Santiago Rodríguez (footballer)

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rodríguez and the second or maternal family name is Molina.

Santiago Mariano Rodríguez Molina (born 8 January 2000) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Botafogo.

Santiago Rodríguez

Personal information
Full name	Santiago Mariano Rodríguez Molina[1]
Date of birth	(2000-01-08) 8 January 2000 (age 25)
Place of birth	Montevideo, Uruguay
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[2]
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas
Number	23
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2020	Nacional	34	(9)
2020–2023	Montevideo City Torque	3	(1)
2020–2021	→ Nacional (loan)	4	(2)
2021–2022	→ New York City FC (loan)	53	(7)
2023–2025	New York City FC	63	(17)
2025–	Botafogo	0	(0)
International career
2014–2015	Uruguay U15	20	(4)
2016–2017	Uruguay U17	21	(0)
2018	Uruguay U18	1	(1)
2018–2019	Uruguay U20	10	(0)
2020	Uruguay U23	8	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Uruguay South American Games 2018 Cochabamba Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:50, 27 February 2025 (UTC)

Club career

Rodríguez is a youth academy graduate of Nacional. He made his official debut for the club in a 2019 Supercopa Uruguaya win against Peñarol on 4 February 2019.^[3]

Montevideo City Torque

On 3 November 2020, Montevideo City Torque confirmed they had signed Rodríguez, with the midfielder remaining at Nacional for the rest of the year.^[4]

New York City FC

On 9 June 2021, New York City FC confirmed they had signed Rodríguez on loan, with the midfielder joining the Major League Soccer side through to December 2022.^[5] He made over 50 league appearances for the club over two seasons, helping the team advance to^[6] and eventually win the MLS Cup in 2021. In September 2022, he was named the club's player of the month.^[7]

Rodríguez returned to the club on a permanent contract in March 2023, ending months of uncertainty surrounding his future with the club.^[8] After returning to Torque, which had loaned Rodríguez to New York City FC, he was subject to interest from Brazilian club Bahia and stated that Major League Soccer needed to "become more important."^[9] However, Rodríguez would return to New York City FC as a Designated Player, signing a five-year deal with the club.^[10]

International career

In 2019, Rodríguez represented the Uruguay under-20 team at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.^[1] In 2020, Rodríguez represented the Uruguay under-23 team at the 2020 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament.^[11]

Career statistics

As of 21 October 2023^[12]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Nacional	2019	Uruguayan Primera División	22	6	—		6	0	1	0	29	6
	2020		15	3	—		4	2	—		19	5
	Total		37	9	—		10	2	1	0	48	11
Montevideo City Torque	2021	Uruguayan Primera División	2	0	—		6	0	—		8	0
	2023		1	1	—		—		—		1	1
	Total		3	1	—		6	0	—		9	1
Nacional (loan)	2020	Uruguayan Primera División	4	2	—		1	0	—		5	2
New York City FC (loan)	2021	Major League Soccer	21	3	—		—		5	1	26	4
	2022		32	4	3	1	4	2	4	0	43	7
	Total		53	7	3	1	4	2	9	1	69	11
New York City FC	2023	Major League Soccer	31	5	1	0	—		3	2	35	7
Career total			128	24	4	1	21	4	13	3	166	32

Honours

Nacional U20

• U-20 Copa Libertadores: 2018^[13]

Nacional

• Uruguayan Primera División: 2019,^[14] 2020^[15]
• Supercopa Uruguaya: 2019^[16]

New York City FC

• Campeones Cup: 2022^[17]
• MLS Cup: 2021^[18]

Uruguay U20

• South American Games silver medal: 2018^[19]