View source for Marco Pappa

{{Short description|Guatemalan footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{family name hatnote|Pappa|Ponce|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name           = Marco Pappa
| image          = Marcopappa.jpg
| image_size     = 175
| caption        = Pappa with [[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]] in 2008
| fullname       = Marco Pablo Pappa Ponce
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1987|11|15}}
| birth_place    = [[Guatemala City]], Guatemala
| height         = {{height|m=1.78}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Marco Pappa|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/marco-pappa/|access-date=2021-02-24|website=worldfootball.net|language=en}}</ref>
| position       = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub    = 
| clubnumber     = 
| youthyears1    = 2004–2006
| youthclubs1    = [[C.S.D. Municipal|Municipal]]
| years1         = 2006–2009
| clubs1         = [[C.S.D. Municipal|Municipal]]
| caps1          = 33
| goals1         = 5
| years2         = 2008–2009
| clubs2         = → [[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]] (loan)
| caps2          = 36
| goals2         = 5
| years3         = 2009–2012
| clubs3         = [[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago Fire]]
| caps3          = 76
| goals3         = 21
| years4         = 2012–2014
| clubs4         = [[SC Heerenveen|Heerenveen]]
| caps4          = 11
| goals4         = 0
| years5         = 2014–2015
| clubs5         = [[Seattle Sounders FC]]
| caps5          = 49
| goals5         = 9
| years6         = 2016–2017
| clubs6         = [[Colorado Rapids]]
| caps6          = 20
| goals6         = 2
| years7         = 2017
| clubs7         = [[C.S.D. Municipal|Municipal]]
| caps7          = 18
| goals7         = 2
| years8         = 2017–2018
| clubs8         = [[C.S.D. Municipal|Municipal]]
| caps8          = 29
| goals8         = 5
| years9         = 2018–2019
| clubs9         = [[Club Xelajú MC|Xelajú]]
| caps9          = 28
| goals9         = 5
| years10        = 2019
| clubs10        = [[Deportivo Mixco|Mixco]]
| caps10         = 12
| goals10        = 1
| years11        = 2020
| clubs11        = [[Deportivo San Pedro|San Pedro]]
| caps11         = 0
| goals11        = 0
| years12        = 2022&ndash;2023
| clubs12        = [[Deportivo Achuapa|Achuapa]]
| caps12         = 5
| goals12        = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2008–2019
| nationalteam1  = [[Guatemala national football team|Guatemala]]
| nationalcaps1  = 57
| nationalgoals1 = 11
| medaltemplates = 
| pcupdate       = October 23, 2019
| ntupdate       = August 15, 2019
}}

'''Marco Pablo Pappa Ponce''' (born 15 November 1987) is a Guatemalan professional [[Association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[midfielder]].

==Club career==
Born in [[Guatemala City]], Pappa, who plays as a [[Midfielder (football)#Winger|winger]], joined his local side, [[C.S.D. Municipal|Municipal]],<ref>[https://www.vice.com/nl/article/voetballer-marco-pappa-guatemala/ Op bezoek bij voetballer Marco Pappa in Guatemala] vice.com</ref> in 2004 at the age of 16, and made his professional debut in a domestic league match in August 2006 against [[Deportivo Petapa]]. He scored his first professional goal against Nicaraguan side [[Real Madriz]] during the [[2007 Copa Interclubes UNCAF#First round|2007 UNCAF tournament]].

