Nicolás Rodríguez

Nicolás Santiago Rodríguez Calderón (born 25 April 2004) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a winger for club Atlético Nacional, on loan from 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.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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. On the opening game of the season, Rodríguez made his debut for the club when he came on as an 80th-minute substitute for Iván Angulo in a 2–4 loss to Philadelphia Union. On 13 July, Rodríguez started a game with Orlando City B, the reserve affiliate of Orlando City, playing the first half of the match as Orlando City B defeated Carolina Core 3–1. On 16 August, Rodríguez scored his first goal for the team to close out a 3–1 home win over Sporting Kansas City.

Loan to Atlético Nacional On 8 January 2026, Rodríguez returned to Colombia, and signed on loan to Liga DIMAYOR club Atlético Nacional through the 2026 season with an option to buy. Rodríguez made his debut for the club on 17 January when he came on as a 66th-minute substitute for Andrés Sarmiento in a 4–0 win against Boyacá Chicó. On 4 March, Rodríguez scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 loss to Millonarios in the Copa Sudamericana. Following Rodríguez's suspension on 24 March by Atlético Nacional for an alleged sexual assault nine days earlier, Atlético Nacional manager Diego Arias confirmed on 23 April that Rodríguez had begun training with the squad again. On 1 May, Rodríguez made his first appearance since the allegations as a substitute in a 1–0 loss to Once Caldas.

Personal life On 24 March 2026, Rodríguez was suspended by Atlético Nacional after a 19-year-old woman accused him and at least one other man of sexually assaulting her in Rionegro after she became intoxicated at a nightclub on 15 March. In the criminal complaint filed four days after the alleged incident, the woman alleges that she was contacted by the men through Instagram, and after she became too intoxicated to defend herself at the nightclub, she was brought to an apartment in Rionegro and sexually assaulted by Rodríguez and the other men. After the alleged assault, she sought treatment at a medical center. Rodríguez's lawyer, Luis Felipe Henríquez del Castillo, said that he and Rodríguez "emphatically reject the complaint" and that "the accusations do not conform to the reality of what happened".

Career statistics