Puerto rican football players: Puerto Rican heritage important to Steven Ortiz Jr.

Puerto Rican heritage important to Steven Ortiz Jr.

Steven Ortiz (left) said his son, Steven Ortiz Jr, really connected with the University of Minnesota football program. (Photo courtesy of Steven Ortiz Sr.)

PHOENIX – Puerto Rico is known for many things. Arroz con habichuelas, a spicy red-beans-and-rice combination, and tamale-like pasteles. Music artists Daddy Yankee, Bad Bunny, Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez also hail from Puerto Rico.

In sports, Puerto Ricans have historically excelled in baseball and boxing. The U.S. territory in the Caribbean has produced world-class fighters like Miguel Cotto and Wilfredo Gomez and produced some of the biggest stars on the diamond, including Roberto Clemente and Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, who inspired a generation of current stars that includes Javier Baez, Carlos Correa and others.

American football is one sport in which Puerto Ricans have not made much of a mark.

Steven Ortiz Jr., a talented senior cornerback at Desert Edge High School in Goodyear, hopes to help change the perception Puerto Ricans have about football and elevate the sport in the eyes of young people there.

The two biggest stars of Puerto Rican descent who carved out productive NFL careers are New Orleans Saints linebacker Kiko Alonso and former New York Giants Pro Bowl wide receiver Victor Cruz. Ortiz Jr. hopes to one day join them.

Steven Ortiz Jr. lines up ready to defend before a play. (Photo courtesy of MaxPreps)

The football player

Ortiz received scholarship offers from more than 20 major college football programs before committing to the University of Minnesota.

“Steven is looking to change people’s minds that Puerto Ricans should just stick to baseball and boxing,” said Steven Ortiz, father and coach of the younger Ortiz. “It is about working hard and dedicating to put in the work. When people see Steven, I hope they can see they can play at a big program and be successful. ”

Ortiz Jr., who began to make a name for himself when he made the Desert Edge varsity team as a freshman, describes himself as a “hard working, hard hitting, physical and grimy” player. He compares his game to that of Los Angeles Rams All-Pro Jalen Ramsey.

He started to showcase his ability during his sophomore year. In 11 games, Ortiz Jr. totaled 29 solo tackles, 28 assisted tackles, five interceptions and two fumble recoveries. His production caught the attention of a few colleges, but it was last year as a junior when he broke out with 52 solo tackles, 31 assists, an interception, six passes deflections, two forced two fumbles and one fumble recovery. Suddenly, he had the attention of recruiters across the land.

That big season made the 5-foot-11, 175-pound speedster one of the most highly recruited cornerbacks in the nation, and the fifth-ranked recruit in the state, according to 247sports.

247sports Mountain Region Recruiting Analyst Blair Angulo would described Ortiz Jr. as,
“Lean, muscular build and strong lower half and he should be able to add some weight and maintain quickness,” Angulo said. “Stingy defender who thrives in one-on-one battles. Comfortable in space and sticks to receivers in and out of their breaks with very good ball skills. Competitive play-maker with the straight-line speed to blanket his side of the secondary. Instinctual corner who can fill various roles in the defense.”

After receiving offers from 22 schools, including Washington and Oregon of the Pac-12, Houston and Minnesota, Ortiz Jr. committed to the Golden Gophers.

Now, as he begins his senior season, Ortiz Jr. is catching the eyes of the national media, specifically Sports Illustrated, where he made the SI99 Preseason Football Prospect Rankings at No. 89 and was ranked the nation’s third best nickel corner in the class of 2021.

His decision to attend Minnesota initially shocked his father, but after learning more about the program and Minnesota coach P. J. Fleck, who was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2019, the senior Ortiz understood his son’s decision.

“It was a surprise for me early on because he had 20-plus offers, but it is all about fit for Steven,” he said. “It is a culture that he feeds off of, especially the way that coach Fleck is, because they grind for everything. And they started off as a smaller program but now have built a great culture that is seeing many successes and fits what Steven does.”

Ortiz Jr. echoed his father’s explanation.