===Chicago Fire (2008–2012)===
[[File:Nick LaBrocca Marco Pappa.jpg|thumb|Marco Pappa playing for Chicago Fire]]
Pappa signed a one-and-a-half-year loan deal with [[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago Fire]] on 30 July 2008, and made his MLS debut for Fire on 2 August 2008, against [[Chivas USA]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mlsnet.com/scoreboard/game.jsp?match%3D08022008_CHVCHI |title=Major League Soccer: Match Tracker: Main |access-date=2008-08-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080806004137/http://web.mlsnet.com/scoreboard/game.jsp?match=08022008_CHVCHI |archive-date=6 August 2008 }}</ref> He scored his first MLS goal on 5 April 2009, in a game against the [[New York Red Bulls]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mlsnet.com/scoreboard/game.jsp?match%3D04052009_NYCHI |title=Major League Soccer: Box Score: Main |access-date=2010-02-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119135433/http://web.mlsnet.com/scoreboard/game.jsp?match=04052009_NYCHI |archive-date=19 January 2010 }}</ref> On 3 December 2009 The Fire exercised their option to buy Pappa's rights from Municipal, thus ending almost two-year loan deal it had for Pappa and securing his services through the 2012 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sbisoccer.com/2009/12/chicago-fire-buys-pappas-rights|title=Chicago Fire buys Pappa's rights, signs winger through 2012|date=3 December 2009}}</ref>

Pappa started the 2010 MLS season in great form for the Chicago Fire with 5 goals and 4 assists in his first 11 games, making one of the league's top performing midfielders,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/player/marco-pappa |title=Marco Pappa &#124; Major League Soccer |access-date=2010-06-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610215914/http://www.mlssoccer.com/player/marco-pappa |archive-date=10 June 2010 }}</ref> and finished the year with seven goals (being the team's top scorer) and five assists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chicago-fire.com/stats?by=season&season_year=2010&op=SEARCH&form_build_id=form-7159d1dd42626ac5d54164ad90a20e26&form_id=mls_stats_leaders_stats_form|title=Stats &#124; Chicago Fire}}</ref> He was also awarded the MLS "[[MLS Goal of the Year Award|Goal of the Year]]" award of the 2010 season for his goal against [[San Jose Earthquakes]] on 10 April 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/att-goal-year-winner-marco-pappa|title=AT&T Goal of the Year winner: Marco Pappa|access-date=1 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2010/12/28/2010-mls-goal-year|title=Video of the 2010 MLS Goal of the Year|access-date=1 June 2012}}</ref>

During the 2011 season, Pappa scored eight goals, including a [[hat-trick]] on 28 September 2011 in an away win against [[Real Salt Lake]],<ref>Source: [https://www.espn.com/chicago/soccer/news/story?id=7033194]</ref> earning the "Player of the Week" award<ref>Source: http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/10/03/pappa-takes-player-week-honors-week-29</ref> and becoming the second Guatemalan player to score three goals in an MLS match after [[Carlos Ruiz (Guatemalan footballer)|Carlos Ruiz]] had done it in 2002 and 2003.

===Heerenveen (2012–2014)===
Per an announcement made on 13 August 2012<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sc-heerenveen.nl/nieuws/marco-pappa-per-1-januari-naar-heerenveen/10|title=Marco Pappa per 1 januari naar Heerenveen|access-date=13 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/08/marco-pappa-join-sc-heerenveen-conclusion-2012-mls-season|title=Marco Pappa to Join SC Heerenveen at Conclusion of 2012 MLS Season|publisher=chicago-fire.com|access-date=13 August 2012}}</ref> Pappa was originally going to join the Dutch club [[SC Heerenveen]] of the [[Eredivisie]] on 1 January 2013 on a three-and-a-half-year deal. However, on 30 August, Chicago agreed to make the deal an immediate transfer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/08/marco-pappa-transferred-sc-heerenveen|title=Marco Pappa Transferred to SC Heerenveen &#124; Chicago Fire}}</ref>  On 3 January 2014 Pappa was released by Heerenveen as they dissolved his contract to make room on their roster for the Hungarian [[Szabolcs Varga]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.soccernews.nl/news/226403/heerenveen-neemt-per-direct-afscheid-van-peperdure-pappa|title=Heerenveen neemt per direct afscheid van peperdure Pappa|website=www.soccernews.nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nieuws.nl/sport/20140103/Heerenveen-haalt-Varga-en-laat-Pappa-vertrekken|title=Heerenveen haalt Varga en laat Pappa vertrekken|publisher=nieuws.nl|date=3 January 2014|access-date=8 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108121716/http://www.nieuws.nl/sport/20140103/Heerenveen-haalt-Varga-en-laat-Pappa-vertrekken|archive-date=8 January 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prensalibre.com/tododeportes/futbol_internacional/Marco-Pappa-holanda_0_1059494267.html|title=Marco Pappa deja el Heerenveen|publisher=prensalibre.com|date=3 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106071228/http://www.prensalibre.com/tododeportes/futbol_internacional/Marco-Pappa-holanda_0_1059494267.html|archive-date=6 January 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Seattle Sounders FC (2014&ndash;2016)===
Pappa was released by Heerenveen and entered the MLS Allocation process, being selected by the [[Seattle Sounders FC]] who had the first pick. He was officially given the number 10 jersey last worn by [[Mauro Rosales]] on 12 February 2014. On 25 October, Pappa came off the bench and scored twice as the Sounders defeated the [[Los Angeles Galaxy]] 2−0 to clinch the [[Supporters' Shield]], as the best club in MLS during the [[2014 Major League Soccer season|regular season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/gamecast/384850/gamecast.html |title=Seattle Sounders 2-0 Los Angeles Galaxy |work=ESPNFC |date=25 October 2014 |access-date=25 October 2014 }}</ref>

