Eduard Atuesta
{{short description|Colombian footballer (born 1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}{{Infobox football biography
| name = Eduard Atuesta
| fullname = Eduard Andrés Atuesta Velasco
| image = Atuesta-Palmeiras-Cuiaba-jul-2022.jpg
| caption = Atuesta playing for Palmeiras in 2022
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|06|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Vélez, Santander, Colombia
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Orlando City
| clubnumber = 20
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Independiente Medellín
| years1 = 2016–2018
| clubs1 = Independiente Medellín
| caps1 = 29
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2018
| clubs2 = → Los Angeles FC (loan)
| caps2 = 25
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2019–2021
| clubs3 = Los Angeles FC
| caps3 = 73
| goals3 = 6
| years4 = 2022–2025
| clubs4 = Palmeiras
| caps4 = 50
| goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2024
| clubs5 = → Los Angeles FC (loan)
| caps5 = 28
| goals5 = 4
| nationalyears1 = 2017
| nationalteam1 = Colombia U20
| nationalcaps1 = 7
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2020
| nationalteam2 = Colombia U23
| nationalcaps2 = 6
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2022–
| nationalteam3 = Colombia
| nationalcaps3 = 2
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| pcupdate = 12 April 2025
| ntupdate = 19 November 2022
| years6 = 2025–
| clubs6 = Orlando City
| caps6 = 7
| goals6 = 0
}}
Eduard Andrés Atuesta Velasco (born 18 June 1997) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Orlando City.
Club career
=Independiente Medellín=
Atuesta made his senior debut in the Copa Colombia when he started in a 5–1 victory over Envigado FC on 13 April 2016.{{Cite web |title=Envigado vs. Independiente Medellín |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2016/04/14/colombia/copa-colombia/envigado-futbol-club/corporacion-deportiva-independiente-medellin/2199827/ |access-date=12 February 2025 |website=Soccerway}} Later that season, Atuesta made his league debut in the Torneo Finalización when he came on as a 55th-minute substitute for Juan David Cabezas in a 1–1 draw with Jaguares de Córdoba on 18 September.{{Cite web |title=Independiente Medellín vs Jaguares de Córdoba |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2016/09/19/colombia/primera-a/corporacion-deportiva-independiente-medellin/cd-jaguares-de-cordoba/2248533/ |access-date=12 February 2025 |website=Soccerway}} Three days later, Atuesta made his international debut in the Copa Sudamericana when he came on as a 63rd-minute substitute for John Édison Hernández in a 2–0 victory over Brazilian club Santa Cruz.{{Cite web |title=Independiente Medellín vs Santa Cruz |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2016/09/22/south-america/copa-sudamericana/corporacion-deportiva-independiente-medellin/santa-cruz-futebol-clube/2358756/ |access-date=12 February 2025 |website=Soccerway}}
In the 2017 season, Atuesta became a regular starter for the club as Independiente Medellín were defending Torneo Apertura champions for the first time since 2004.{{Cite web |title=Colombia – Deportivo Independiente Medellín |url=https://us.soccerway.com/teams/colombia/corporacion-deportiva-independiente-medellin/464/trophies/ |access-date=12 February 2025 |website=Soccerway}} Independiente Medellín made it to the final of the 2017 Copa Colombia, allowing Atuesta his first chance to win a trophy as part of the squad, but the club would lose 3–1 to Atlético Junior on aggregate.{{Cite web |title=Summary – Copa Colombia |url=https://us.soccerway.com/national/colombia/copa-colombia/2017/s13363/final-stages/ |access-date=12 February 2025 |website=Soccerway}}
In the 2018 season, Atuesta made just one appearance for the club, a 3–0 victory over Atlético Huila on 3 February.{{Cite web |title=Independiente Medellín vs Atlético Huila |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2018/02/03/colombia/primera-a/corporacion-deportiva-independiente-medellin/cd-atletico-huila/2720676/ |access-date=12 February 2025 |website=Soccerway}}
== Loan to Los Angeles FC ==
Atuesta signed with Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC for their debut 2018 season on a season-long loan deal on 27 February 2018.{{Cite web |date=27 February 2018 |title=LAFC Acquires 20-Year-Old Midfielder Eduard Atuesta |url=https://www.lafc.com/news/lafc-acquires-20-year-old-midfielder-eduard-atuesta-791 |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Los Angeles FC}} Atuesta made his first appearance with LAFC in the inaugural El Tráfico derby on 31 March, when he was subbed in during a 4–3 away loss to the LA Galaxy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/eduard-atuesta|title=Eduard Atuesta |website=mlssoccer.com |publisher=Major League Soccer|access-date=July 12, 2018}} Atuesta scored his first goal for the club, the opening goal of a 2–0 win against Minnesota United on 9 May.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-lafc-20180509-story.html|title=Atuesta, Kaye each score 1st MLS goal, LAFC tops Minnesota|website=Los Angeles Times|date=May 9, 2018|access-date=April 25, 2020}}
= Los Angeles FC =
