Roberto Molina (born 28 January 2001) is a Salvadoran professional footballer who plays as a winger for USL Championship club Miami FC and the El Salvador national team.
Career
Youth
Molina played with the USSDA Barca Residency academy for 3 years prior to attending college.[1]
College
In 2019, Molina attended the University of California, Irvine to play college soccer. In his freshman season, Molina made 19 appearances, scoring 3 goals and tallying 3 assists for the Anteaters.[2] There was no 2020 season in the Big West Conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professional
On 5 April 2021, Molina was announced as a signing for USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights, opting to pursue a professional career and leaving college early.[3] Molina made his professional debut on 5 May 2021, starting in a 5–0 loss to LA Galaxy II.[4]
On January 11, 2022, Molina was selected 45th overall in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by Colorado Rapids.[5]
On May 18, 2023, Molina signed with USL Championship club Indy Eleven.[6] The club announced that Molina would return for the 2024 USL Championship season on January 12, 2024.[7]
Molina was transferred to USL Championship club Miami FC as part of a swap deal on April 11, 2024.[8]
Personal
Molina was born in El Salvador, and raised in both Sonsonate and North Hollywood, California.[2]
References
- ^ "Barca Academy". grsa.ussoccerda.com.
- ^ a b "Roberto Molina - Men's Soccer". UCI Athletics.
- ^ "LIGHTS FC ANNOUNCE INITIAL SET OF PLAYER SIGNINGS FOR 2021 SEASON". www.lasvegaslightsfc.com.
- ^ "LA Galaxy II vs. Las Vegas Lights FC - May 5, 2021 | USLChampionship.com". www.uslchampionship.com.
- ^ "Rapids make trade then take three players in 2022 MLS Superdraft". 11 January 2022.
- ^ "Eleven Adds to Attack with Signing of Roberto Molina".
- ^ "Forward Roberto Molina Returns for the Boys in Blue in 2024". Indy Eleven. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ "Miami FC Announces the Trade of Ben Ofeimu and Ben Mines to Indy Eleven". Miami FC. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
External links
- Roberto Molina at Soccerway
- UC Irvine bio