===Colorado Rapids (2016)===
On March 1, Pappa was traded to [[Colorado Rapids]] in exchange for allocation money.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.coloradorapids.com/post/2015/12/15/colorado-rapids-acquire-marco-pappa-seattle-sounders-fc|title=Colorado Rapids acquire Marco Pappa from Seattle Sounders FC &#124; Colorado Rapids}}</ref>

===Return to Guatemala===
In January 2017, Pappa returned to the team of his youth, [[C.S.D. Municipal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/01/20/marco-pappa-headed-home-guatemalas-csd-municipal|title=Marco Pappa headed home to Guatemala's CSD Municipal &#124; MLSsoccer.com}}</ref> His contract expired on 30 June 2017. Pappa then looked for a club abroad, however, without success. He then returned to Municipal in September 2017.<ref>[https://deportetotalusa.com/blog/guatemala-marco-pappa-jugara-en-el-municipal/ Marco Pappa jugará en el Municipal], deportetotalusa.com, 13 September 2017</ref>

In July 2018, it was reported that Pappa had joined [[Deportivo Petapa]].<ref>[https://www.prensalibre.com/deportes/torneo-apertura/marco-pappa-jugara-la-proxima-temporada-con-deportivo-petapa/ El volante guatemalteco Marco Pappa jugará la próxima temporada con Deportivo Petapa], prensalibre.com, 22 July 2018</ref> On 30 August Pappa also said that he had reached an agreement with the club but in September 2018, Petapas head coach said that there was no agreement with Pappa and that he wouldn't be a part of the squad.<ref>[https://www.publinews.gt/gt/deportes/2018/09/13/marco-pappa-no-jugara-deportivo-petapa-segun-rafael-loredo-13-septiembre-2018.html Marco Pappa no jugará con Deportivo Petapa, según el técnico Rafael Loredo], publinews.gt, 13 September 2019</ref> He then joined [[Club Xelajú MC]] on 8 October 2019.<ref>[https://diariodelosaltos.com/2018/10/08/trasciende-que-marco-pappa-firmara-con-xelaju-mc/ Trasciende que Marco Pappa firmará con Xelajú MC], diariodelosaltos.com, 8 August 2018</ref>

In the summer 2019, Pappa signed with [[Deportivo Mixco]].<ref>[https://www.guatefutbol.com/2019/06/13/deportivo-mixco-presento-a-marco-pappa/ Deportivo Mixco presentó a Marco Pappa], guatefutbol.com, 13 June 2019</ref> On 24 October 2019 the club confirmed, that they had terminated Pappa's contract. Pappa played 12 games and scored a goal in 726 minutes of play.<ref>[https://www.prensalibre.com/deportes/futbol-nacional/marco-pappa-queda-fuera-del-deportivo-mixco-por-los-malos-resultados/ Marco Pappa queda fuera del Deportivo Mixco por los malos resultados], prensalibre.com, 24 October 2019</ref>