On 13 December 2018, Los Angeles FC announced that they had signed Atuesta permanently on a three-year deal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lafc.com/post/2018/12/13/lafc-sign-eduard-atuesta-three-year-deal|title=LAFC Signs Eduard Atuesta To Three-Year Deal|website=lafc.com|publisher=Los Angeles FC|date=December 13, 2018|access-date=April 25, 2020|archive-date=April 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425055816/https://www.lafc.com/post/2018/12/13/lafc-sign-eduard-atuesta-three-year-deal|url-status=dead}} On 21 April 2019, Atuesta scored his first goal as a permanent signing for the club, the second goal of a 4–1 win over the Seattle Sounders.{{Cite web |title=Los Angeles vs. Seattle Sounders |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2019/04/22/united-states/mls/los-angeles-fc/seattle-sounders-fc/2959899/ |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Soccerway}} Los Angeles FC qualified for the MLS Cup playoffs for the second season in a row, and the club secured their first Supporters' Shield, their first major trophy in club history.{{Cite web |last=Bogert |first=Tom |date=26 September 2019 |title=LAFC win 2019 Supporters' Shield, lift first major trophy |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/lafc-win-2019-supporters-shield-lift-first-major-trophy |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Major League Soccer}} On 24 October Atuesta made his playoffs debut in a El Tráfico semi-finals derby against LA Galaxy, which LAFC won 4–2.{{Cite web |title=LAFCvsLA 10-24-2019 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/lafcvsla-10-24-2019/ |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Major League Soccer}} LAFC saw their MLS Cup playoffs campaign end in a 1–3 defeat to the Seattle Sounders on 29 October, which saw Atuesta score the opening goal and mark his first playoffs goal of his career.{{Cite web |title=LAFCvsSEA 10-29-2019 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/lafcvssea-10-29-2019/ |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Major League Soccer}}
On 27 February 2020, Atuesta made his international debut with LAFC in the CONCACAF Champions League in a 3–0 victory over Club León which saw LAFC come back to win 3–2 on aggregate.{{Cite web |title=Los Angeles vs. León |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2020/02/28/nc-america/concacaf-champions-league/los-angeles-fc/club-leon/3191245/ |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Soccerway}} In the semi-finals of the competition against Club América on 19 December, Atuesta received a red card in the 45th-minute as LAFC were up 1–0, but despite this LAFC went on to win the game 3–1 with the help of two goals from Carlos Vela in under two minutes.{{Cite web |date=20 December 2020 |title=Concacaf Champions League Semifinal Black & Gold Endgame {{!}} LAFC 3-1 Club América 12/19/20 |url=https://www.lafc.com/news/concacaf-champions-league-semifinal-black-gold-endgame-lafc-3-1-club-am-rica-121 |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Los Angeles FC}} Atuesta's red card meant he would miss the final, which LAFC lost 2–1 to Tigres UANL.{{Cite web |date=23 December 2020 |title=Concacaf Champions League Final Black & Gold Endgame {{!}} LAFC 1-2 Tigres 12/22/20 |url=https://www.lafc.com/news/concacaf-champions-league-final-black-gold-endgame-lafc-1-2-tigres-122220 |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Los Angeles FC}}
On 4 August 2021, Atuesta was selected by Bob Bradley to the MLS All-Stars for a friendly match against the Liga MX All-Stars alongside teammates Diego Rossi and Jesús David Murillo.{{Cite web |date=4 August 2021 |title=2021 MLS All-Star Team Roster |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2021-mls-all-star-team-roster |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811131818/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2021-mls-all-star-team-roster |archive-date=11 August 2021 |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Major League Soccer}} The game ended 1–1, with Murillo scoring an equalizing goal to see the game go to a penalty shoot-out, and in the subsequent penalty shoot-out Atuesta saw his attempt saved by Guillermo Ochoa, but the MLS All-Stars would win the shoot-out 3–2.{{Cite web |last=Bogert |first=Tom |date=25 August 2021 |title=Recap: MLS All-Stars 1 (3), Liga MX All-Stars 1 (2) |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/recap-mls-all-stars-1-3-liga-mx-all-stars-1-2 |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Major League Soccer}}{{Cite web |title=MLSvsLMX 08-25-2021 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-all-star-game/2021/matches/mlsvslmx-08-25-2021/lineups |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Major League Soccer}}
=Palmeiras=
