Many football fans call Joel Campbell “Costa Rica’s Mr. Consistency,” a player who always represents his country on the biggest stages, including multiple FIFA World Cups. Joel, whose journey from the vibrant fields of Costa Rica to the global stage is as thrilling as his nickname, “Black Panther,” suggests. Joel’s life is a story of dedication, dreams, and sheer love for the game. It paints a picture of his life from his boyhood years to the tactical brilliance displayed at the 2014 World Cup and beyond.
Football’s Black Panther: Joel Campbell’s Humble Beginnings
This biography peels back the layers of Joel’s life, exploring his roots, the love and support of his family, and the personal stories that have shaped him into the athlete and man he is today. Embark on a journey to discover the man behind the nickname, a tale filled with passion, resilience, and the quest for greatness.
Early Life and Family Background:
For Biography starters, Joel Nathaniel Campbell Samuels was born on the 26th day, month of June, 1992, to his mother, Roxana Samuels and father, Humberto Campbell in San José, Costa Rica.
Both parents, as pictured below, were former footballers who knew each other and fell in love thanks to the beautiful game of football which brought them together.
Meet Joel Campbell’s parents – Roxana Samuels (his Mum) and Humberto Campbell (his Dad).
When Humberto Campbell and Roxana Samuels procreated the third of their four offspring (Joel), the genes of football fluttered in the entrails of Doña Roxana for one simple reason.
Their beloved son, Joel Campbell, was born as a fifth-generation footballer to the family of Roxana Samuels, who represented the 4th generation of her family’s football commitment.
Roxana Samuels (Joel Campbell’s mum) is the primary reason why football is in the DNA of her son.
Back in the days, she was called Pelela, in allusion, of course, to the legendary Brazilian Edson Arantes Do Nascimento, Pelé. She scored lots of goals like Pele during her time.
Roxana, once emphasized that Joel, her son was educated in football right from her womb which he kicked severally.
She further said that upon birth, even when he was not able to babble his first words, Joel already knew how to smile and put a firm grip on a football.
His ability to constantly smile is a virtue that both Joel and his brothers, Junior Humberto, Katherine and Nekisha, inherited from Don Humberto, their father.
Both parents are devout Christians and raise their kids to be like them. Campbell grew up with three of his siblings (names mentioned above).
Joel Campbell Biography – Football Story:
As a son of a football family, the ball was always a fundamental part of his DNA. It was such a fever that from a young age, Joel had two balls.
There was a spare ball which he kept just in case the other one flew to the ceiling or into the garden of some uncomfortable neighbour who would refuse to return the ball to him. At this time, Joel Campbell was four years old.
Campbell’s football Gene manifested early while he was a child. Humberto, his father, made it essential for Campbell at an early age to learn football values such as discipline and dedication.
Asides from parental influence, going to school helped Campbell in having a good foundation in his career.
Back then, his school offered him the opportunity to play competitive soccer passionately during sports periods. This refuelled his determination to take ‘Football‘ seriously, as seen in a trophy moment photo below.
Campbell’s early flair for football, nurtured by his father Humberto, was rooted in discipline and dedication.
Joel possessed a steely determination to make his dreams come true, and his ambitions were not just a passing fancy.
Campbell started out at Saprissa, a Costa Rican domestic club named “Carajillos of Valencia” in San Rafael Abajo de Desamparados.
Back then, the coaches that have had him during his youth career defined him as a fast attacker with a great capacity to take on his opponents.
He also has very good dribbling skills and is a good finisher. Joel Campbell finished his youth football as a mature teenager.
After completing his youth career, Joel only made two senior appearances before Arsenal scouts wandering around the country spotted him. He allegedly turned down both Sevilla and Fiorentina to sign with the Gunners.
Despite moving to the Gunners from Saprissa in 2011, the striker had to wait five years before becoming a first-team regular, thanks to his 2014 World Cup performance.
He still found joy playing for a series of clubs despite leaving Arsenal again on loan. Football became a golden tree for Campbell, a sport where he found fulfilment. The rest, as they say, is now history.
Joel Campbell and Maria Fernanda Cascante – The Love Story:
Right from childhood, Joel has become a regular Costarican celebrity thanks to his amazing displays. His ability and potential, as well as his lifestyle off the pitch, build up a complete picture of him.
The truth is, Joel Campbell appreciates beauty and took his time finding the perfect match for his heart.
Joel found love in Maria Fernanda Cascante, who once happened to be his bestie. Their relationship grew from bestie status to true love.
A Costa Rican sensation on and off the pitch, who found true love with once-bestie Maria Fernanda Cascante.
