Cristian Ariel Bordacahar

Seven of the 16 goals Cristian Ariel Bordacahar scored in his first two and a half years at FBC Melgar came in continental competition — the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana.

Bordacahar comes from Laprida, in the province of Buenos Aires. His first recorded senior connection was with Tigre, where he appeared in the reserve set-up in 2010. From there he moved through the lower and middle tiers of Argentine football, including a spell with Mitre de Santiago del Estero in the Primera B Nacional, and further stops at Brown de Adrogué, Chacarita Juniors, Los Andes and Ferro Carril Oeste.

The move that changed his career came on 27 January 2021, when he signed for Melgar in Peru. By August 2023 he had played 109 matches for the club in all competitions, scoring 16 goals and providing 14 assists. In the 2023 Liga 1 season he scored four league goals. He remained with the club into 2024, when he scored against Aurora in the Copa Libertadores.

What his time in Arequipa has not produced is silverware. No team titles and no individual awards are recorded against his name at Melgar in open sources. What he has instead is standing: he is described in Peru as a key player and a point of reference for the side.