On 16 March 2020, [[Deportivo San Pedro]] announced the signing of 31-year old Pappa.<ref>[https://futbolcentroamerica.com/noticias/Marco-Pappa-hablo-de-su-llegada-a-San-Pedro-20200319-0010.html Marco Pappa habló de su llegada a San Pedro], futbolcentroamerica.com, 19 March 2020</ref>

==International career==

Pappa has represented Guatemala at the U17, U20, U21 and U23 levels, and played for Guatemala at the U23 level in the qualifying tournament for the [[Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing Olympics]], in which they finished in fourth place after being one [[penalty shootout]] [[2008 CONCACAF Men's Pre-Olympic Tournament#Semi-finals|away from qualifying to the Olympic Tournament]].

Pappa earned his first cap for the [[Guatemala national football team|senior national team]] on 20 August 2008 in a 0–1 [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF third round#Group 1|World Cup qualifying]] loss to the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]], appearing as a substitute. He scored his first goal for Guatemala on 15 October 2008 against [[Cuba national football team|Cuba]]. He participated at the [[UNCAF Nations Cup 2009]]<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/gold-cam09det.html UNCAF (Qualifying Tournament for Gold Cup) 2009 – Details]  – RSSSF</ref> and at the [[2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2011 Gold Cup]], where he scored the second goal of a 4–0 win against [[Grenada national football team|Grenada]].

During [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification|2014 World Cup qualification]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080914002328/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=297396/index.html Record at FIFA Tournaments] – FIFA</ref> he scored the first goal of a 4–0 win against [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national football team|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]] during the 2nd round, and in the third round, he scored from a direct free kick to equalize 1–1 at home against the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]].

At the [[2014 Copa Centroamericana]], Pappa helped Guatemala to a runner-up finish and qualification for the [[2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup]]. He scored four goals in four matches en route to winning the tournament's Golden Boot as its top scorer and the Golden Ball as its best player.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://uncafut.com/web/index.php/copa-centroamericana/5855-marco-pappa-ganador-del-balon-de-oro-en-la-copa-centroamericana-2014 |title=Marco Pappa ganador del Balon de Oro en la Copa Centroamericana 2014 - Uncaf |access-date=4 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208054532/http://uncafut.com/web/index.php/copa-centroamericana/5855-marco-pappa-ganador-del-balon-de-oro-en-la-copa-centroamericana-2014 |archive-date=8 December 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===International===
:''Scores and results list. Guatemala's goal tally first.''
{| class="wikitable collapsible"
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1 || 15 October 2008 || [[Estadio Pedro Marrero]], [[Havana]], [[Cuba]] || {{fb|CUB}} || '''1'''–1  || 1–2 || [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| 2 || 3 March 2010 || [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum|Memorial Coliseum]], [[Los Angeles]], [[United States]] || {{fb|SLV}} || '''1'''–0  || 2–1 || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| 3 || 13 June 2011 || [[Red Bull Arena (New Jersey)|Red Bull Arena]], [[Harrison, New Jersey|Harrison]], [[United States]] || {{fb|GRN}} || '''2'''–0  || 4–0 || [[2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup]]
|-
| 4 || 2 September 2011 || rowspan=2| [[Estadio Mateo Flores]], [[Guatemala City]], [[Guatemala]] || {{fb|VIN}} || '''1'''–0  || 4–0 || rowspan=2| [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| 5 || 12 June 2012 || {{fb|USA}} || '''1'''–1  || 1–1
|-
| 6 || 15 August 2012 || [[Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium|RFK Stadium]], [[Washington, D.C.]], [[United States]] || {{fb|PAR}} || '''1'''–1  || 3–3 || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| 7 || rowspan=2| 3 September 2014 || rowspan=2| [[Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium|RFK Stadium]], [[Washington, D.C.]], [[United States]] || rowspan=2| {{fb|SLV}} || '''1'''–0 || rowspan=2| 2–1 || rowspan=4| [[2014 Copa Centroamericana]]
|- 
| 8 || '''2'''–0
|- 
| 9 || rowspan=2| 10 September 2014 || rowspan=2| [[BBVA Compass Stadium]], [[Houston]], [[United States]] || rowspan=2| {{fb|HON}} || '''1'''–0 || rowspan=2| 2–0
|- 
| 10 || '''2'''–0
|-
| 11 || rowspan=2| 13 October 2015 || rowspan=2| [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]], [[Los Angeles]], [[United States]] || rowspan=2| {{fb|SLV}} || '''1'''–0 || rowspan=2| 1–1 || rowspan=4| [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|}

