# Wilder Cartagena

Wilder José Cartagena Mendoza (born 23 September 1994) is a Peruvian footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Major League Soccer club Orlando City and the Peru national team.

## Early life

Cartagena spent most of his free time playing football on the streets and on a bad pitch. El Carmen was badly affected by an earthquake that collapsed Cartagena's school, which forced him to go study in Lima. While studying in Lima he made friends who were playing youth football with various clubs and it was there he tried out for Alianza Lima and was accepted. Cartagena started out playing as a goalkeeper for Alianza Lima, but following a scrimmage between his school, which he did not play as a goalkeeper for, and the academy of Alianza Lima, the club moved him into midfield.

## Club career
### Alianza Lima

Wilder Cartagena was promoted to the Alianza Lima first team in January 2012. He soon made his Torneo Descentralizado league debut on matchday one in a 2–2 home draw against León de Huánuco. He was used again as a starter by manager José Soto on matchday 27 in away match against Juan Aurich.
In the 2013 season, Cartagena made many more appearances for the senior side. On 30 November, Cartagena scored his first senior goal for the club when he equalized in a match against UCV, helping the match to end 1–1.

### Vitória de Setúbal

On 21 January 2014, Cartagena signed a contract through June 2015 with Primeira Liga club Vitória Setúbal. Cartagena spoke about how he wished to establish himself at the club and that he hoped his performance at the club would improve his chances to be called up to the Peru senior team. However, Cartagena failed to make an appearance for the club and only was put on the bench once during a match on 28 September against Nacional, which Vitória won 2–0.

### Universidad San Martín

On 12 January 2015, Cartagena returned to Peru and joined Torneo Descentralizado club Universidad San Martín due to a lack of playing opportunities at Vitória Setúbal, signing a one year contract. On 15 February, Cartagena made his debut for the club at Cienciano in the Torneo del Inca in a match that ended in a 1–0 loss. At the conclusion of the 2015 season, Cartagena had his contract renewed through the 2016 season.
On 5 July 2016, Cartagena scored his first goal for the club and the second of his senior career, again against UCV, in a match that ended in a 2–2 draw. At the conclusion of the 2016 season, Cartagena once again had his contract renewed for another season.
In the 2017 season, Cartagena made the most appearances of his career up to that point in a single season, logging 38 appearances and one goal.

### Veracruz

On 7 January 2018, Cartagena was announced as a Liga MX club Veracruz signing. On 28 January, Cartagena made his debut for the club in a 1–1 draw against Santos Laguna and played the full match. In total, Cartagena would make just 13 appearances for the club across the 2017–18 season.
In the following season, Cartagena made one less appearance in the league, but he made his Copa MX debut in a 3–0 loss at Club América.

### Return to Alianza Lima

On 5 January 2019, Cartagena rejoined Alianza Lima in the Peruvian Primeira División on a one year deal. On 15 February, Cartagena made his first appearance for the club since his return in a 3–0 win over Sport Boys. On 6 March, Cartagena made his senior international cup debut in the Copa Libertadores against Argentinian club River Plate, resulting in a 1–1 draw. In total, Cartagena made 30 domestic appearances and five international appearances for his first club across the 2019 season, but he did not sign a new contract with the club.

### Godoy Cruz

On 21 January 2020, Cartagena was announced as a Argentine Primera División club Godoy Cruz signing. On 23 February, Cartagena made his debut for the club in a 3–0 loss at Boca Juniors, playing the full match. Six days later, Cartagena scored his first goal for the club, the opening goal of a 3–1 loss to Unión. On 14 March, Cartagena made his first and only Copa de la Superliga appearance in a 4–1 loss to Boca Juniors. Cartagena would only make five appearances across all competitions for the club in the 2020 season.
In the following season, Cartagena would only make two more appearances in two Godoy Cruz losses.
In the 2022 season, Cartagena began to make regular appearances for the club again, making 11 appearances and scoring two more goals before he left the club.

### Kalba FC

On 28 July 2021, Cartagena was announced as a UAE Pro League club Kalba FC signing. On 20 August, Cartagena made his debut for the club in a 1–0 loss at Sharjah FC. On 25 October, Cartagena made his UAE League Cup debut in a 1–0 loss at Al Orooba. Across the 2021–22 season, Cartagena made 25 appearances across all competitions.

#### Loan to Orlando City

On 2 August 2022, Cartegena joined Major League Soccer club Orlando City on loan from the remainder of the 2022 season with an option to extend through 2023. On 13 August, Cartagena made his debut for the club when he came on as a 91st-minute substitute for Facundo Torres in a 1–0 victory at the New York Red Bulls. Four days later, Cartagena made a single appearance with Orlando City's reserve affiliate Orlando City B against Rochester New York in which he scored the third goal of a 5–2 victory.
On 30 July 2023, Cartagena scored his first goal for the club in a Leagues Cup match against Santos Laguna. Cartagena's goal, which was scored in added time, allowed Orlando City to progress to the knockout state of the competition. On 2 September, during a match against FC Cincinnati, Cartagena was involved in a scuffle with the opposition players in which he received a red card for his role. Cartagena was fined four days later by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for failing to leave the pitch in a timely manner after his ejection. On 30 October, Cartagena scored his first MLS Cup playoffs goal in the first round of Orlando City's series with Nashville SC when he struck the ball from outside the penalty box and hit the ball on the underside of the crossbar and into the goal to help Orlando to a 1–0 win.

