Jonathan Osorio is a Canadian professional soccer player, midfielder, and captain of Toronto FC and the Canadian national team. Renowned for his talent and determination, Osorio is also Toronto FC’s record-holder for the most matches played. Additionally, he represented Canada in three matches during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Learn more about his inspiring journey on itoronto.
Early Life: Fascinating Family Facts
Jonathan Osorio was born on June 12, 1992, in Toronto. He began playing soccer at age 10 with Brampton Youth Soccer. By 15, he moved to Clarkson Sheridan SC and graduated from St. Edmund Campion Secondary School. In 2010, Osorio traveled to Uruguay to join Nacional Academy, where he met Lucas Cavallini, his future Canadian national teammate.
Osorio’s family roots trace back to Colombia. His father hails from Cali, and his mother from Medellín. His younger brothers, Anthony and Nicolas, have both played for Toronto FC II.
Club Career
Osorio’s professional career began in 2012 with Toronto FC in the Canadian Soccer League (CSL). He completed a remarkable season as the team’s second-highest scorer, helping Toronto secure a third-place finish overall and a playoff spot. Although Toronto FC fell short in the quarterfinals against Serbian White Eagles, Osorio’s performance earned him the CSL Rookie of the Year award.
Toronto FC: Career Highlights
Osorio has been with Toronto FC’s first team since 2013. He began training with the Toronto FC Academy in September 2012, earning an invitation to join the first team during preseason after impressing head coach Ryan Nelsen. Osorio made his MLS debut for Toronto FC on March 9, 2013, against Sporting Kansas City, coming on as a substitute for Terry Dunfield. He scored his first goal on March 30, 2013, against the LA Galaxy, finding the net in the 78th minute as a substitute. On April 27, 2013, Osorio scored his second goal against the New York Red Bulls, equalizing after coming on in the final 11 minutes, though the match ended in a 2–1 defeat. His goal against New York earned him MLS Goal of the Week honors in Week 9, narrowly beating out Andrés Romero. Following the 2013 season, Osorio spent the offseason training with Championship side Huddersfield Town and Bundesliga team Werder Bremen.
In the 2017 season, Osorio saw a reduction in playing time, often being benched due to the addition of Víctor Vázquez to the team. However, he started both legs of the Eastern Conference Finals against Columbus Crew and the MLS Cup 2017 Final, which Toronto won 2–0 against Seattle Sounders FC on December 9 at BMO Field. Following a strong start to the 2018 season, European and Mexican clubs expressed interest in Osorio.
Later, he won the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League Golden Boot, scoring four goals throughout the tournament. On August 8, 2018, in the first leg of the 2018 Canadian Championship Final, Osorio scored in a 2–2 away draw against Vancouver Whitecaps. On August 15, during his 200th game for Toronto FC, he scored in a 5–2 home victory, securing the title with a 7–4 aggregate win. He was awarded the George Gross Memorial Trophy as the tournament’s MVP, scoring three goals in four matches. On August 30, 2018, Osorio signed a multi-year contract with Toronto FC, becoming one of the highest-paid Canadian players globally. On November 10, 2019, he played in Toronto’s 3–1 away loss to Seattle Sounders in the MLS Cup Final.
In the 2021 season, Osorio became the first player to reach 300 appearances for Toronto FC on April 24, 2022, in a regular-season match against New York City FC. At the end of the 2021 season, Osorio extended his contract with Toronto FC for three months. In December 2022, Toronto announced that Osorio agreed to a new three-year deal with an option for 2026. By March 2023, Osorio’s contract classified him as a designated player under MLS salary cap rules, and he was named the team’s captain ahead of the season.
Canadian National Team and International Career
Osorio made his debut for the Canada U20 national team at 18, representing the country at the 2011 CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Guatemala. He has represented Canada at various youth levels.
On May 23, 2013, Osorio received his first call-up to the senior Canadian national team for a friendly against Costa Rica. He debuted on May 28, 2013, as a second-half substitute for Samuel Piette in a 1–0 loss. On June 27, 2013, Osorio was named to Colin Miller’s 23-player squad for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He also represented Canada in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, though the team exited during the group stage.
Osorio scored his first international goal against Bermuda in a friendly match on January 22, 2017. Subsequently, he was included in Canada’s squad for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup and later for the 2019 and 2021 editions. His performances have been consistently impressive.
On October 7, 2021, during a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match, Osorio scored against Mexico in a 1–1 draw. This was Canada’s first goal at Estadio Azteca since 1980. In November 2022, Osorio was included in Canada’s squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, appearing in all three group stage matches. In June 2023, Osorio was part of Canada’s squad for the CONCACAF Nations League Finals and was later named to the team for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
As we can see, Jonathan Osorio’s career is filled with success, dedication, and achievements. We wish him continued success and even greater heights in his football journey!