Bryan Oviedo has sent a touching message to Everton supporters after Costa Rica’s World Cup victory over Japan.
Keysher Fuller's late goal earned Costa Rica a smash-and-grab Group E victory on Sunday. The win came just days after Luis Fernando Suarez’s side were hammered by Spain.
Oviedo started the game for Costa Rica, and he was cheered on by a couple of Everton supporters in attendance at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. And after a photo appeared of the pair online following the game, the full-back couldn’t help but send a message of thanks to Blues fans.
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He wrote: “Thank you Toffees for all the love and support I receive from you. Impossible not to keep all of you in my heart! Once a Blue, Always a Blue!”
Oviedo spent five years at Goodison Park after signing from Copenhagen in 2012 though only made 68 appearances - his game-time hampered by a leg break in 2014 which kept him sidelined for nine months and the fact he was deputy to the consistent Leighton Baines.
However, speaking in October last year, Oviedo revealed his goal for the Blues against Manchester United was the best moment of his career. The Costa Rica international struck the winner back in December 2013 to help Everton earn their first win at Old Trafford in 21 years.
Fondly looking back at his time on Merseyside, Oviedo wrote in the club’s 'My Everton' series : ”I have so many good memories - and only good ones - but I think the goal against Manchester United is the best goal of my career, and probably the best moment of my career because it meant so much to the Evertonians at the time.
“Even now, it’s the one people speak to me and message me about. When I travel around the world, I always seem to bump into an Evertonian wherever I am! I love this.”
Oviedo left in 2017 to join Sunderland but admitted he thinks about his time at Everton 'almost every day' and revealed his family are still Blues.
“I have two sons. My eldest boy is really into football and he watches all sorts of clips on YouTube," he said back in October 2021.
"Sometimes he’ll tell me he’s been watching me play for Everton, or that he’s watched that goal against Manchester United. It’s funny, it’s a nice feeling.
“He is an Evertonian, like the rest of my family. I hope I can come back one day to experience Goodison Park again. It’s one of my favourite-ever places.”
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