==Honors==
'''Municipal'''
*[[Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala|Liga Nacional de Guatemala]]: Clausura 2007, [[2016-17 Guatemalan Liga Nacional|Clausura 2017]]
'''Seattle Sounders'''
*[[Supporters' Shield]]: [[Supporters' Shield|2014]]
*[[U.S. Open Cup]]: [[2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup|2014]]

'''Individual'''
*[[MLS Goal of the Year Award]]: [[2010 Major League Soccer season|2010]]
*[[Copa Centroamericana]] top goalscorer: [[2014 Copa Centroamericana|2014]]
*[[Copa Centroamericana]] best player: [[2014 Copa Centroamericana|2014]]

==Personal life==
Pappa earned his [[Permanent residence (United States)|U.S. green card]] in June 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkyFMeW5shA  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/mkyFMeW5shA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Interview: Garth Lagerwey on signing Erik Friberg and possibility of new MLS rule |author=Seattle Sounders FC |date=30 June 2015| publisher=youtube.com |access-date=14 August 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> This status also qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes. In 2016, he was involved in an incident that resulted in Pappa being rushed to the hospital. When police arrived, girlfriend Stormy Keffeler was with him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/sports/2016/01/was-marcco-pappa-mls-stabbed-miss-washington-usa-stormy-keffeler|title=Was MLS Player Marco Pappa Stabbed By Miss Washington USA Stormy Keffeler?|website=Complex}}</ref>

On 7 January 2020, Pappa was sentenced to 5-years in jail due to a domestic violence offence in his native Guatemala.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/4029487/ex-mls-player-marco-pappa-gets-5-year-domestic-violence-sentence|title=Ex-MLS player sentenced for domestic violence|date=8 January 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.fichajes.com/jugador/j42906_marco-pablo-pappa-ponce Marco Pappa] at fichajes.com
*{{Twitter|marcopappas16}}
*[https://www.guatefutbol.com/2019/06/13/deportivo-mixco-presento-a-marco-pappa/ Marco Pappa] at guatefutbol.com
*{{MLS player|marco-pappa}}
*{{NFT player|27281}}

{{MLS Goal of the Year}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Guatemala squads
| bg    = #6495ED
| fg    = white
| list1 = 
{{Guatemala squad 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Guatemala squad 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pappa, Marco}}
[[Category:1987 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Guatemala City]]
[[Category:Guatemalan men's footballers]]
[[Category:Guatemalan expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Guatemalan people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Guatemala men's international footballers]]
[[Category:2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:C.S.D. Municipal players]]
[[Category:Chicago Fire FC players]]
[[Category:SC Heerenveen players]]
[[Category:Seattle Sounders FC players]]
[[Category:Colorado Rapids players]]
[[Category:C.S.D. Xelajú MC players]]
[[Category:Deportivo San Pedro players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer All-Stars]]
[[Category:Eredivisie players]]
[[Category:Men's association football wingers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Guatemalan expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]