“I wanted to go somewhere where they had the best communication, and I love Coach Fleck. He is like another dad for me, and that team is like my brothers.”

Puerto Rico challenges

As kids grow up, it is easy for most of them to admire an athlete and see a bit of themselves in them. A young player in Texas, for example, might aspire to be the next Patrick Mahomes, who was a standout at Texas Tech before becoming a star in the NFL as quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs.

However, the small representation of Puerto Ricans playing in the NFL made it difficult for kids from the island to envision playing the sport.

Then along came Cruz, who had over 4,500 receiving yards during his NFL career (2010-2017), made one Pro Bowl and won a Super Bowl championship ring with the Giants. The former NFL receiver inspired the youth on the island, proving that it was possible to have a career playing the sport.

“I was watching him (Cruz) as a kid at the age of 8 or 9,” Ortiz Jr. said. “And he is Puerto Rican in the league, and I have not seen one before, so that was big motivation.”

Cruz and Alonso serve as the only Puerto Ricans to have successful NFL careers, but when it comes to baseball there are many role models, including Clemente, one of the best ever to play the game.

Parents in Puerto Rico who have a child that they want to become an athlete often push them toward baseball or boxing, where they will believe their child will have a better chance to succeed.

“My dad pushed me to play basketball and baseball early on, but I was a tougher guy and I wanted to play football,” the younger Ortiz said. “After that, my dad put all his time and effort into me playing football, taking me to training and anything I needed to become successful. So that was a big motivation for me.”

Education can be a barrier for aspiring football players from the island. In baseball, players can go directly from high school into professional organizations, where their academic standing isn’t a factor. Earning a college scholarship, which is a necessity to advance in football, requires a strong academic base.

Education in Puerto Rico is slowly improving, but it’s not at the level of the U.S. public school system. A 2013 study showed that eighth-grade students in Puerto Rico’s public schools scored 23 percent below the U.S. average, and also showed that 89 percent of fourth graders and 95 percent of fifth graders were below the basic level of math levels and other subjects, according to World Education News and Reviews.

The other option is private schooling, which does well on the island. However, a private education is more expensive and many prospective athletes can’t afford it. Only 694 high school graduates from a population of 3.2 million in Puerto Rico went on to college either abroad or in Puerto Rico, according to the Hechinger Report. Many of those attended private schools.

In baseball a player can sign a minor league contract with a major league organization at age 16 and immediately enter the team’s farm system. That path is easier – and more familiar – for Puerto Rican kids.

Steven Ortiz Jr. signs his commitment letter to Minnesota alongside his two sisters and the Puerto Rico flag behind him (Photo courtesy of Steven Ortiz Sr.)

Also, many students decide to drop out of school for various reasons, including to help support their family – something the Ortiz family experienced first-hand.

“My dad had a third-grade education and my mom just finished high school,” Ortiz Sr. said, “He was always working, and I barely got to see him. But he did it for us, working those two, three jobs was for us to make it farther than he did.”

Family and pride

For many Hispanic and Latino communities, family is everything. It is Ortiz Jr.’s foundation.

“He is very family-oriented and loves to see his family and loves to be around them at all times,” his father said. “It is important to him to see family at his games and (that) they try to go to his games.”

Ortiz Jr. said his family has taught him valuable lessons and is a huge motivation when he takes the field.

“I learned so much from my family, especially my dad,” Ortiz Jr. said. “He pushed me so much, and I feel like I want to make it far for him and the whole family.”

Not only does he want to succeed for his family, he wants to do it for Puerto Ricans everywhere.

“It is my culture, and I am going to represent it each time I play because they are my family,” Ortiz Jr said. “I have a big target on my back, and they are all looking up to me …things like my grandpa having a third-grade education motivates me even more to make it.”

The Puerto Rican aspect of Ortiz Jr. gave him valuable traits that he believes will help make him successful.

” I am always 45 minutes early to practice and always going to work hard,” Ortiz Jr. said. “Everything will come from hard work and I always have energy, too, so I think that has to do with my Puerto Rican side.”

