He started playing in Indonesia in 2003, joining PSM Makassar. In that season he scored 27 goals. PSM won the Liga Indonesia in that season. He was fined Rp20 million for hitting one of the officials from Persita Tangerang and was suspended.
Free from suspension, he joined and led Persik Kediri to become champions of Liga Indonesia in 2006. In 2008, he was sentenced to suspension by the PSSI for unsportsmanlike behaviour. A financial crisis at Persik Kediri led Persik management to rationalize salaries. Gonzáles was one of the few players who was against the decision and looked for another club.
On 30 January 2009, Persib Bandung management announced that they had recruited Gonzáles with remission from PSSI chairman Nurdin Halid. Gonzáles was contracted as a loan from Persik Kediri and was paid 60 million rupiahs per month by Persib Bandung. He debuted as a starter in the Super League for Persib against Persipura Jayapura in a 1–1 draw thanks to a goal he scored. In 2008, he played 16 times in the League and scored 14 goals, making Gonzáles a top scorer in the Super League. After his contract at Persik Kediri expired, he was immediately hired by Persib Bandung. In the 2009–10 pre-season, he scored a goal for Persib in the East Java Government Cup. In the 2009–10 season, he scored 51 goals.
After his contract at Persisam Samarinda expired. He joined Arema Cronus and wore number 10.
International career
Although Gonzales began his career in Indonesia as an Uruguayan, he became an Indonesian national on 3 November 2010 after a six-year wait, including not going home to his father's funeral. He is the first naturalised football player in Indonesia and the first to join the Indonesia national football team. His debut with the national team was on 21 November 2010, in a friendly game against Timor-Leste, where he scored twice in a 6–0 win.
International goals
Personal life
Gonzáles was born in Montevideo, Uruguay. He married his wife, Eva Nurida Siregar, in 1995 and has 4 children. On 9 October 2003, he converted to Islam and chose Mustafa Habibi as his Islamic name. He gained an Indonesian passport in 2010. Gonzáles also appeared in Indonesian soap operas and television commercials.
Controversies
Gonzáles is known for his temper, and has been reprimanded by the PSSI on a number of occasions.
Trivia
He is one of the most lethal strikers in the history of the Indonesian football competition. His ability to kick, head, score, and in positioning and game vision are renowned, and he has a strong physique. When playing in Uruguay, he was an attacking midfielder. He was not at his best before finally moving to Indonesia and joining PSM Makassar as a striker. Since then he has proved his quality as a powerful striker. Cristian Gonzales is a popular figure among Indonesians and has starred in commercials speaking Bahasa Indonesia. In 2006, he was the most expensive player in the Liga Indonesia according to the data from the Indonesian Football Association at Rp 1.2 billion On 21 November 2010 Cristian Gonzales debuted as a member of Indonesia's national football team in a game against Timor Leste scoring two goals, and has now joined Indonesia's core national football team in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup.
