Inter Miami CF II defender and Academy product Cesar Abadia-Reda has been named as MLS NEXT Pro’s Rising Star of the Matchday for Matchday 5 of the 2023 regular season. The 17-year-old earns Rising Star of the Matchday honors after his influential performance in Inter Miami II’s 4-3 win over Huntsville City FC at DRV PNK Stadium over Huntsville City FC on Sunday.
Abadia-Reda, nicknamed Cheche, entered the match as a second-half substitute in the 64th minute and got his name on the scoresheet just 20 seconds later to put the team ahead 3-2 on the scoresheet after rallying to comeback from a 0-2 deficit. The goal was his first for Inter Miami II and the first overall of his professional career.
The defender, who also currently turns out for the Academy’s U-17 side, made his professional debut in March as a member of Inter Miami II’s starting XI for its 2023 MLS NEXT Pro regular season opener against Chicago Fire II. In all, Abadia-Reda has recorded 4 MLS NEXT Pro appearances, 2 of them starts, in his first season as a professional.
Abadia-Reda joined the Inter Miami Academy ahead of the 2021-22 season and went on to enjoy a highly successful first year with the U-17 team last year, reaching the semifinals at the 2022 Generation adidas Cup, helping the team finish at , and being part of the squad that competed at the MLS NEXT Cup U-17 tournament. At the international level, he was called up for a U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team training camp in August of 2022.
This marks the first time an Inter Miami II player has been selected as MLS NEXT Pro’s RIsing Star of the Matchday.
