Costa Rica’s 3:1 home win over the U.S. in a World Cup 2010 qualifier helped Gent forward Bryan Ruiz Gonzalez earn a spot in the FTBL Top 23 for North American players.

Despite beginning with 3 forwards, the U.S. were subjected to a barrage of relentless attacks by the Costa Ricans, forcing goalkeeper Tim Howard of Everton to deploy his talent in full. But his efforts were not enough, and the 3 goals he conceded cost him 15.54 rating points. Howard retained his top spot in the FTBL rating of North American goalkeepers with 86.53 points over all, but the gap with his nearest rival, Aston Villa’s Brad Friedel (75.89 points), has now narrowed substantially.

Despite failing to score, Ruiz still earned 11.10 rating points to boost his overall rating to 63.15 points and grab the 6th place in the rating of North American forwards (he ranks 2nd in the rating of forwards of the Belgian league). He could further boost his position with a strong performance away against Trinidad and Tobago on June 6.