Nicolás Rodríguez (footballer, born 2004)

Nicolás Rodríguez
Personal information
Full name	Nicolás Santiago Rodríguez Calderón
Date of birth	25 April 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth	San José del Guaviare, Guaviare, Colombia
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	Orlando City
Youth career
2021–2022	Fortaleza CEIF
Senior career*
Years	Team
2021–2025	Fortaleza CEIF
2025–	Orlando City
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 January 2025

Nicolás Santiago Rodríguez Calderón (born 25 April 2004) is a Colombian footballer who plays as a right winger for 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]

Career statistics

As of 15 December 2024^[10]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Fortaleza CEIF	2021	Categoría Primera B	3	0	0	0	—		—		3	0
	2022		2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
	2023		44	8	2	0	—		—		46	8
	2024	Categoría Primera A	37	7	5	1	—		—		42	8
Career total			86	15	7	1	0	0	0	0	93	16

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.
^ Nicolás Rodríguez at Soccerway. Retrieved 15 December 2024.

[1] "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.

[2] "¡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.

[3] "Fortaleza CEIF vs. Boyacá Chicó". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 January 2025.

[4] "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.

[5] "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.

[6] "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.

[7] "Fortaleza CEIF vs. Junior". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 January 2025.

[8] "Fortaleza CEIF vs. Once Caldas". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 January 2025.

[9] "Orlando City SC acquires winger Nicolás Rodríguez". Orlando City. 17 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.

[10] Nicolás Rodríguez at Soccerway. Retrieved 15 December 2024.

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