In Alajuela, where the red-and-black crowd at Alejandro Morera Soto has quickly made Ronaldo Cisneros one of its own, the Mexican forward’s impact has spilled into a troubled Costa Rica national-team debate. Supporters have pointed to his importance for Alajuelense while questioning whether interim coach Bryan Ruiz can revive La Sele without a similarly decisive attacking figure.
A forward flourishing in Costa Rica
Cisneros, 29, had an uneven spell in Mexico with Santos Laguna and Chivas, but his move south has given his career a different shape. Since joining Alajuelense in 2025, he has become a central presence in the club’s forward line, producing nine goals and two assists in his first season.
- Cisneros arrived at Alajuelense in 2025 and rapidly established himself as a key member of the attack.
- He helped the club win the 2025 Apertura title and the Concacaf Central American Cup.
- In the Apertura final against Deportivo Saprissa, he played a major role as Alajuelense secured a 3-1 victory.
- His connection with the club’s supporters and his on-field return persuaded Alajuelense to extend his contract through June 2028.
- His market valuation has also risen during his time in Costa Rican football.
The acclaim has been striking given that Cisneros never became a leading figure during his Liga MX years. At Alajuelense, however, his goals and influence have made him a reference point for a fanbase enjoying a successful domestic and regional campaign.
Costa Rica’s difficult international moment
The discussion has gathered pace after Costa Rica failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup during Miguel Herrera’s tenure. The national side then opened its Concacaf Nations League group campaign with defeats in both of its first two matches, leading to Fernando Batista’s departure.
Former Costa Rica international Bryan Ruiz has taken charge on an interim basis. Yet the appointment has met with scepticism among supporters who believe the issue extends beyond the man on the touchline, particularly with the national team lacking a forward in Cisneros’s current form.
- Costa Rica missed out on the 2026 World Cup.
- The team began its Nations League group stage with two losses from two games.
- Fernando Batista left the post following that poor start.
- Bryan Ruiz was appointed as caretaker coach.
- Online debate then turned to the attacking quality Ruiz has available with Costa Rica compared with what he had around Alajuelense.
Supporters invoke Cisneros
A social-media post suggested that Ruiz should not be expected to transform Costa Rica as he had Alajuelense, because “with the national team, he does not have Ronaldo Cisneros.” The remark drew ridicule and discriminatory responses, but it also found backing from those who felt the striker had not been properly developed by his coaches at Chivas.
For Alajuelense followers, the sentiment reflects less a literal selection demand than the scale of Cisneros’s standing at the club. His performances have made him an emblematic player in Alajuela, even as his nationality makes a Costa Rica call-up unrealistic.
No immediate route to La Sele
Cisneros represented Mexico only at youth level, but he has no family connection that would make him eligible for Costa Rica through ancestry. To play for La Sele, he would need Costa Rican nationality, a process requiring at least five years of residence in the country.
Having joined Alajuelense in 2025, he could not meet that residence threshold until 2030. By then he would be 33, making the prospect of an international switch difficult despite the affection he has earned in Costa Rican club football.