On 13 December 2021, Atuesta was sold to Palmeiras, where he signed a four-year contract.{{Cite web|url=https://ge.globo.com/futebol/times/palmeiras/noticia/atuesta-chega-ao-brasil-para-fazer-exames-e-assinar-com-o-palmeiras.ghtml|title=Atuesta arrives in Brazil to take exams and sign with Palmeiras|date=December 13, 2021|access-date=December 13, 2021}} On 29 January 2022, Atuesta made his debut for the club in the Campeonato Paulista in a 1–1 draw with São Bernardo.{{Cite web |title=São Bernardo vs. Palmeiras |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/01/29/brazil/paulista-a1/sao-bernardo-futebol-clube/sociedade-esportiva-palmeiras/3703038/ |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Soccerway}} Due to fixture congestion caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Atuesta was able to play for Palmeiras in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup which was played in February 2022.{{Cite web |date=20 October 2021 |title=FIFA Council endorses global summit to discuss the future of football |url=https://inside.fifa.com/organisation/fifa-council/media-releases/fifa-council-endorses-global-summit-to-discuss-the-future-of-football |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=FIFA}} Atuesta made his international debut for the club in the competition on 8 February in a 2–0 victory over Al Ahly when he came on as a 86th-minute substitute for Zé Rafael.{{Cite web |title=Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/02/08/world/fifa-club-world-cup/sociedade-esportiva-palmeiras/al-ahly/3703509/ |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Soccerway}} On 7 August, Atuesta scored his first goal for the club, the third of a 3–0 win against Goiás in Série A.{{Cite web |title=Palmeiras vs. Goiás |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/07/brazil/serie-a/sociedade-esportiva-palmeiras/goias-esporte-clube/3745105/ |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Soccerway}}
In the following 2023 season, Atuesta saw his playing time fall dramatically and he only made seven appearances across all competitions.{{Soccerway|eduard-andres-atuesta-velasco/437642|access-date=15 January 2021}} In the 2024 season, Atuesta made just one appearance, an 81st-minute substitute appearance for Raphael Veiga in a 1–1 draw with Novorizontino in the Campeonato Paulista before departing.{{Cite web |title=Novorizontino vs. Palmeiras |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/01/21/brazil/paulista-a1/gremio-esportivo-novorizontino/sociedade-esportiva-palmeiras/4277235/ |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Soccerway}}
==Return to Los Angeles FC (loan)==
On 8 February 2024, Atuesta was loaned back to Los Angeles FC for the 2024 season on a one-year loan with an option to buy.{{Cite web |last=LAFC |title=LAFC Acquire Midfielder Eduard Atuesta On Loan From Brazilian Serie A Club Palmeiras {{!}} Los Angeles Football Club |url=https://www.lafc.com/news/lafc-acquire-midfielder-eduard-atuesta-on-loan-from-brazilian-serie-a-club-palme |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=LAFC |language=en}} On 24 February, Atuesta marked his return to the club in a 2–1 victory over the Seattle Sounders.{{Cite web |title=Los Angeles vs. Seattle Sounders |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/02/24/united-states/mls/los-angeles-fc/seattle-sounders-fc/4286099/ |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Soccerway}} On 23 March, Atuesta scored his first goal since returning to the club, the final goal of a 5–0 rout of Nashville SC.{{Cite web |date=24 March 2024 |title=Bouanga scores twice to help LAFC end three-game scoreless streak with 5-0 win over Nashville |url=https://apnews.com/article/lafc-nashville-mls-score-efeaa59f3576e30befdc63aba314a739 |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Associated Press}} Atuesta scored four goals and made six assists across the regular season.{{Cite web |title=Stats |url=https://www.lafc.com/stats/#season=2024&competition=mls-regular-season&club=11690&statType=general&position=all |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Los Angeles FC}} On 27 November, Los Angeles FC announced that Atuesta's loan had expired and that they were not pursuing a purchase.{{Cite web |date=27 November 2024 |title=LAFC Announces Roster Moves For 2025 Season |url=https://www.lafc.com/news/lafc-announces-roster-moves-for-2025-season |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Los Angeles FC}}
== Brief return to Palmeiras ==
= Orlando City =
On 10 February 2025, Atuesta was signed by Major League Soccer club Orlando City on a one-year contract with a club option for 2026.{{Cite web |date=10 February 2025 |title=Orlando City SC acquires midfielder Eduard Atuesta |url=https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-city-sc-acquires-midfielder-eduard-atuesta |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=Orlando City}} Atuesta made his debut when he started in the opening match of the season against Philadelphia Union which ended in a 2–4 loss.{{Cite web |title=Philadelphia 4–2 Orlando |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/commentary/_/gameId/726805 |access-date=22 February 2025 |website=ESPN}} On 15 March, Atuesta provided an assist and a secondary assist in a 2–2 draw with the New York Red Bulls and for this performance he was named to the Team of the Matchday.{{Cite web |date=15 March 2025 |title=RBNYvsORL 03-15-2025 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2025/matches/rbnyvsorl-03-15-2025/ |access-date=18 March 2025 |website=Major League Soccer}}{{Cite web |last=Ruderman |first=Justin |date=17 March 2025 |title=Team of the Matchday: Messi, Luna make their mark in Matchday 4 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/team-of-the-matchday-messi-luna-make-their-mark-in-matchday-4 |access-date=18 March 2025 |website=Major League Soccer}}
