Nicolás Rodríguez (footballer, born 2004)
|
Rodríguez with Orlando City in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nicolás Santiago Rodríguez Calderón | ||
| Date of birth | 25 April 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | San José del Guaviare, Colombia | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Atlético Nacional (on loan from Orlando City) | ||
| Number | 13 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2021–2022 | Fortaleza CEIF | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2025 | Fortaleza CEIF | 86 | (15) |
| 2025– | Orlando City | 12 | (1) |
| 2025 | → Orlando City B (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2026– | → Atlético Nacional (loan) | 10 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 03:34, 18 March 2026 (UTC) | |||
Nicolás Santiago Rodríguez Calderón (born 25 April 2004) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Categoría Primera A club Atlético Nacional, on loan from Major League Soccer club Orlando City.
Early life
Born in San José del Guaviare, Rodríguez moved to Bogotá in 2021 to join Fortaleza CEIF's youth sides.[1]
Club career
Fortaleza CEIF
Rodríguez made his first team debut on 12 October 2021, coming on in the 81st-minute for Carlos Lucumí in a 0–0 Categoría Primera B home draw against Boyacá Chicó.[2][3] After also featuring rarely in the 2022 season, Rodríguez became an undisputed starter in the 2023 campaign, scoring his first senior goal on 9 April of that year, in a 1–0 away win over Cortuluá.[4] He scored a further seven goals as the club achieved promotion to the top tier.
Rodríguez remained a starter in 2024, becoming a key unit for Fortaleza.[5][6] Rodríguez scored his first goal in the Colombian top tier on 11 February when he scored the second goal of a 2–0 win over Atlético Junior.[7] On 9 April, Rodríguez scored his first and only non-league goal for the club when he netted the deciding goal of a 2–1 victory over Once Caldas in the first leg on their tie in the second stage of the 2024 Copa Colombia.[8]
Orlando City
On 17 January 2025, Rodríguez was signed by Major League Soccer club Orlando City as a U22 initiative player through 2027 with a club option for 2028.[9] On the opening game of the season, Rodríguez made his debut for the club when he came on as an 80th-minute substitute for Iván Angulo in a 2–4 loss to Philadelphia Union.[10] On 13 July, Rodríguez started a game with Orlando City B, the reserve affiliate of Orlando City, playing the first half of the match as Orlando City B defeated Carolina Core 3–1.[11] On 16 August, Rodríguez scored his first goal for the team to close out a 3–1 home win over Sporting Kansas City.[12]
On 8 January 2026, Rodríguez returned to Colombia, and signed on loan to Liga DIMAYOR club Atlético Nacional through the 2026 season with an option to buy.[13] Rodríguez made his debut for the club on 17 January when he came on as a 66th-minute substitute for Andrés Sarmiento in a 4–0 win against Boyacá Chicó.[14] On 4 March, Rodríguez scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 loss to Millonarios.[15]
Career statistics
- As of 17 March 2026[16]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Fortaleza CEIF | 2021 | Categoría Primera B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2022 | Categoría Primera B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2023 | Categoría Primera B | 44 | 8 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 46 | 8 | |||
| 2024 | Categoría Primera A | 37 | 7 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 42 | 8 | |||
| Total | 86 | 15 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 93 | 16 | ||||
| Orlando City | 2025 | Major League Soccer | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 4[b] | 0 | 17 | 1 | |
| Orlando City B (loan) | 2025 | MLS Next Pro | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Atlético Nacional (loan) | 2026 | Categoría Primera A | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 1 | |
| Career total | 110 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 122 | 18 | ||
- ^ Includes Copa Colombia and U.S. Open Cup
- ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup
References
- ^ "Nicolás Rodríguez, del San José del Guaviare a figura con Fortaleza: sueña con el título" [Nicolás Rodríguez: from San José del Guaviare to Fortaleza's star man: he dreams with title] (in Spanish). Caracol Televisión. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "¡No se hicieron daño! Fortaleza y Boyacá Chicó firmaron el empate en el estadio de Techo" [They did not harm each other! Fortaleza and Boyacá Chicó end up drawing at the Estadio de Techo] (in Spanish). Win Sports. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Fortaleza CEIF vs. Boyacá Chicó". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
- ^ "Fortaleza sorprendió al líder del Torneo BetPlay, Cortuluá" [Fortaleza surprised the leaders of the Torneo BetPlay, Cortuluá] (in Spanish). Win Sports. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Nicolás Rodríguez expresó su deseo de jugar en Millonarios" [Nicolás Rodríguez expressed his desire to play for Millonarios] (in Spanish). El Deportivo. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Figura de Fortaleza interesa en dos grandes del FPC, pero del exterior lo quieren" [Fortaleza's key man is a target of two big clubs from Colombian professional football, but is wanted abroad] (in Spanish). El Deportivo. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Fortaleza CEIF vs. Junior". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
- ^ "Fortaleza CEIF vs. Once Caldas". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
- ^ "Orlando City SC acquires winger Nicolás Rodríguez". Orlando City. 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ "Philadelphia 4–2 Orlando". ESPN. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ "Match Report: Orlando City B powers through Carolina Core FC 3-1". Orlando City B. 13 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ "Match report: Orlando City SC storms past Sporting Kansas City 3-1". Orlando City. 17 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
- ^ "Orlando City SC loans forward Nicolás Rodríguez to Atlético Nacional S.A." Orlando City. 8 January 2026. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ Estrada, Santiago Alejandro Galeano (18 January 2026). "Fecha 1: Debut, goleada e ilusión". Vavel (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Vea el gol de Nicolás Rodríguez, con Nacional vs. Millonarios, por la Copa Sudamericana". Noticias Caracol. 4 March 2026. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
- ^ Nicolás Rodríguez at Soccerway. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
External links
- Nicolás Rodríguez at Soccerway.com
- Nicolás Rodríguez at FBref.com
- Nicolás Rodríguez at kicker (in German)
- Nicolás Rodríguez at Major League Soccer