*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 04:20, 19 January 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 03:46, 16 October 2024 (UTC)
Cristhian Andrey Mosquera Ibargüen (born 27 June 2004) is a Spanish professionalfootballer who plays mainly as acentre-back forLa Liga clubValencia.
Born inAlicante,Valencian Community toColombian parents, Mosquera first playedbasketball in his hometown, before joiningfutsal team San Blas Cañavate, as his cousin was playing there and they were missing a player for a youth tournament. Having later moved to play inCarolines Altes [ca]-based team SCD Carolinas, he eventually joined the city main football club,Hércules CF.[2][3][4][5]
Having already featured on the bench for a fewLiga fixtures thatseason,[3][9][10] he made his first team debut on the 16 January 2022, starting in a 1–0 away win overCD Atlético Baleares, forthe season'sCopa del Rey. Playing every minutes of the game in the center of a 3-men defense, his coachJosé Bordalás praised him as the best on the field that night.[11][12][13] At the age of 17 years, six months and 23 days, he became the eight-youngest player in the club's history, and the youngest centre-back.[2][4][13][14]
Set to further renew his contract with theChe until 2025,[15][16] Mosquera made hisLa Liga debut on the 19 January 2022 by starting in a 1–1 draw againstSevilla FC, again impressing in the axis of the defense for what was a difficult game against the likes ofRafa Mir.[6][17][18] This made him the fourth-youngest footballer to ever play in La Liga withLos murciélagos, surpassing players such asFerran Torres,Lee Kang-in orYunus Musah.[19][20]
In August 2023, Mosquera was definitely promoted to the main squad of theChe.[21]
Mainly playing as acentre-back during his time at Valencia's academy, Mosquera can also play as afull-back on both sides.[7] When he made the switch fromfutsal toassociation football as a youngster, he actually played as awinger, where he first showed his athletic abilities.[4]
Already a strong physical presence despite his young age, he is described as a quick defender, with good anticipation and ability to play the ball, helping his team move forward.[2][3][5][9][13]Miguel Ángel Angulo – his coach at Mestalla – described the youngster's profile as characterized by his "physical condition and good technical qualities, powerful in the air, and mature for his age".[3]
^Valle, Conrado (16 January 2022)."Un Valencia práctico y a otra ronda" [A practical Valencia and to another round] (in Spanish). Diario AS.Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved19 January 2022.