The Ortiz family knows it won’t be easy for Steven to make it to the NFL. It’s not easy for any player who holds such a lofty goal.

“It’s not just a race and culture thing,” Ortiz Sr. said. “There are always going to be those obstacles, but Steven (Ortiz Jr.) is here to prove you can do it, even as a Puerto Rican.”

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Puerto Rican players of American football

The list Puerto Rican players of American football includes
Aaron Hernandez, Victor Cruz (American football), O. J. Santiago, Gavin Escobar and Marco Rivera.
The list consists of 12 members.

8 Greatest Latino Football Players of All Time | Sports

It is hard to deny the superiority of the stunning football talent of South Americans. This is most likely due to the fact that in the elite football leagues in Europe the emphasis is on tactical skill, while the youth of South America are taught to play with a fighting spirit and gambling attitude. And if you want to mention the Europeans in the list of the best defenders, the great Latin American football players became famous for their mind-blowing attacks and high-speed play. Check out the list of the 8 most outstanding South American soccer players of all time. nine0003

“God’s hand” Diego Maradona

This list opens with Diego Maradona, the greatest footballer not only in Latin America, but, perhaps, in the whole world. Born in Buenos Aires in 1960, he played football from the age of 10 and began his professional career at 16 playing for the Argentinos Juniors.

After the first successes in football, the novice footballer, who excels in dribbling, passing and ball control, was given the nickname “tumbler”. So the footballer was called until 1986 years old, when the 26-year-old Maradona scored a controversial goal either with his head or with his hand. The match itself was dubbed “The Hand of God”, and the nickname “God’s Hand” was firmly attached to the footballer himself.

Diego’s short stature – only 165 cm – gave him a low center of gravity, which made him a deadly striker, dribbling in the toughest defense. A born leader, Maradona had a knack for inspiring teammates to great games.

Maradona’s most famous matches were played as part of the Barcelona and Napoli teams. He set the record for the highest transfer fee twice, the first when at 19Barcelona paid £5m for him in 82, and the second when Napoli paid £6.9m for his services 2 years later.

During his 21-year career from 1976 to 1997, Diego Maradona scored a total of 259 goals in 491 matches, playing for seven different clubs. His most famous awards are the Spanish Cup and Super Cup, which he won with Barcelona, ​​the Coppa Italia with Napoli, and in addition, he became a world champion as part of the Argentina national team. Maradona retired from professional football at 1997 and now is the coach of the Mexican club Dorados.

“King of Football” Pelé

Before Maradona, Pele was considered the greatest football player of all time, so it’s no surprise that his official nickname in the world of sports is “King of Football”.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born in 1940 in the Brazilian municipality of Tres Coracoins. At 15, he began playing professionally for the Santos club, playing football from the age of 12, and at 16 he was called up to the national team. nine0003

During his 15-year international career, Pelé won the World Cup three times with the Brazilian team, and to this day remains the only player in the world in this. They scored 77 goals in 92 matches.

Pele ended his football career in 1977. Currently, the 78-year-old “King of Football” is the recognized athlete of the century, according to the decision of the International Olympic Committee, and the best football player of the 20th century, according to FIFA, as well as the ambassador of UNESCO. In 1995-1998 was the Minister of Sports of Brazil. nine0003

“Atomic Flea” Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is considered the greatest Argentinean footballer since Maradona and his successor. He was born in the city of Rosario in 1987, and started playing football professionally as a junior at the age of 6. At the age of 18, Lionel joined the Argentine national team

The football player’s club career began in 2003 as part of the Barcelona team, with which he became the champion of La Liga 9 times, won the Copa del Rey 6 times and 4 times – Champions League. By accumulating these trophies, he set records for the most goals scored in a calendar year in a single La Liga season, as well as the number of hat-tricks (8) in the UEFA Champions League. Messi has won the Ballon d’Or as the best player five times. nine0003

With FC Barcelona, ​​he scored 399 goals in 434 matches, earning him the nickname “Atomic Flea”.

