Wilfredo Rivera (footballer)

Wilfredo Aramat Rivera Cepeda (born October 14, 2003) is a Puerto Rican professional footballer who plays as a winger for the Puerto Rico national team and MLS Next Pro club Orlando City B.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rivera and the second or maternal family name is Cepeda.
Wilfredo Rivera
Personal information
Full name Wilfredo Aramat Rivera Cepeda
Date of birth (2003-10-14) October 14, 2003
Place of birth San Juan, Puerto Rico
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Winger, forward
Team information
Current team
 Orlando City B
Number 32
Youth career
2008–2010 Academia Quintana
2010–2017 Clay County Soccer Club
2017–2018 Jacksonville FC
2018–2020 Orlando City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020– Orlando City B 55 (10)
2021–2023 Orlando City 0 (0)
2022 → Indy Eleven (loan) 11 (0)
International career‡
2018 United States U16
2019 Puerto Rico U17 3 (0)
2021–2022 Puerto Rico U20 5 (3)
2021– Puerto Rico 15 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 15, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 21, 2023

Club career

Youth

Rivera grew up in the Quintana barrio of San Juan, Puerto Rico and began playing soccer for the Academia Quintana team.[1][2] His family moved to Florida, United States in 2010 and he joined Clay County Soccer Club.[3] After seven seasons at Clay County SC, Rivera moved to Jacksonville FC before joining the SIMA/Orlando City DA program at Montverde Academy.[4][5]

Orlando City

In March 2020, Rivera signed an academy contract with Orlando City B, Orlando City's USL League One affiliate.[6] He made his debut in the season opener on August 1, 2020, starting against South Georgia Tormenta[7] and scored his first goal for the club the following week in a 2–0 victory over New England Revolution II.[8] He started in all 15 games and finished the season as the team's top scorer with three goals.[9]

Having originally committed to playing college soccer for South Florida Bulls beginning fall 2021,[10] Rivera joined the Orlando City senior team's preseason camp ahead of the 2021 season and on March 22, 2021, signed a professional three-year homegrown contract. He became the club's ninth homegrown and second youngest player to sign a first-team contract after Tommy Redding in 2014.[9]

Rivera continued to play for Orlando City B during the inaugural 2022 MLS Next Pro season until July 25, 2022, when he joined USL Championship side Indy Eleven on loan for the remainder of the season.[11]

In December 2023, as part of the end of season roster moves, it was announced Rivera had his option declined and released as a free agent.[12]

International

In September 2018, Rivera was called-up to the United States under-16 training camp.[3]

Rivera made his Puerto Rico under-17 debut in 2019 during 2019 CONCACAF U-17 Championship qualifying and later represented the team during the knockout stage, starting in a 2–1 loss to Mexico in the Round of 16.[13][14]

On January 19, 2021, he made his senior debut with Puerto Rico as an 80th-minute substitute in a friendly 1–0 win over Dominican Republic.[15][16]

Career statistics

Club
As of 15 May 2024
Club Season League Cup Playoffs Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Orlando City B 2020 USL League One 153——153
2022 MLS Next Pro 101——101
2023 223—10233
2024 8 3 — — 8 3
Total 551000105610
Indy Eleven 2022 USL Championship 11000—110
Career total 661000106710

International
As of match played November 21, 2023
Scores and results list Puerto Rico's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rivera goal.
List of international goals scored by Wilfredo Rivera
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 November 18, 2023 ABFA Technical Center, Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda  Antigua and Barbuda 1–0 3–2 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League B
2 3–2
3 November 21, 2023 Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Bayamón, Puerto Rico  Bahamas 6–1 6–1

References
  1. Reynoso, Paulo. "Orlando City anuncia la firma de Wilfredo Rivera". Futbol Boricua (in Spanish).
  2. "Futbolista boricua de 17 años firma en la MLS". El Vocero de Puerto Rico (in Spanish).
  3. "Congratulations Wilfredo Rivera for being called up to the U16 Youth National Team". United Soccer Alliance. September 20, 2018.
  4. "Wilfredo Rivera Called to the U17 Puerto Rico National Team". Sima Aguilas. April 18, 2019.
  5. "Orlando City SC". ocsc.ussoccerda.com.
  6. Poe, Julia (March 3, 2020). "Orlando City B announces roster for 2020 USL League One season". Pro Soccer USA.
  7. "South Georgia Tormenta FC vs. Orlando City B – August 1, 2020". www.uslleagueone.com.
  8. "New England Revolution II vs. Orlando City B – August 7, 2020". www.uslleagueone.com.
  9. "Orlando City SC Signs Forward Wilfredo Rivera as Club's Ninth All-Time Homegrown". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  10. "Orlando City sign homegrown forward Wilfredo Rivera to three-year contract". Orlando Soccer Journal. March 22, 2021.
  11. "Orlando City SC Loans Homegrown Wilfredo Rivera to Indy Eleven". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  12. "Orlando City SC announces end-of-season statuses following end of 2023 MLS Season". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  13. "La Sub17 en busca de cambiar la historia" (in Spanish).
  14. "2019 CONCACAF U-17 Championship: Mexico v Puerto Rico". www.concacaf.com.
  15. "Histórica victoria de Puerto Rico ante República Dominicana". Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol.
  16. "Victoria para Puerto Rico en el "Clásico Caribeño"" (in Spanish).
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