1. Life
Óscar Cortés's journey in football began in his early years, leading him through youth development before his professional debut.
1.1. Early Life and Education
Cortés was born on 3 December 2003 in Tumaco, a municipality in the Nariño Department of Colombia. His early life and formative years were spent in this region, where he began his footballing development. Cortés stands at 69 in (176 cm) and weighs 163 lb (74 kg).
1.2. Early Activities
Cortés progressed through the youth academy of Millonarios, a prominent Colombian club. He signed his first professional contract with Millonarios in May 2022. His senior debut for the club's first team occurred on 12 January 2022, in an Apertura match against Deportivo Pasto, where he came on as a substitute in the 89th minute. In February 2022, Cortés also participated in the 2022 U-20 Copa Libertadores as part of Millonarios' under-20 squad.
2. Major Activities and Achievements
Óscar Cortés's professional career has seen him play for various clubs and represent his country at multiple levels, achieving significant milestones.
2.1. Club Career
Cortés has played for clubs in Colombia, France, and Scotland, demonstrating his abilities across different leagues.
2.1.1. Millonarios
Cortés made his first team debut for Millonarios on 12 January 2022, in a match against Deportivo Pasto, coming on as a substitute in the 89th minute. On 12 May 2022, he scored his first professional goal in a Copa Colombia second-leg match against Jaguares de Córdoba. This goal contributed to a 1-1 draw, helping Millonarios advance to the quarter-finals with a 4-1 aggregate victory.
Following an impressive performance at the 2023 South American U-20 Championship, Cortés attracted attention from European clubs, including Serie A club Torino. Upon his return to Millonarios, he scored his first brace for the club on 18 February 2023, during a league match against Jaguares, securing a 2-1 home victory. A notable display by Cortés on 2 March 2023, played a pivotal role in Millonarios' victory over Ecuadorian side Universidad Católica in the second round of the 2023 Copa Libertadores. He assisted Millonarios' equalizing goal and created the game-winning play, leading to a 2-1 aggregate victory that advanced them to the third round to face Brazilian powerhouse Atlético Mineiro. In the 2023 season, he scored 5 goals in 11 league matches. He also made 4 appearances in the Copa Libertadores and 4 appearances in the Copa Sudamericana, scoring 1 goal across these continental competitions.
2.1.2. RC Lens
On 14 July 2023, Cortés transferred to French Ligue 1 club RC Lens. The transfer fee was reported to be approximately 5.00 M USD, and he signed a five-year contract with the club. He scored his first goal for Lens on 16 December 2023, in a 2-0 home victory against Reims.
2.1.3. Rangers F.C. (loan)
On 1 February 2024, Cortés moved on loan to Scottish club Rangers. The loan deal included an option for a permanent transfer. He scored his first goal for Rangers on 24 February 2024, in a 5-0 win over Hearts at Ibrox. On 3 June 2024, Rangers announced that Cortés had signed another loan deal for the 2024-25 season, which includes an obligation to buy him permanently in the summer of 2025. During the 2023-24 season, he made 6 appearances and scored 1 goal for Rangers.
2.2. International Career
Óscar Cortés has represented Colombia at both youth and senior international levels.
2.2.1. Youth Career
Cortés has been a key player for the Colombian under-20 team. He starred at the 2023 South American U-20 Championship, where Colombia finished third, helping his team qualify for both the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia and the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago. He emerged as Colombia's leading scorer in the tournament with three goals, including a brace against Peru in the group stage and a goal during Colombia's 3-0 victory over Paraguay in the final stage. He also participated in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
2.2.2. Senior Career
Cortés made his debut for the senior Colombian national team in 2023, playing his first match on 17 June 2023 against Iraq.
3. Statistics
This section provides a comprehensive overview of Óscar Cortés's career statistics, including appearances and goals for both clubs and the national team.
3.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Millonarios | 2022 | Categoría Primera A | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2023 | Categoría Primera A | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | - | 8 | 1 | 19 | 6 | ||
| Total | 20 | 5 | 1 | 1 | - | 8 | 1 | 29 | 7 | |||
| Lens II | 2023-24 | National 3 | 6 | 0 | - | - | - | 6 | 0 | |||
| Lens | 2023-24 | Ligue 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| Rangers (loan) | 2023-24 | Scottish Premiership | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | |
| Rangers (loan) | 2024-25 | Scottish Premiership | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Career total | 43 | 7 | 2 | 1 | - | 8 | 1 | 53 | 9 | |||
3.2. International Statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia | 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | |
4. Honours
Óscar Cortés has achieved both team and individual honours throughout his career.
4.1. Team Honours
- Millonarios
- Copa Colombia: 2022
- Categoría Primera A: 2023-I
4.2. Individual Honours
- FIFA U-20 World Cup Bronze Boot: 2023
5. Sporting Impact and Recognition
Óscar Cortés has quickly emerged as one of Colombia's most promising young football talents. His performances in youth international tournaments, particularly the 2023 South American U-20 Championship, showcased his goal-scoring ability and playmaking skills, leading to significant recognition. His success at this level directly contributed to Colombia's qualification for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the Pan American Games, highlighting his impact on the national youth teams. The attention he garnered from these tournaments, along with his consistent performances for Millonarios, paved the way for his transfer to European football with RC Lens, a testament to his growing reputation on the international stage. His subsequent loan move to Rangers and the inclusion of an obligation to buy further underscore his potential and the high regard in which he is held by clubs.