Espinoza's current-season form is up 30% on last season (Season 37→48), while his Rating eased 34→26. His peak season for form remains 2023/24 (Season 52).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Nashville SC	14	3	6	6.95	—	—
2025/26	San Jose Earthquakes · 10th	31	4	8	7.57	26	48
2024/25	San Jose Earthquakes · 8th	34	4	10	7.34	34	37
2023/24	San Jose Earthquakes · 8th	35	13	8	7.43	38	52
2023/24	MLS All-Stars	1	0	0	—	—	—
2022/23	San Jose Earthquakes · 7th	34	7	9	7.19	41	44

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 10 earlier seasons in the full career.

Argentina · international

Side	Apps	G
Argentina U23	3	0
Argentina U20	11	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Experienced headCreative Central midfielder

C. Espinoza is a 31-year-old central midfielder at San Jose Earthquakes, enjoying a standout season — 4 goals and 8 assists in 31 appearances, a Season grade of 48, top 8% of Major League Soccer central midfielders. On long-term scout potential he's rated 25.5, ranking 366th of 513 in the Major League Soccer. A seasoned veteran, he has been an ever-present (88% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.11 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Espinoza.

Judged on this season alone, Espinoza graded 48 — an excellent campaign that ranks top 9% of the 84 central midfielders in the Major League Soccer, on 4 goals, 8 assists and 2.106 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 37 → 48). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2023/24.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 26, 61st of 84 of the 84 central midfielders in the Major League Soccer. At 31 Espinoza is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 3.6 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Espinoza is operating at his career peak — the 2023/24 level is the level.

Peak: 2023/24Holding levelRemarkably consistent

Current potential61st of 84 central midfielders · Major League Soccer Current seasonTop 9% central midfielders · Major League Soccer7th-best central midfielder in the Major League Soccer366th in the Major League Soccer · potential61st-highest potential central midfielder in the Major League Soccer

25.5

Ratingi

61st of 84 central midfielders

48.2

Seasoni

a solid contributor and squad regular

88%

Minutes

near ever-present

2.11

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · San Jose Earthquakes finished 10th of 15 · a mid-table side

2.11

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.11 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 4 clean sheets across 31 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 4 goals and 8 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Availability. On the pitch for 88% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.4 goal involvements per 90, useful for a central midfielder.

Watch points

Age curve. At 31, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 25.5, Espinoza carries the 61st-highest potential of the central midfielders in the Major League Soccer of 84. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.11 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90), with a bit more on the ball than most in the role. Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.9× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %88%

Available fixtures34 of 34

Goals / 900.134

Assists / 900.267

Goal contribution / 900.401

Defensive actions / 902.106

Player flow

Goal involvements12

Shot conversion %25

Shot accuracy %50

Dribble success %42.2

Cards / 900.267

Foul involvement / 902.24

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~8), then tapers with age. At 31, Espinoza sits on 3.6, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Espinoza's projected Rating — 25.5 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among central midfielders in the Major League Soccer with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals4

Shots on target16

Shots32

Passing

Assists8

Possession

Successful dribbles38

Dribble success42.2%

Fouls won28

Defending

Tackles43

Interceptions20

Fouls committed39

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards8

Red cards0

Transfer history

€7.2M total transfer fees · 8 moves

Nashville SC2025/26 – now

San Jose Earthquakesuntil 2025/26

EEspinoza Cristian2025/26 – 2025/26

San Jose Earthquakes2019/20 – 2025/26

San Jose Earthquakes(on loan)2018/19 – 2019/20

Boca Juniors(on loan)2017/18 – 2018/19

Alaves(on loan)2016/17 – 2017/18

Valladolid(on loan)2016/17 – 2016/17

Villarreal2016/17 – 2016/17€ 7.2M

Huracanuntil 2016/17

About C. Espinoza

Cristian Omar Espinoza is a 31-year-old central midfielder who plays for San Jose Earthquakes, born on April 3, 1995 in Buenos Aires, standing 175 cm tall. He is from Argentina. San Jose Earthquakes currently sit 10th of 15 in the Major League Soccer.

This season

In the current season, C. Espinoza has made 31 appearances with 4 goals and 8 assists across 2,692 minutes, averaging a 7.49 match rating over his last 10 rated games, with 8 yellow cards. His season has spanned the Major League Soccer and the US Open Cup. Though primarily a central midfielder, he has also lined up in attack this season.

When C. Espinoza plays, San Jose Earthquakes's record this season is 11W-7D-13L — and his match ratings average 7.76 at home against 7.34 on the road.

Recent matches

October 19, 2025: 2-1 win at home vs Austin (90 minutes, 7.9 rating)
October 5, 2025: 1-4 loss away at Vancouver Whitecaps (90 minutes, 6.9 rating)
September 28, 2025: 1-0 win away at San Diego (87 minutes, 7.3 rating)
September 21, 2025: 1-3 loss at home vs St. Louis City (89 minutes, 8.3 rating)
September 14, 2025: 2-4 loss at home vs Los Angeles FC (90 minutes, 8.2 rating)
August 24, 2025: 2-1 win away at Houston Dynamo (79 minutes, 6.9 rating)
August 17, 2025: 1-2 loss at home vs San Diego (90 minutes, 7.3 rating)
August 10, 2025: 2-1 win at home vs Vancouver Whitecaps (90 minutes, 7.2 rating)
July 27, 2025: 1-2 loss away at Real Salt Lake (80 minutes, 7.2 rating)
July 20, 2025: 2-3 loss away at Seattle Sounders (90 minutes, 7.7 rating)

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates C. Espinoza at 25.5 with a Season form score of 48.2, ranking 366th of 513 central midfielders in the Major League Soccer. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 6 career titles — among them the MLS All-Star and the Liga Profesional Argentina. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 15 recorded seasons, C. Espinoza has totalled 358 club appearances with 51 goals and 73 assists for 7 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2023/24, with 35 appearances for San Jose Earthquakes.

C. Espinoza's career has also included time at Nashville SC, EEspinoza Cristian, Boca Juniors, Alaves, Valladolid, Villarreal and Huracan.

On the international stage, C. Espinoza has represented Argentina U23 and Argentina U20 — 14 caps in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · San Jose Earthquakes finished 10th of 15 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points