### Orlando City

Cartagena was acquired by the club permanently on 14 December 2023 with a guaranteed contract through 2025. In the 2024 season, Cartagena made the most appearances in his senior career across an entire season for a single club, registering 39 appearances across all competitions.
On 25 January 2025, Cartagena suffered an injury to his left achilles tendon in a preseason friendly match against Atlético Mineiro. Four days later, Cartagena underwent a successful surgery to repair his tendon, but he was placed onto the season-ending injury list.

## International career
### Youth

Cartagena was called up by manager Juan José Oré to the Peru U17 team to participate in the 2011 South American U-17 Championship in Ecuador. On 12 March 2011, Cartagena made his international debut in the tournament in a 4–2 loss to Argentina in which he played the entire match. Peru were eventually eliminated after placing fourth in Group A, one spot below third which would've seen the team advance to the final round of the tournament.
Cartagena was called up to the Peru U20 for the 2013 South American Youth Football Championship in Argentina by manager Daniel Ahmed. Cartagena made his debut for the team on 10 January 2013 in a 3–3 draw with Uruguay and he once again played the full match. Peru placed first in Group B, allowing the team to advance to the final round, but they placed fifth out of six teams.

### Senior

Cartagena received his first senior team call-up by Ricardo Gareca for friendlies against Scotland, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Cartagena made his debut as an 84th-minute substitute for Renato Tapia in a 2–0 win over Scotland on 29 May 2018. On 4 June, Gareca named Cartagena to the squad that would compete in the World Cup. On 26 June, Cartagena made his World Cup debut and only appearance of the tournament when he came on as a 79th-minute substitute for André Carrillo in a 2–0 win over Australia. Peru's victory over Australia marked their first win at a World Cup since 1978 over Iran, but they were eliminated in the group stage.
Cartagena was called up by Ricardo Gareca for the 2021 Copa América in Brazil on 10 June 2021. On 21 June, Cartagena made his tournament debut when he came on as a 83rd-minute substitute for Sergio Peña in a 2–1 win over Colombia. Peru would advance to the knockout stage of the tournament but were eliminated by hosts Brazil in the semi-finals and lose to Colombia in the third place match.
On 15 June 2024, Cartagena was called up by Jorge Fossati for the 2024 Copa América in the United States. Cartagena played in all three matches of the group stage, but the Peruvians were eliminated after placing last in Group A.

## Personal life

Cartagena has a daughter. Cartagena describes his relationship with fellow Orlando City player Pedro Gallese as a "brotherhood" as they have played for the same clubs in the past and their families are very close together.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 30 November 2024
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Alianza Lima | 2012 | Torneo Descentralizado | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Alianza Lima | 2013 | Torneo Descentralizado | 21 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 1 |
| Alianza Lima | Total | Total | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| Vitória de Setúbal | 2014–15 | Primeira Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Universidad San Martín | 2015 | Torneo Descentralizado | 25 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 0 |
| Universidad San Martín | 2016 | Torneo Descentralizado | 37 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | 2 |
| Universidad San Martín | 2017 | Torneo Descentralizado | 38 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 38 | 1 |
| Universidad San Martín | Total | Total | 100 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 109 | 3 |
| Veracruz | 2017–18 | Liga MX | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 0 |
| Veracruz | 2018–19 | Liga MX | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 0 |
| Veracruz | Total | Total | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| Alianza Lima | 2019 | Peruvian Primeria División | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 0 |
| Godoy Cruz | 2019–20 | Argentine Primera División | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 |
| Godoy Cruz | 2021 | Argentine Primera División | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Godoy Cruz | 2022 | Argentine Primera División | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 2 |
| Godoy Cruz | Total | Total | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 |
| Kalba FC | 2021–22 | UAE Pro League | 22 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 0 |
| Orlando City B (loan) | 2022 | MLS Next Pro | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Orlando City (loan) | 2022 | Major League Soccer | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Orlando City (loan) | 2023 | Major League Soccer | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 35 | 4 |
| Orlando City | 2024 | Major League Soccer | 27 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 39 | 0 |
| Orlando City | 2025 | Major League Soccer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Orlando City | Total | Total | 62 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 83 | 4 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 281 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 321 | 12 |
* ↑ Includes Copa Inca, Copa MX, Copa de la Superliga, UAE League Cup, and U.S. Open Cup
* ↑ Includes Copa Libertadores and CONCACAF Champions Cup
* ↑ Includes MLS Cup Playoffs and Leagues Cup
* ↑ Three appearances and one goal in Leagues Cup and three appearances and one goal in MLS Cup playoffs
* ↑ Three appearances in Leagues Cup and four appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs

### International

    As of match played 15 November 2024
Peru :
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 10 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 |
| 2023 | 8 | 0 |
| 2024 | 11 | 0 |
| Total | 40 | 0 |

## Honours

Orlando City
* U.S. Open Cup: 2022