Bryan Ruiz Looks Back on Missed Opportunity That Brought Him Back to Alajuelense

Bryan Ruiz, a well-known footballer from Costa Rica, recently reflected on a moment he considers the hardest in his career. On March 5, 2016, during a crucial match between Sporting Lisbon and Benfica, he missed a simple chance to score, a mistake that not only affected the title race but also altered his career path, leading him back to Liga Deportiva Alajuelense.

The match at José Alvalade was vital for the championship. With an open goal, Ruiz shot over the bar, and Benfica’s win allowed them to claim the title by just one point. “That game against Benfica was very tough, because of what that miss meant. In the end, we lost the championship by one point, and after so many years without winning, it was very frustrating,” the former Costa Rica captain said.

This incident became a pivotal moment in his career. Following his time at Sporting, Ruiz had a brief stint with Santos in Brazil before returning to play in Costa Rica. Alajuelense brought him back, allowing him to end his career where it all started, with support from devoted fans. Looking back, that missed chance in Portugal, while difficult, turned out to be a moment that reconnected him with his roots and shaped his goodbye on home turf.