Wilfredo Rivera (footballer)

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) 14 October 2003
Place of birth San Juan, Puerto Rico
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s)
Team information
Current team
 Barracas Central
Number 23
Youth career
2008–2010 Academia Quintana
2010–2017 Clay County SC
2017–2018 Jacksonville FC
2018–2020 Orlando City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Orlando City B 15 (3)
2021–2023 Orlando City 0 (0)
2022 → Orlando City B (loan) 10 (1)
2022 → Indy Eleven (loan) 11 (0)
2023 → Orlando City B (loan) 22 (3)
2024 Orlando City B 23 (5)
2025 Greater Orlando SA
2025 Academia Quintana 11 (11)
2026– Barracas Central 0 (0)
International career‡
2018 United States U16
2019 Puerto Rico U17 3 (0)
2021–2022 Puerto Rico U20 5 (3)
2021– Puerto Rico 25 (5)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:56, 26 December 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 7 June 2025

Wilfredo Aramat Rivera Cepeda (born 14 October 2003) is a Puerto Rican professional footballer who plays as a winger for Primera División club Barracas Central and the Puerto Rico national team.

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 in the mainland 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]

Senior

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 22 March 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 25 July 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]

In early 2025, Rivera spent time with Greater Orlando Soccer Academy in the United Premier Soccer League.[13] On 1 May 2025, Rivera signed with Liga Puerto Rico club Academia Quintana.[14] On 26 July, Rivera scored his first international goal in a 5–0 win over Rovers SC in the opening group stage match of the 2025 CFU Cup Shield.[15] Academia Quintana would ultimately fail to get out of the group stage after tying Academy Eagles on points and goal difference, but lost out on first place to fair play rules.[16] On 12 December, Academia Quintana defeated Puerto Rico Surf SC 1–0 in the Liga Puerto Rico Apertura final.[17]

On 23 December 2025, Rivera signed with Primera División club Barracas Central after impressing against the Argentine national team over international break. With his signing, Rivera became the first Puerto Rican to play in the division.[18]

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.[19][20]

On 19 January 2021, he made his senior debut with Puerto Rico as an 80th-minute substitute in a friendly 1–0 win over Dominican Republic.[21][22]

Career statistics

Club

As of 12 December 2025
Club Season League National cup Playoffs[a] Continental[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Orlando City B 2020 USL League One 15 3 — — — — 15 3
Orlando City 2021 Major League Soccer 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0
2022 0 0 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
2023 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Orlando City B (loan) 2022 MLS Next Pro 10 1 — — — — 10 1
2023 22 3 — 1 0 — — 23 3
Orlando City B 2024 23 5 — 1 0 — — 24 5
Total 70 12 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 72 12
Indy Eleven 2022 USL Championship 11 0 0 0 — — — 11 0
Academia Quintana 2024–25 Liga Puerto Rico 11 11 0 0 2 0 2 1 — 15 12
Barracas Central 2026 Primera División 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 — 0 0
Career total 92 23 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 72 16
  1. ^ Includes MLS Next Pro playoffs and Liga Puerto Rico Apertura playoffs
  2. ^ Includes CFU Club Shield

International

As of match played 7 June 2025
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
4 June 11, 2024 Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Bayamón, Puerto Rico  Anguilla 3–0 8–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 6–0

Honours

Academia Quintana

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. ^ a b "Congratulations Wilfredo Rivera for being called up to the U16 Youth National Team". United Soccer Alliance. September 20, 2018. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  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. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  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. ^ a b "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. ^ "Five Former UPSL Players Feature for Puerto Rico Against Argentina & Messi". Premier.UPSL.com. United Premier Soccer League. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  14. ^ @LigaPuertoRico (May 1, 2025). "¡LOS RUMORES SON CIERTOS! Wilfredo Rivera se une a la Academia Quintana para esta segunda vuelta de la LPR PRO" (Tweet). Retrieved June 10, 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  15. ^ "Puerto Rico's Academia Quintana defeat USVI's Rovers 5-0". CFU Club Shield. July 26, 2025. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  16. ^ "Academia Quintana and SV Real Rincon end 2025 CFU Club Shield campaign". CFU Club Shield. July 28, 2025. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  17. ^ "Academia Quintana vs Puerto Rico Surf". Sofascore. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  18. ^ "Barracas Central oficializó la llegada de un exótico refuerzo: Wilfredo Rivera, el primer puertorriqueño en jugar en el fútbol argentino". 442 (in Spanish). December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  19. ^ "La Sub17 en busca de cambiar la historia" (in Spanish).
  20. ^ "2019 CONCACAF U-17 Championship: Mexico v Puerto Rico". www.concacaf.com.
  21. ^ "Histórica victoria de Puerto Rico ante República Dominicana". Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol.
  22. ^ "Victoria para Puerto Rico en el "Clásico Caribeño"" (in Spanish).
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