David Ruiz (footballer, born 2004)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ruiz and the second or maternal family name is Ochoa.
David Ruiz
Ruiz with Inter Miami in 2024
Personal information
Full name David Antonio Ruiz Ochoa[1]
Date of birth (2004-02-08) 8 February 2004 (age 20)[1]
Place of birth Miami, Florida, United States
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.81 m)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Inter Miami
Number 41
Youth career
2014-2021 Miami United Stars
2021 Inter Miami
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2023 Inter Miami II[note 1] 19 (0)
2023 → Inter Miami (loan) 2 (0)
2023– Inter Miami 46 (3)
2024– → Inter Miami II (loan) 2 (0)
International career‡
2023 Honduras U20 2 (1)
2023– Honduras U23 4 (1)
2023– Honduras 7 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 September 2024

David Antonio Ruiz Ochoa (born 8 February 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami. Born in the United States, he represents the Honduras national team.

Early life

Born in Miami,[2] Ruiz later moved to Honduras at age five, before moving back to the United States three years later.[3] Ruiz played youth soccer with the Miami United Stars for seven years.[4][5] In 2021, he joined the Inter Miami CF academy.[2]

Club career

In 2021, Ruiz began playing with Fort Lauderdale CF (later renamed Inter Miami II) in USL League One, later in MLS Next Pro. On March 2023, Ruiz joined the Inter Miami first team roster on a short-term four-day loan.[6] He made his MLS debut the next day, in a substitute appearance against the Chicago Fire.[7][8][9] On 21 April, he signed a second short-term loan with the club,[10] playing in their match against the Houston Dynamo.[11] On 28 April, Ruiz signed a homegrown player contract with Inter Miami CF for him to join their Major League Soccer first team on a permanent basis through the 2025 season, with club options for 2026 and 2027.[12][13] He scored his first professional goal on 13 May and recorded an assist against the New England Revolution, also being sent off in the match, after picking up a second yellow card in the 81st minute.[14][15] He became the youngest player to record a goal and an assist for the club at 19 years and 95 days.[16]

International career

Born in the United States to Honduran parents, Ruiz is eligible to represent the United States or Honduras.[17]

In October 2022, he was called up at youth level with the Honduras U20 ahead of a series of friendly matches against US youth club teams.[18][19] In January 2023, Ruiz was called up to a training camp with the United States U19.[20] In April 2023, he was called up to the Honduras U20 for a training camp.[21][22] He was then subsequently named to their squad for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[23][24][25] In their second match of the group stage, he scored his first goal in the first half on a penalty kick,[26] before later being sent off after receiving a straight red card after slapping a South Korea U20 player.[27]

In August 2023, Ruiz was called up to the Honduras senior national team for the upcoming September CONCACAF Nations League group matches.[28] He made his senior debut on 12 September 2023, in a substitute appearance against Grenada.[29]

Career statistics

Club

As of 2 April 2024[30]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Inter Miami CF II 2021 USL League One 0 0 — – – 0 0
2022 MLS Next Pro 16 0 – – – 17 0
2023 3 0 – – – 3 0
Total 19 0 – – – 19 0
Inter Miami 2023 MLS 20 2 4 0 – 6[a] 1 30 3
2024 19 0 – 3[b] 0 – 22 0
Total 39 2 4 0 3 0 6 1 52 3
Career total 58 2 4 0 3 0 6 1 71 3
  1. ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions Cup

International

As of match played 10 September 2024[31]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Honduras 2023 1 0
2024 6 3
Total 7 3

