Missael Rodríguez

This article is about the professional soccer player. For the Mexican boxer, see Misael Rodríguez.
Missael Rodriguez
Personal information
Full name Missael Rodriguez Padilla
Date of birth (2001-02-09) February 9, 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Chicago, Illinois
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
2017–2021 Chicago Fire
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2024 Chicago Fire 1 (0)
2021–2023 → Chicago Fire II (loan) 40 (7)
2024 → Union Omaha (loan) 19 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Missael Rodriguez Padilla (born February 9, 2003) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward.

Career

Chicago Fire

At the end of the 2017-18 season, Rodriguez joined the Chicago Fire academy, scoring 10 goals and registering 3 assists in 19 games for the under-15s.[1]

In 2021, Chicago signed him to the first team as a Homegrown Player.[2]

Rodriguez played 3 times for Chicago Fire during his early years at the club. Rodriguez made his official Chicago debut, starting in the 2-2 draw with Union Omaha, though they were knocked out by them on penalties.[3] He made his only U.S. Open Cup game in 2023 in the 3-0 win against Chicago House AC, replacing Alonso Aceves.[4] He made his Major League Soccer debut against CF Montréal, replacing Georgios Koutsias in the 3-0 win.[5]

Ahead of the 2024 Major League Soccer season, Rodriguez was loaned out to Union Omaha.[6] He was waived from the club after returning from his loan at Omaha.[7]

Chicago Fire II

However, he wouldn't play any games with the first team and was thus assigned to the Chicago Fire FC II in MLS Next Pro, beginning to play for them in 2022, the league's inaugural season.[8] Rodriguez made his debut for Chicago Fire II in the 3-1 win against FC Cincinnati 2, coming of the bench and replacing Victor Bezerra.[9] He got his first start in a 3-0 loss to New York City FC II.[10] He scored a late goal in the next match, a 6-2 win against Toronto FC II.[11] Now a staple in the first team, Rodriguez scored the opener in an eventual 3-1 loss to Inter Miami CF II.[12] In another match against Rochester New York FC, he scored the equalizer and scored his penalty-kick to give Chicago the win.[13] It was announced that Rodriguez would stay with Chicago in the 2023 season.[14]

In the 2023 MLS Next Pro season, Rodriguez scored 2 goals in 20 games: scoring in a 2-1 loss to Philadelphia Union II and in a 5-1 road win against FC Cincinnati 2.[15][16]

Loan to Union Omaha

On March 14, 2024, Missael Rodriguez joined USL League One team, Union Omaha on loan from Chicago Fire.[17] He debuted 2 days later in the 2-1 win against Central Valley Fuego, playing 45 minutes.[18] In the USL Jagermeister Cup, he started against Northern Colorado Hailstorm, scoring a brace. His goals came in the 44' and 45+1' minute.[19] He scored his first league goal in a 4-2 win against South Georgia Tormenta.[20][21] He then added a brace against Charlotte Independence in the league.[22]

References

  1. ^ chicagofirefc. "Missael Rodríguez | Chicago Fire FC". chicagofirefc. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  2. ^ chicagofirefc. "Chicago Fire FC Sign Academy Forward Missael Rodríguez to Homegrown Player Contract | Chicago Fire FC". chicagofirefc. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  3. ^ chicagofirefc. "Chicago Fire FC Falls to Union Omaha on Penalty Kicks in Third Round of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup | Chicago Fire FC". chicagofirefc. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  4. ^ chicagofirefc. "Chicago Fire FC Defeats Chicago House AC 3-0 at SeatGeek Stadium | Chicago Fire FC". chicagofirefc. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  5. ^ chicagofirefc. "Chicago Fire FC Defeats CF Montréal 3-0 at Soldier Field | Chicago Fire FC". chicagofirefc. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  6. ^ "UNION OMAHA SIGNS CHICAGO FIRE HOMEGROWN MISSAEL RODRÍGUEZ ON LOAN". Union Omaha. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  7. ^ chicagofirefc. "Chicago Fire FC Announces Additional Roster Moves | Chicago Fire FC". chicagofirefc. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  8. ^ mlssoccer. "Chicago Fire FC II | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  9. ^ "Chicago Fire FC II vs. FC Cincinnati 2". www.xscores.com. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  10. ^ II, Chicago Fire FC. "Chicago Fire FC II is Shut Out On the Road Against NYCFC II". Chicago Fire FC II. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  11. ^ II, Chicago Fire FC. "Chicago Fire FC II Earns First Road Victory with 6-2 Win against Toronto FC II". Chicago Fire FC II. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  12. ^ II, Chicago Fire FC. "Chicago Fire FC II Drops Road Contest to Inter Miami CF II, 3-1". Chicago Fire FC II. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  13. ^ II, Chicago Fire FC. "Chicago Fire FC II Earn Two Points At Rochester New York FC". Chicago Fire FC II. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  14. ^ chicagofirefc. "Chicago Fire FC Announce Protected Players Ahead of 2022 MLS Expansion Draft | Chicago Fire FC". chicagofirefc. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  15. ^ II, Chicago Fire FC. "Chicago Fire FC II Falls 2-1 against Philadelphia Union II". Chicago Fire FC II. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  16. ^ II, Chicago Fire FC. "Chicago Fire FC II Picks Up 5-1 Road Victory Against FC Cincinnati 2". Chicago Fire FC II. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  17. ^ chicagofirefc. "Chicago Fire FC Loans Homegrown Forward Missael Rodríguez to Union Omaha | Chicago Fire FC". chicagofirefc. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  18. ^ "Omaha 2-1 Central Valley (Mar 16, 2024) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  19. ^ "Union Omaha 2-2 Northern Colorado Hailstorm | Match Center". www.uslleagueone.com. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  20. ^ "Tormenta FC Falls to Union Omaha". South Georgia Tormenta FC. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  21. ^ Johnson, Rich (2024-05-04). "4 Owls score as Union Omaha defeats South Georgia Tormenta". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  22. ^ "Omaha 4-1 Charlotte (May 17, 2024) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 2024-10-18.