Óscar Duarte is one of Central America’s most accomplished footballers — a Costa Rican centre-back with a career spanning Belgium, Spain’s La Liga, Saudi Arabia, and back home to Costa Rica.
If you’ve been looking for a reliable breakdown of Óscar Duarte’s net worth, including his salary history, club contracts, and total career earnings, this guide covers everything you need to know.
Óscar Duarte’s Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Óscar Esaú Duarte Gaitán |
| Date of Birth | June 3, 1989 |
| Age | 36 years old |
| Birthplace | Catarina, Masaya, Nicaragua |
| Nationality | Costa Rican (naturalized) |
| Height | 186 cm (6 ft 1 in) |
| Position | Centre-back |
| Current Club | Club Deportivo Saprissa |
| Turned Professional | 2008 |
| Net Worth | $10 million (£7.7 million) |
| Current Weekly Salary | £5,000 (approx.) |
| Current Yearly Salary | £260,000 (approx.) |
| Contract Expiry | June 30, 2026 |
Early Life & Career
Óscar Esaú Duarte Gaitán was born on June 3, 1989, in Catarina, Masaya, Nicaragua.
When Óscar was just five years old, his parents — like hundreds of other Nicaraguan families at the time — made the difficult decision to emigrate to Costa Rica.
The journey took five months before the family finally settled in a neighborhood in the Costa Rican capital, San José.
Growing up in Costa Rica shaped Óscar’s footballing identity. He joined the youth academy of Deportivo Saprissa, one of the most decorated clubs in CONCACAF history, and worked his way up through the ranks to earn a first-team spot.
His early development at Saprissa gave him the technical and physical foundation that would later allow him to compete at the highest level of European football.
In 2010, he went on loan to Puntarenas FC, making 15 appearances and scoring once, before returning to Saprissa as a key defensive player.
That same year, he earned his first call-up to the Costa Rica national team, debuting against Jamaica on November 17, 2010 — marking the start of an international career that would see him represent his adopted nation at three FIFA World Cups.
Professional Career
After 52 competitive appearances for Saprissa, Óscar Duarte made his move to European football in 2013 when he joined Club Brugge in Belgium’s top flight.
At Brugge, he became a pillar of the squad, making 113 total appearances and winning the Belgian Pro League title in 2015–16 and the Belgian Cup in 2014–15 — the two most important domestic honours in Belgian football.
His consistent performances in Belgium attracted Spanish clubs, and on January 26, 2016, he signed a permanent deal with RCD Espanyol in La Liga.
As tracked by Transfermarkt’s player profile, the transfer cost Espanyol €1.15 million, with a buyout clause set at €15 million.
He made 57 total appearances for Espanyol over four seasons before moving across Valencia to Levante UD in August 2019.
At Levante, Duarte hit his peak form in European football. In 2020–21, he played 29 league games — missing only three all season — and was central to the club’s defensive structure.
He let his Levante contract expire in May 2022 and made a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Wehda FC, where he spent two seasons before returning to his first club, Saprissa, in 2024.
On the international stage, FIFA’s competition records show Duarte represented Costa Rica in three FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022), three CONCACAF Gold Cups, and two Copa América editions, accumulating 76 international caps and scoring 4 goals.
Óscar Duarte’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Óscar Duarte’s has an estimated net worth of $10 million.
He built this wealth through professional football contracts spanning Costa Rica, Belgium, Spain’s La Liga, Saudi Arabia’s highly lucrative Pro League, and his current return to Deportivo Saprissa.
Contract
Duarte’s most recent known contract is with Club Deportivo Saprissa, signed in 2024.
According to Salary Sport’s database, that contract runs until June 30, 2026, and represents a significant step down in earnings compared to his Saudi Arabian days — which is typical for players in the later stages of their careers returning to their home leagues.
His most financially rewarding contract came at Al-Wehda in Saudi Arabia, where he played from June 2022 to mid-2024.
His Espanyol deal in 2016 was valued at €1.15 million with a €15 million buyout clause, giving a sense of how European clubs rated him during his peak years.
Salary
At Saprissa, Duarte currently earns approximately £5,000 per week (£260,000 per year).
This is a steep reduction from his earnings at Al-Wehda, where he made £63,000 per week (£3.276 million per year) in the 2023–24 season — one of the highest-paid periods of his career.
His Levante spell from 2019 to 2022 saw him earn between £10,000 and £11,000 per week, consistent with mid-table La Liga wages.
According to Capology’s salary tracker, Duarte has earned approximately $2.29 million gross across his documented European club career alone — and his Saudi earnings add considerably to that total.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Club | Weekly Wage | Yearly Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | Deportivo Saprissa | £5,000 | £260,000 |
| 2023–24 | Al-Wehda | £63,000 | £3,276,000 |
| 2022–23 | Al-Wehda | £16,000 | £832,000 |
| 2021–22 | Levante | £11,000 | £572,000 |
| 2020–21 | Levante | £11,000 | £572,000 |
| 2019–20 | Levante | £10,000 | £520,000 |
| 2017–18 | Espanyol | £11,000 | £572,000 |
Career Statistics
| Club | Season | League | Apps | Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deportivo Saprissa | 2010–13 | Costa Rican Primera | 48 | 3 | 51 | 3 |
| Puntarenas FC (loan) | 2010–11 | Costa Rican Primera | 15 | 1 | 15 | 1 |
| Club Brugge | 2012–16 | Belgian Pro League | 84 | 7 | 113 | 9 |
| RCD Espanyol | 2015–19 | La Liga | 51 | 1 | 57 | 1 |
| Levante UD | 2019–22 | La Liga | 60 | 3 | 69 | 4 |
| Al-Wehda | 2022–24 | Saudi Pro League | 45 | 4 | 50 | 4 |
| Career Total | 303 | 19 | 355 | 22 |
FAQs
What is Óscar Duarte’s net worth?
Óscar Duarte’s estimated net worth is $10 million. He earned the bulk of his wealth during his La Liga years at Espanyol and Levante, and his highly paid stint at Al-Wehda in Saudi Arabia.
How much does Óscar Duarte earn at Saprissa?
He currently earns approximately £5,000 per week (£260,000 per year) at Deportivo Saprissa — a significant drop from his peak Saudi Arabian wages of £63,000 per week. His contract at Saprissa runs until June 30, 2026.
How many FIFA World Cups did Óscar Duarte play in?
He played in three FIFA World Cups — 2014 in Brazil, 2018 in Russia, and 2022 in Qatar — representing Costa Rica each time. He also scored a goal against Uruguay in the 2014 World Cup group stage.
Where was Óscar Duarte born?
He was born in Catarina, Masaya, Nicaragua, but his family emigrated to Costa Rica when he was five years old. He represents Costa Rica internationally through his father’s family ties.
What clubs has Óscar Duarte played for?
Duarte has played for Deportivo Saprissa, Puntarenas FC (loan), Club Brugge, RCD Espanyol, Levante UD, Al-Wehda, and returned to Saprissa. He made 355 total career appearances and scored 22 goals across all competitions.
