Guatemala
Carlos Humberto Ruiz Gutiérrez, born on September 15, 1979, is a Guatemalan former professional footballer widely regarded as the greatest player in his country's history. Known by his nicknames "El Pescadito" (The Little Fish) and later "El Pescado" (The Fish), Ruiz played as a striker and became a product of CSD Municipal's youth academy. Throughout his career, he played for five MLS clubs including Los Angeles Galaxy, FC Dallas, Toronto FC, Philadelphia Union, and D.C. United, scoring 88 goals in 182 MLS regular-season matches. He earned 133 caps for the Guatemala national team, scoring 68 goals and becoming the all-time top scorer in FIFA World Cup qualification history with 39 goals. His most notable achievement came in 2002 when he was named MLS Most Valuable Player and led the Galaxy to the MLS Cup victory.
History
Overview
General information about the club
The content provided focuses on Carlos Ruiz as an individual player rather than a specific club, detailing his career across multiple teams including CSD Municipal, Los Angeles Galaxy, FC Dallas, Toronto FC, Philadelphia Union, D.C. United, Olimpia Asunción, Puebla, Aris FC, and Veracruz.
Most recent season and achievements
Ruiz's final professional stint was with FC Dallas in 2016, where he returned for a second time on September 15, 2016. His international career concluded on September 6, 2016, with a memorable five-goal performance against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in his farewell match for Guatemala, cementing his record as the all-time top scorer in FIFA World Cup qualification history.
History
Early years
Ruiz began his footballing journey in Guatemala City with local club San Carlos. At age 12, he joined the youth divisions of CSD Municipal, making his professional debut at 16. He became a starter for Municipal and emerged as a young star in the Guatemalan league until 2000, when he briefly traveled to Europe to play alongside compatriot Guillermo Ramírez at Greek club PAS Giannina before returning to Municipal.
Successful period
Ruiz's most successful period began when he signed with Los Angeles Galaxy in January 2002. Despite initial skepticism about MLS, he found the level better than expected. In his debut 2002 season, he scored 24 goals, winning the MLS Golden Boot and leading the Galaxy to the MLS Cup with a golden goal. He was named MLS Most Valuable Player that year, setting an MLS record for goals and points in a single postseason with eight goals and 18 points.
Crisis and recovery
After his peak years with the Galaxy, Ruiz experienced a period of decline and instability. His performance dropped in subsequent seasons, and he was traded to FC Dallas in 2005. Following controversies and conflicts, including a notable incident with Ricardo Clark in 2007, he moved between several clubs including a brief return to the Galaxy, a disappointing stint with Toronto FC, and periods with Olimpia Asunción, Puebla, and Aris FC.
Current period
Ruiz's later career saw him return to familiar territory with Philadelphia Union in 2011, where he scored notable goals including a 35-yard strike against the Chicago Fire. After stints with Veracruz and D.C. United, he returned to Municipal in 2014 on an 18-month contract that made him the highest-paid footballer in Central America. His career concluded with a final return to FC Dallas in 2016.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
With Municipal, Ruiz won the Liga Nacional de Guatemala in Clausura 2000 and Clausura 2002. In MLS, he achieved significant success with Los Angeles Galaxy, winning the MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield in 2002. He also won the U.S. Open Cup with D.C. United in 2013 and the Supporters' Shield with FC Dallas in 2016.
Continental and global competitions
Ruiz became the first Guatemalan footballer to appear in a UEFA competition match when he played for Aris FC in the Europa League against Austria Wien in 2010. He scored in both legs of the playoff round, helping Aris advance to the group stage where he scored against Rosenborg. His most significant global achievement was becoming the all-time top scorer in FIFA World Cup qualification history with 39 goals, a record he shares with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The source material does not contain specific information about club logos or their historical evolution.
Traditional home and away kits colors
The source material does not provide details about traditional kit colors for the various clubs Ruiz played for.
Traditional club anthem
The source material does not mention any club anthems.
Traditional Rivals
The source material does not contain specific information about traditional club rivalries.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
The source material does not provide information about club sponsors.
Nicknames
Ruiz was known by several nicknames throughout his career. He was initially called "El Pescadito" (The Little Fish) but later became known as "El Pescado" (The Fish), even among Spanish speakers.
Ownership and finances
In 2014, when Ruiz returned to Municipal, he signed an 18-month contract that made him the highest-paid footballer ever in Central America, demonstrating the club's financial commitment to securing his services.
Traditions and culture
The source material highlights Ruiz's cultural impact, particularly his status as the greatest Guatemalan footballer of all time. His international career spanned from 1998 to 2016, during which he served as captain and became both the player with the most caps (133) and the all-time top scorer (68 goals) for the Guatemala national team.
Stadium
The source material does not provide specific information about stadiums associated with the clubs Ruiz played for, though it mentions various venues where matches took place, including Livestrong Sporting Park where Guatemala was eliminated from 2014 World Cup qualification.