The 31-year-old Messi continues to play for his country’s national team to this day, albeit with less success than he had with Barcelona. However, the footballer himself claims that he has not played for the cups for a long time – in Melbourne, for example, Messi appeared in 2017, attending a youth training in support of the fight against cancer.

“Magic” Ronaldinho

Brazilian attacking midfielder and striker Ronaldinho, also known by the nicknames “Magician” and “Sorcerer of Porto Alegre”, was born at 1980 year. Already at the age of 8, Ronaldo de Assis Moreira began his professional career in a junior club, and ten years later he showed his outstanding talents in the team of his hometown Gremio.

Later, Ronaldinho shone in the Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Milan teams, and also joined the Brazil national team, ending his 17-year career in 2015.

By that time he had played 441 matches, scoring 167 goals. The Wizard’s awards include a Champions League medal, three Spanish Cups and two Ballons d’Or. nine0003

Currently, 39-year-old Ronaldinho takes part in charity and friendly matches, one of which, by the way, was the 2017 game dedicated to the 65th birthday of President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. “The Magician” played for the Russian team “Leader 65”, which also included Ramzan Kadyrov, Valery Karpin and Alexander Kerzhakov.

Critter Ronaldo

Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima was born in 1976 in Rio de Janeiro. He became famous as one of the greatest strikers, playing for PSV, Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid (Madrid) and AC Milan, and the football player received the nickname “Nibbler” for his memorable smile and fighting grip. In addition, Ronaldo played for the Brazilian national team. nine0003

He burst into professional football in 1993, becoming an instant phenomenon and one of the most famous athletes of the 90s. During his brilliant 18-year career, Zubastik was twice awarded the Golden Ball, four times the Spanish Super Cup, and twice won the World Cup as part of the Brazilian national team, scoring 62 goals in 98 matches. At club level, Ronaldo has 247 goals in 343 games.

The 42-year-old is currently president of Spanish club Real Valladolid and co-owner of US club Fort Lauderdale Strikers. nine0003

“Golden Boy” Kaka

Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leiti, known in the world of football under the abbreviated name Kaka, was born in 1982 in Brasilia. His success as a midfielder was based on his individual and very dexterous way of controlling the ball in the opponent’s half of the field.

Kaka began his career in 2001 with Sao Paulo, and in 2003 he became part of AC Milan. The biggest achievement of the “Golden Boy” was the victory at the 2002 World Cup with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho in the team. In 2005 and 2009Kaka won the Confederations Cup.

The second greatest achievement of the football player, because of which he got his nickname, was the victory in the UEFA Champions League in 2007, the same year he received his Golden Ball. After that, the cups of Italy and Spain were added to the footballer’s collection.

With 161 goals in 529 games and 127 assists, Kaka ended his career in 2017.

Roberto Carlos – “The Bullet Man”

One of the fastest (hence the nickname) left-backs in the history of world football – Roberto Carlos. He was born in the Brazilian municipality of Garza at 1973, started playing at the age of 12.

Carlos has been playing professionally for various Brazilian clubs since 1991, but he began to demonstrate his great talents in 1996, playing for Real Madrid. As part of this club, as well as with the Brazilian national team, “The Bullet Man” won 3 medals in the Champions League, 4 Spanish Championships, 5 Spanish Super Cups and 1 World Cup winner’s medal.

Roberto Carlos played 740 professional matches, scoring 91 goals. His last game was in 2015 with Indian club Delhi Dynamos. nine0003

Neymar, nicknamed “Neymaradona”

Neymar da Silva Santos Junior was born in the Brazilian municipality of Mogi das Cruzes in 1992. Fast pace, perfect skill and the ability to play with both feet very quickly made this striker one of the most sought-after footballers in the world.

17-year-old Neymar’s professional career began in 2009. At first he was a member of the Brazilian Santos team, but since 2013 he joined the Barcelona club.

Teaming up with Messi and Suarez, Neymar was able to create one of the most mind-blowing attacking “tridents” ever to enter the football field. So far, Neymaradona have played 371 matches, scoring 221 goals, but his career continues. nine0003

Latin American records: the most expensive Brazilians in history

Baku, September 24, AZERTAC

Brazil is one of the main suppliers of young talents for European clubs. Many of them now play or used to play in top teams. Most Brazilians want to be in Europe, and clubs are willing to pay big and sometimes record amounts for them. Next – the most expensive Brazilians in history.

