Ricardo Osorio

Ricardo Osorio Mendoza (born on March 30, 1980 in Huajuapan de León, Oaxaca) is a Mexico international football (soccer) defender (football), who currently plays for VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga (football).

Club career

Osorio made his debut in the Primera División de México in 2001–02 season in a match against CF Atlante, with a 3-1 victory.
After an outstanding performance during the 2006 World Cup, German club VfB Stuttgart signed him for four years, in which they paid 4 million Euros.

Osorio scored his first goal in the Bundesliga for Stuttgart on February 16 2007. The goal came at the 44th minute of the match against Eintracht Frankfurt. Stuttgart went on to win the game 4–0. On May 19, Stuttgart defeated Energie Cottbus 2–1, winning the Bundesliga, with Osorio making one of the highest number of appearances for the season.

International career

Osorio won his first international cap for Mexico national football team playing in the finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament against Brazil national team in July 13 2003, winning 1–0.

In the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, Osorio missed a penalty in the semi-final which resulted in Mexico being eliminated. Osorio was selected in his country's squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

In June 21 2007, he played for Mexico against Guadeloupe national football team in the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament. After the match, Osorio announced that he would not participate in the Copa América tournament, due to overloaded work schedules with his club, who would also play in the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League. He stated that he and teammate Pável Pardo had not taken any holiday break since the World Cup in Germany. Stuttgart coach Armin Veh was satisfied to hear this news and sent his thanks to national team coach Hugo Sánchez for letting the players rest and take a vacation.

Honours

International

Mexico national football team
- CONCACAF Gold Cup – Champions (2003)

Club

VfB Stuttgart
- Bundesliga (football) – Champions (2007)