Melanie Barcenas

Melanie Barcenas (born October 30, 2007)[2] is an American professional soccer player for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). In 2023, she became the youngest player ever to play in the NWSL, at the age of 15 years and 177 days.

Melanie Barcenas
Barcenas with the San Diego Wave in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (2007-10-30) October 30, 2007
Place of birth San Diego, California, U.S.
Height 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 San Diego Wave FC
Number 25
Youth career
0000–2023 San Diego Surf
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– San Diego Wave FC 7 (0)
International career‡
2022– United States U17 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 15, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of August 31, 2022

Early life

Barcenas was born and raised in San Diego, California.[3][4] At age 10, she attended a United States women's national soccer team match against Brazil in Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, and accompanied the United States players out onto the pitch before the match. She asked forward Alex Morgan, her favorite player, for a jersey after the match, which Morgan gave her.[1]

Barcenas played during her youth career with San Diego Surf.[1][3] She was part of the Surf under-8 team that won the 2014 Albion Cup National Soccer Showcase in San Diego[5] and the leading goalscorer for the Surf's under-12 team at the 2019 Far West President's Cup in Norco, California, which the Surf won on two goals by Barcenas in the championship match.[6]

Club career

On March 21, 2023, Barcenas signed a three-year contract with San Diego Wave FC at the age of 15 years and 138 days. This contract made her the youngest-ever NWSL signee, breaking the record set by Chloe Ricketts earlier in the month (15 years and 283 days). She made her first appearance with the team during a pre-season match against Angel City FC on March 18, 2023.[1][4]

Barcenas made her NWSL regular-season debut on April 29, 2023, in a 3–1 loss to the Orlando Pride, entering as a substitute in the 72nd minute. Her appearance, somewhat delayed by an illness, nonetheless made her the youngest NWSL player ever to appear in a regular-season match (15 years and 177 days).[7][8] One of her Wave teammates is Alex Morgan, whose shirt she had received as a fan, and the Wave's venue is on the former site of Qualcomm Stadium's parking lot.[1]

International career

On January 17, 2022, Barcenas attended training camp for the Mexico national under-17 team.[9][10]

On April 11, 2022, Barcenas was the youngest player named to the initial roster of the United States national under-17 team for the 2022 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship,[11] but was forced to withdraw before the start of the tournament due to an ankle injury.[12] She was called into United States under-17 friendlies in August 2022[13] and under-16 training camp in October 2022.[14]

In February 2023, Barcenas played in two exhibition games with the United States under-17 team.[4]

Career statistics
As of October 15, 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Playoffs[lower-alpha 2] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
San Diego Wave FC 2023 NWSL 7000—70
Career total 70000070
  1. Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
  2. Includes NWSL Playoffs

References
  1. Krasovic, Tom (March 26, 2023). "Column: Wave sign 15-year-old San Diegan". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  2. "United States Women's Under-17 Roster". CONCACAF. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  3. Williams, Madison (March 21, 2023). "Wave's Melanie Barcenas Becomes Youngest Player in NWSL History". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  4. "Melanie Barcenas youngest player ever to sign with NWSL team". Spectrum News. Associated Press. March 22, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023. San Diego Wave forward Melanie Barcenas controls the ball during a preseason soccer match against Angel City FC Saturday, March 18, 2023, in San Diego.
  5. "San Diego Surf Academy Select GU8 win soccer showcase". Del Mar Times. The Baltimore Sun. July 29, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  6. Rubin, Gideon (July 12, 2019). "Unselfishness pays off for San Diego Surf U12 girls team in Far West Regional Championships". Del Mar Times. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  7. Yang, Steph (April 30, 2023). "San Diego Wave's Melanie Barcenas, 15, becomes youngest to play in NWSL game: How did she fare?". The Athletic. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  8. Stone, Ken (April 30, 2023). "San Diego Wave Is Pounded by Pride, Falls 3-1 to Winless Orlando at Home". Times of San Diego. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  9. "La SNM Femenil Sub -17 inició concentración" [The Sub-17 Women's SNM began concentration] (Press release) (in Spanish). FMF. January 17, 2022.
  10. "Solo una felina" [Just one feline]. Once. January 17, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  11. "USA roster unveiled for 2022 Concacaf Women's U-17 Championship". SoccerWire. April 11, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  12. "Five Things to Know About the 2022 CONCACAF Women's U17 Championship" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. April 21, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  13. "U.S. U-17 Women's Youth National Team roster unveiled for Spain trip". SoccerWire. August 16, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  14. "U.S. U-16 Women's Youth National Team heads to Nike World Headquarters for training camp". SoccerWire. October 19, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
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