Oscar

Location: Chelsea

Where: Shanghai SIPG

How much: €60m

One of the few cases where a Brazilian sets a transfer record by leaving Europe rather than coming there. In the summer of 2012, Oscar moved to Chelsea from Internacional for 32 million euros. In January 2017, he went to Shanghai SIPG for 60 million. The football player left for China quite early. Recently, the Brazilian has been increasingly talking about his desire to return to Europe, but no proposals have yet been received. Oscar also expressed his desire to return to Chelsea, but he is unlikely to be expected at the London club. nine0003

Alisson

Location: Roma

Where: Liverpool

How much: 65.2 million euros

Alisson and Liverpool found each other. The Reds lacked a quality goalkeeper to reach a high level, and the Brazilian lacked trophies. So, in July 2018, the football player moved to the Merseysiders from Roma. With the arrival of Alisson, Liverpool began to miss less, and the Romans received an impressive amount for the player. Money for the footballer was not spent in vain, because he still benefits. Last season, the Brazilian, along with his compatriot Ederson, became the best goalkeeper in the Premier League in dry matches (20). nine0003

Kaka

Location: AC Milan

Where: Real Madrid

How much: €67m

AC Milan became Kaka’s first European club after leaving São Paulo. In the summer of 2003, the Rossoneri bought the former midfielder from his native club for 8.5 million euros. After 4 years, the Red-Blacks sold the player to Real Madrid for 67 million. In Italy, the Brazilian was doing better than in Spain. He played and scored more in Serie A than in La Liga. For Milan, the transfer of Kaka turned out to be more profitable in all aspects than for Real Madrid. The ex-midfielder spent 4 years at the Royal Club, after which he returned to the Rossoneri, and then played for Sao Paulo and Orlando City. nine0003

Casemiro

From: Real Madrid

To: Manchester United

How much: €70.7m

Casemiro is one of Manchester United’s most recent transfers. The Brazilian surprised many with his decision. He started the current season with Real Madrid and even managed to win the UEFA Super Cup along with the “creamy”. But the midfielder needed a new challenge, for which he went to Manchester. Blancos, in principle, did not lose from this transfer. They got a decent amount for a player who already has a replacement. But Casemiro is not yet the main part of the Mancunians. Maybe things will change over time. nine0003

Artur

Location: Barcelona

Where: Juventus

How much: €76m

Arthur’s move to Juventus was rather strange. In the summer of 2020, Barcelona sold the player to Turin for 76 million euros. With almost the same money, the Catalans bought the older Miralem Pyanich from the Bianconeri. No one benefited from these transfers. Arthur spent 2 nondescript seasons at Juventus and went to Liverpool on loan. Pyanich completely left the Blue Garnet as a free agent. The Brazilian is now working hard to restart his career, but it is not certain that he will stay with the Reds for a long period. nine0003

Anthony

Location: Ajax

Where: Manchester United

How much: €95m

Anthony is Manchester United’s most recent transfer. The Mancunians signed the player right before the transfer window closed last summer. He became the most expensive player of the last MOT. Including bonuses, the transfer amount can increase to 100 million. Many suspect that United overpaid for the Brazilian. Whether this is true, only time will tell. Anthony started well. Already in the first match for Manchester United, the winger scored a goal that helped the Mancunians inflict the first defeat of the current season on Arsenal. nine0003

Philippe Coutinho

Location: Liverpool

Where: Barcelona

How much: 135 million euros

Coutinho’s transfer made a lot of noise at the time. Players rarely pay such large sums in the middle of the season. Barcelona did not spare 135 million euros for the Brazilian, but the deal turned out, if not a failure, then close to it. Things in the Catalan club at the midfielder did not develop in the best way. The loan to Bayern did not help him “reboot”. As a result, Coutinho went to Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa, who bought him last summer for 20 million euros.