Honours

Inter Miami

Notes

  1. ^ Fort Lauderdale CF changed its name to Inter Miami CF II in 2022

References

  1. ^ a b c "FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ SQUAD LIST: Honduras (HON)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 May 2023. p. 11. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Inter Miami CF Signs Academy Product David Ruiz as Homegrown to First Team Contract". Inter Miami CF. 28 April 2023.
  3. ^ Ramos, Emma (10 April 2023). "David Ruiz, joyita del Inter de Miami sobre la opción de jugar el Mundial: "Para mí es un orgullo representar a Honduras"" [David Ruiz, jewel of Inter Miami on the option of playing in the World Cup: "I am proud to represent Honduras"]. Diez (in Spanish).
  4. ^ Roca, Gustavo (25 July 2022). "David Ruiz, el jugador de sangre hondureña que es compañero del hijo de Beckham en el Inter Miami" [David Ruiz, the player of Honduran blood who is a teammate of Beckham's son at Inter Miami]. Diez (in Spanish).
  5. ^ Venegas, Mauricio (3 May 2023). "Freedom To Dream: Cremaschi, Ruiz Reflect on Path to First Team". Inter Miami CF.
  6. ^ "Inter Miami CF Signs David Ruiz on Short-Term Loan Agreement From Inter Miami CF II". Inter Miami CF. 24 March 2023.
  7. ^ Venegas, Mauricio (26 March 2023). "Match Recap: Inter Miami CF Narrowly Falls to Chicago Fire FC". Inter Miami CF.
  8. ^ "David Ruiz, joyita de sangre catracha debuta con el primer equipo del Inter Miami de la MLS" [David Ruiz, a jewel of Catracha blood, makes his debut with the MLS Inter Miami first team]. Diez (in Spanish). 25 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Joyita hondureña debuta con el Inter de Miami y los catrachos sonríen en una intensa jornada de la MLS" [Honduran jewel debuts with Inter Miami and the catrachos smile in an intense day of the MLS]. Diez (in Spanish). 30 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Inter Miami CF Signs David Ruiz on Short-Term Loan Agreement From Inter Miami CF II". Inter Miami CF. 21 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Inter Miami amarra a la joyita hondureña David Ruiz tras ascenderlo al primer equipo de la MLS" [Inter Miami ties up Honduran gem David Ruiz after promoting him to the MLS first team]. Diez (in Spanish). 28 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Inter Miami CF Signs Academy Product David Ruiz as Homegrown to First Team Contract". Inter Miami CF. 28 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Inter de la MLS contrata al hondureño David Ruiz" [MLS Inter hires Honduran David Ruiz]. Diario Deportivo Más (in Spanish). 28 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Ruiz, Martínez lead Inter Miami over New England Revolution 2–1". CBS News. 15 May 2023.
  15. ^ Arias, Brianna (16 May 2023). "Inter Miami rookie and Little Havana native David Ruiz, 19, off to Under-20 World Cup". Caplin News.
  16. ^ Gutiérrez, Omar (13 May 2023). "El hondureño David Ruiz anota su primer gol y también asiste con el Inter Miami de la MLS previo al Mundial Sub-20" [Honduran David Ruiz scores his first goal and also assists with Inter Miami of the MLS prior to the U-20 World Cup]. Diez (in Spanish).
  17. ^ Ibarra, Diego Mayel (6 January 2023). "David Ruiz, la promesa de Honduras que Estados Unidos quiere robarse" [David Ruiz, the promise of Honduras that the United States wants to steal]. Diario AS (in Spanish).
  18. ^ "Selección Sub-20 de Honduras se instala en California y recibe visita especial previo a su primer amistoso en Estados Unidos" [Honduras Under-20 team settles in California and receives a special visit prior to its first friendly in the United States]. Diez. 16 November 2022.
  19. ^ Gutiérrez, Omar (6 January 2023). "Dos meses después de jugar con la Sub-20, legionario hondureño es convocado por la selección de Estados Unidos" [Two months after playing with the Under-20s, a Honduran legionnaire is called up by the United States team]. Diez (in Spanish).
  20. ^ Venegas, Mauricio (6 January 2023). "Called Up: Inter Miami CF II Midfielder David Ruiz Called Up for U.S. U-19 MYNT Training Camp". Inter Miami CF.
  21. ^ Franca, Michael (11 April 2023). "Called Up: David Ruiz Called Up to Honduras U-20 National Team". Inter Miami CF.
  22. ^ "Luis Alvarado lo revela: el factor de la convocatoria de David Ruiz, las bajas y ¿por qué no hay jugadores del Motagua en la lista?" [Luis Alvarado reveals it: the factor of David Ruiz's call, the casualties and why there are no Motagua players on the list?]. Diez (in Spanish). 30 April 2023.
  23. ^ Franca, Michael (28 April 2023). "Called Up: Homegrown Signing David Ruiz Called Up by Honduras for 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup". Inter Miami CF.
  24. ^ "David Ruiz, futbolista del Inter Miami de la MLS: "Honduras me quiere llevar al Mundial y ese es mi sueño"" [David Ruiz, MLS Inter Miami footballer: "Honduras wants to take me to the World Cup and that is my dream"]. Diez (in Spanish). 31 March 2023.
  25. ^ Rodríguez, José Armando (31 March 2023). "David Ruiz: "Honduras me quiere llevar al Mundial, Inter Miami está muy orgulloso"" [David Ruiz: "Honduras wants to take me to the World Cup, Inter Miami is very proud"]. Deporte Total USA (in Spanish).
  26. ^ Figueroa, Mario (25 May 2023). "Soberbio derechazo: David Ruiz se estrena con la Selección de Honduras en el Mundial Sub-20 tras anotar penalti a Corea del Sur" [Superb right hand: David Ruiz makes his debut with the Honduras National Team in the U-20 World Cup after scoring a penalty against South Korea]. Diez (in Spanish).
  27. ^ Alvarado, German (25 May 2023). "De héroe a villano: La expulsión de David Ruiz en el Mundial Sub-20" [From hero to villain: The expulsion of David Ruiz in the U-20 World Cup]. La Prensa (in Spanish).
  28. ^ Triana, Leonardo (28 August 2023). "Called Up: David Ruiz Called Up by Honduras". Inter Miami FC.
  29. ^ "Ovacionado: Así fue el debut de David Ruiz con la Selección de Honduras ante Granada" [Applauded: This was David Ruiz's debut with the Honduras National Team against Granada]. El Heraldo (in Spanish). 12 September 2023.
  30. ^ David Ruiz at Soccerway
  31. ^ David Ruiz at National-Football-Teams.com
  32. ^ Sigal, Jonathan (20 August 2023). "Lionel Messi & Inter Miami are Leagues Cup champions!". MLS Soccer. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  33. ^ Sigal, Jonathan (3 October 2024). "Inter Miami win 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield". MLS Soccer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.