Twenty3’s Under 23s to watch: Oscar Cortés
Oscar Cortés could be South America’s latest breakout star.
The 19-year-old is a winger or attacking midfielder who plays for Categoría Primera A club Millonarios.
The Colombian played a pivotal role in Millonarios’ victory over Ecuadorian side Universidad Católica in the second round of the 2023 Copa Libertadores, assisting his side’s equaliser and playing a major part in the goal that secured a 2–1 aggregate victory.
Using Twenty3’s analysis tools, we take a closer look at the hot prospect and analyse his numerous qualities.
Creative passing
Cortés’ raw ability to dribble at opponents is often the most eye-catching of his qualities, but his eye for a pass is also very impressive.
The Colombian has attempted 284 passes, showing plenty of positivity by completing 59 forward passes.
Cortés has also attempted four key passes in 610 minutes, completing every one. His accuracy when playing notoriously difficult final balls is an impressive trait for someone so young.
He has only been rewarded with one assist, but that number will surely increase if the teenager continues to supply his teammates with high-quality chances.
The passing flow visualisation clearly outlines his intent to work the ball into dangerous positions.
Cortés looks to play the ball towards the opposition box regardless of where he is on the pitch.
The passing attempts by zone visualisation also showcases his versatility, with a fairly even split of passes on either flank.
On fire
Cortés has scored five goals in just 610 Colombian Primera A minutes this season, which works out at an impressive rate of 0.74 per 90 – the third-quickest rate in the division.
He has done so from just 1.35 expected goals, suggesting he has been finishing well from difficult angles, though it remains to be seen if he can maintain that level of production over a longer period of time.
The youngster’s underlying numbers paint a picture of a dangerous operator – he has taken 22 touches in the opposition box this term, while also completing 22 dribbles.
Player overview
Continuing to use Twenty3’s Smart Reports, we can take a look at the extensive player overview – specifically, Cortés’ impressive start to the season for Millonarios.
His xG shot map shows the quality of the chances he has been presented with and their location on the pitch. Cortes clearly has a knack for long-range strikes, which explains his low xG.
Both his heat map and his pass map also demonstrate his ability to play across the final third.
Helpfully, the overview enables us to compare his stats with another player.
Marco Pérez is the current top scorer in Colombian Primera A and, at 32 years old, is vastly more experienced than Cortés.
However, the comparison radar reveals that the pair are operating at a similar level and, in fact, Cortés appears to be more well-rounded, making more key passes and registering more assists – they also rank very similarly in terms of goalscoring.
As is the case when any young prospect emerges, rumours have emerged linking the player with a move to either the Premier League or a top European side, but Cortés’ development is most likely best served by remaining out of the limelight – at least for now.
All Smart Reports in this article were produced with the Twenty3 Toolbox. For more information, please get in touch below.