International career
Atuesta played for the Colombia under-20 national team at the 2017 South American U-20 Championship. In August 2019, he was called into the Colombia under-23 national team for friendlies against Brazil and Argentina.{{cite web|url=http://fcf.com.co/index.php/2019/08/27/convocatoria-seleccion-colombia-masculina-sub-23-para-amistosos-de-septiembre/|title=Convocatoria Selección Colombia Masculina Sub-23, Para Amistosos de Septiembre |website=fcf.com.co|date=27 August 2019|access-date=27 August 2019|archive-date=27 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827225224/http://fcf.com.co/index.php/2019/08/27/convocatoria-seleccion-colombia-masculina-sub-23-para-amistosos-de-septiembre/|url-status=dead}}
Personal life
Atuesta earned his U.S. green card in February 2019.{{cite news |url= https://www.lafc.com/post/2019/02/21/lafc-midfielder-eduard-atuesta-and-forward-diego-rossi-obtain-green-cards|title=LAFC Midfielder Eduard Atuesta And Forward Diego Rossi Obtain Green Cards |date=February 21, 2019| publisher=LAFC.com |access-date=February 23, 2019}} This status also qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.
Career statistics
= Club =
{{updated|match played 12 April 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|State league !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Independiente Medellín
|2016 |rowspan="3"|Categoría Primera A |4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana|name=Sud}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 0 | |||
| 2017
|24 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=Sud}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 0 | |||
| 2018
|1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!29 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 44 | 0 | |||
| Los Angeles FC (loan)
|2018 |rowspan="4"|Major League Soccer |25 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0
|0 | 28 | 1 | ||||
| rowspan="4"|Los Angeles FC
|2019 |30 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs|name=Play}} | 1 | 35 | 4 | |||
| 2020
|19 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League|name=Concacaf}} | 0 | 1{{efn|name=Play}} | 1 | 23 | 2 | |||
| 2021
|24 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 2 | |||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!98 | 7 | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 110 | 9 | ||
| rowspan="5" |Palmeiras
|2022 | rowspan="4" |Série A |26 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7{{efn|Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores|name=Lib}} | 0 | 4{{efn|Two appearances in FIFA Club World Cup and two appearances in Recopa Sudamericana|name=FIFARecopa}}
|0 | 52 | 1 | ||
| 2023
|1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2024
|colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 2025
| colspan="2" |— |3 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |3 |0 | ||||||||||||
| colspan="2" |Total
!27 !1 !23 !1 !2 !0 !7 !0 !0 !0 !63 !2 | ||||||||||||
| Los Angeles FC (loan)
|2024 |Major League Soccer |28 |4 | colspan="2" |— |3 |0 | colspan="2" |— |10{{efn|Three appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs and seven appearances in Leagues Cup|name=PlayLeagues}} |0 |41 |4 | ||||||||||||
| Orlando City
|2025 |Major League Soccer |7 |0 | colspan="2" |— |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |0 |0 |7 |0 | ||||||||||||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!189 | 12 | 23 | 1 | 24 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 265 | 15 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Independiente Medellín
Los Angeles FC
Palmeiras
- Recopa Sudamericana: 2022
- Campeonato Paulista: 2022, 2023
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2022, 2023
- Supercopa do Brasil: 2023
- FIFA Club World Cup runners-up: 2021
Individual
- MLS Best XI: 2019{{cite web |title=MLS Fact and Record Book |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/media-resources/mls-fact-and-record-book |website=Major League Soccer |access-date=28 October 2019 |page=163 |archive-date=16 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716023458/https://www.mlssoccer.com/media-resources/mls-fact-and-record-book |url-status=dead }}
- MLS All-Star: 2021{{cite web |title=2021 MLS All-Star Team Roster |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2021-mls-all-star-team-roster |website=MLSsoccer}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{sports links}}
- {{MLS player|eduard-atuesta}}
{{Orlando City SC squad}}{{2019 MLS Best XI}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Atuesta, Eduard}}
Category:Footballers from Santander Department
Category:Colombian men's footballers
Category:Colombia men's international footballers
Category:Colombia men's under-20 international footballers
Category:21st-century Colombian sportsmen
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Independiente Medellín footballers
Category:Los Angeles FC players
Category:Categoría Primera A players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players
Category:Colombian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Colombian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States