The newspaper’s cover referred to Dinnia Díaz – the goalkeeper of the Costa Rican Women’s National Soccer Team, which just qualified for the Women’s World Cup for the first time in history – as “Keylar.” (This allusion to renowned male Costa Rican keeper Keylor Navas is roughly akin to referring to a women’s basketball star as “Michelle Jordan.”)
Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas became a global superstar in sports this year following his stellar performance at the World Cup in Brazil, his signing with the legendary football club Real Madrid, and a nod this week with Spain's Best Goalkeeper award for the 2013-2014 season. But a bizarre case back home involving illegal prying into his personal life by law enforcement officials has him in the spotlight again, for all the wrong reasons.
Tico goalie Keylor Navas on Monday evening won Spain’s Best Goalkeeper award at the Professional Football League Awards ceremony for the 2013-2014 season.
After raising doubts about their performance in a friendly match in Asia last Friday, Costa Rica's national football team, known as La Sele, redeemed themselves on Tuesday and looked more like the squad that finished eighth at the Brazil 2014 World Cup. La Sele defeated South Korea 3-1.
Real Madrid needed Keylor Navas to make a save just four minutes into today's match against La Liga opponent Elche. Navas got in front of a big free kick from captain Edu Albácar. Albácar prevailed against the Tico goalie 10 minutes later with a penalty kick.
The curly-haired defensive midfielder was one of the breakout stars of Costa Rica's surprising World Cup run to the quarterfinals in Brazil. The 22-year-old started all five matches, and held in check top players like Italy's Andrea Pirlo during the tournament.
Costa Rica star keeper Keylor Navas allowed as many goals in his Real Madrid debut as he did during the entire World Cup. But he has teammate Xabi Alonso partially to blame for his team's defensive follies in a 2-1 friendly loss to Italy's Fiorentina on Saturday.
Navas is tipped to get the nod ahead of club legend Iker Casillas to start in goal for Carlo Ancelotti's side. The team's third goalie Diego López looks likely to be forced out.
