 Liga MX 15 6 3 3 0 0 18 9
2015–16 36 18 5 1 0 0 41 19
2016–17 23 5 5 3 4 3 32 11
Total 74 29 13 7 4 3 91 39
Career total 223 58 45 16 22 8 290 82

International

edit
As of match played 9 July 2021[14]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Colombia 2014 2 0
2015 10 2
2016 12 2
2017 7 1
2018 2 0
2019 4 0
2020 2 0
2021 6 1
Total 45 6
Scores and results list Colombia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Cardona goal.[14]
List of international goals scored by Edwin Cardona
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 30 March 2015 Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates   Kuwait 2–1 3–1 Friendly
2 8 October 2015 Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia   Peru 2–0 2–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 24 March 2016 Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia   Bolivia 3–2 3–2 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 6 October 2016 Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay   Paraguay 1–0 1–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 7 June 2017 Nueva Condomina, Murcia, Spain   Spain 1–1 2–2 Friendly
6 13 June 2021 Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá, Brazil   Ecuador 1–0 1–0 2021 Copa América

Honours

edit

Atlético Nacional

Independiente Santa Fe

Boca Juniors

Colombia U-20

Colombia

Individual

References

edit
  1. ^ "Edwin Cardona" (in Spanish). America De Cali. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol". Archived from the original on 4 September 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
  3. ^ "James the hero as Colombians make a home away from home". goal.com. Goal. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Perú cayó 2-0 ante Colombia en el inicio de las Eliminatorias Rusia 2018 [VIDEO] | Selección | Deporte Total | el Comercio Peru". Archived from the original on 11 October 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - 23-man & preliminary lists & when will they be announced?". goal.com. Goal. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez named in Colombia's World Cup squad". goal.com. Goal. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b Rapaport, Daniel (10 November 2017). "Watch: Colombia's Edwin Cardona Makes Racist Slant-Eye Gesture Against South Korea". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  8. ^ "Colombia star Cardona causes outrage in South Korea after alleged racist gesture | Goal.com". Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Colombia Soccer Player Makes Racist Gesture Toward Korean Opponents". NESN.com. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  10. ^ "Edwin Cardona sorry for making eye gesture vs. South Korea, denies racism". ESPNFC.com. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Cardona apologizes amid racism storm in South Korea". FOX Sports. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  12. ^ Garcia, Adriana (12 December 2017). "Colombia's Edwin Cardona handed five-game ban after eye gesture". ESPN FC. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  13. ^ Edwin Cardona at Soccerway
  14. ^ a b Edwin Cardona at National-Football-Teams.com
edit