Immediately after he met beautiful Fernanda, It never took time before Joel Campbell got her acquainted with his parents, who gave them their blessings, support and relationship advice.
At this moment, it was clear that Joel Campbell’s parents had accepted Maria Fernanda.
Joel Campbell dated Fernanda for eight years, and their love was guided by their ability to blend with each other at both good and hard times.
After celebrating the 8th year of their relationship, a marriage proposal came. Their wedding was held in Iglesia de Pozos, de Santa Ana in Costa Rica, in June 2017.
Maria Fernanda and Joel Campbell’s wedding ceremony.
His Costa Rican teammates Yeltsin Tejeda, Bryan Ruiz, and Keylor Navas attended the wedding. Joel Campbell enjoyed a wonderful married life, as manifested when he once celebrate his wife’s pregnancy in the picture below.
Fernanda gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, the couple named Brianna Campbell. She still remains their first and only child at the point of writing. Joel, as pictured below, is very attached to Brianna Campbell, his lovely daughter.
Joel Campbell is emotional and sensitive and cares deeply about matters of the family and their home.
Both Joel Campbell, his wife and his lovely daughter loves to go on vacation to different beautiful natural destinations.
Having a beautiful wife and a lovely kid surely makes Campbell change for the better, thus becoming very close to God. Joel sees his wife, mother, and daughter as the second pillars of his life, with the first being God.
Roxana Samuels, Joel’s mother, revealed that before each match, her son reads Psalm 27. Ideally, this practice began as a recommendation from both his wife and mother. It is a way in which Campbell gets belief in his performances.
Psalm 27 says;
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked, even my enemies and foes, came upon me to devour me, they stumbled and fell.
“Visit the Bible to read more!”
Joel Campbell Family Life:
His Parents: “The family of Humberto is a happy one”, says Doña Roxana the mother of the home. It is pertinent to know that Humberto, who is was formerly a football goalkeeper, is now a Seaman while his wife (Joel Campbell’s mum) is a retired footballer.
The Campbell family has a theory that they need not envy anybody or anything. “All with the same conditions, are equal,” says the father who is pictured below engrossed in watching his son’s football accolades.
About Joel Campbell’s Mother:
Joel Campbell’s mother, the ex-footballer, played her career at the Red Stars of the Atlantic, which is also the female team that her husband directed before they found each other and fell in love.
Both Roxana and her son Campbell are very close. A piece of evidence is made in her statement below.
Dona Roxana once confessed to this: “I breastfed Joel always on a pillow when he was a baby. To date, Joel still has that pillow close to him. He takes it wherever he goes, like an endearing object. The same pillow!”
About Joel Campbell’s Siblings:
“He is a player known not only for his athletic achievements but for his ability to interact and stay close to his siblings,” said Michel, his cousin.
Joel Campbell is quick to help others, just as he is also are quick to avoid conflict with his relatives and friends who envy him.
Personal Life away from Football:
Joel Campbell loves horses but fears riding one.
Campbell lives a very luxurious life which we can know through his official Instagram. He has his own headphone company.
Aside from riding different cars, Joel Campbell is a very close friend to his pet dog.
As regards his Strengths, Campbell is Tenacious, highly imaginative, loyal, emotional and very sympathetic. Regarding his Hobbies, Campbell loves Art, relaxing near or in water, home-based hobbies, helping loved ones (especially parents and siblings), and dedicating his spare time to his desktop at home. Media reports suggest he was once a student in an online university programme. Joel, like Mikel Oyazabal, adores the idea of academic pursuit despite being a busy footballer.
What Joel Campbell Dislikes: Strangers, any criticism of his Mother and releasing information about his personal life.
Joel Campbell Facts:
Starting off, Campbell is himself a bit of a character. He once famously bought 100 packets of football stickers to find himself. Unfortunately, he didn’t.
He celebrates his goals with a salute as a way to report to his cousins. This is sometimes followed by a weird celebration, as pictured below.
Please contact us (via comment) if you notice anything that doesn’t look right in our version of Joel Campbell’s football journey and History. Don’t forget to stay tuned for more Football Stories as they cut across categories. The Childhood Story of Cyle Larin and Jonas Wind would interest you. Finally, kindly give us your honest feedback about Joel and his touching story.
Appreciation Note:
We say, “Thank you”… for taking your time to read Joel Campbell’s Biography. We care about accuracy and fairness in our collective quest to deliver you North and South American Football Stories. Joel Campbell’s Bio is a product of our collection of articles about Football Forwards.
