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Mauricio Pineda
Personal information
Date of birth (1997-10-17) October 17, 1997 (age 26)
Place of birth Bolingbrook, Illinois, United States
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Position(s) Center-back, defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Chicago Fire
Number 22
Youth career
2015–2016 Chicago Fire
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 North Carolina Tar Heels 79 (17)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020– Chicago Fire 122 (7)
International career
2021 United States U23 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 14, 2024

Mauricio Pineda (born October 17, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defensive midfielder for Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire.

Club career[edit]

College and youth[edit]

Pineda was part of the Chicago Fire academy,[2] before attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he played college soccer from 2016 to 2019, making 79 appearances, scoring 17 goals and tallying 8 assists.[3]

While at college, Pineda also appeared for USL League Two sides Tobacco Road FC[4] and North Carolina FC U23.[5]

Chicago Fire[edit]

On January 17, 2020, Pineda signed a one-year contract with Chicago Fire as a Homegrown Player, with options for a further three seasons.[6] Pineda made his professional debut on March 1, 2020, starting in a 2–1 loss to Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field.[7]

On July 14, 2020, Pineda earned his first assist and scored his first professional goal for the Fire, also against Seattle in the MLS is Back Tournament. The Fire won 2–1 with Pineda's goal the game-winner.[8] The following day he signed a contract for the club until 2021.[9]

International career[edit]

In December 2020 after his first professional season in MLS, Pineda was called up to the United States national team, the first call up he'd received at any age level.[10] Pineda was named to the final 20-player United States under-23 roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship in March 2021.[11]

Personal life[edit]

Born in the United States, Pineda is of Mexican descent.[12] He is the younger brother of former soccer player Victor Pineda, who also played for Chicago Fire.[6]

Career statistics[edit]

Club[edit]

As of match played July 14, 2024[13]
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chicago Fire 2020 MLS 23 3 23 3
2021 29 1 29 1
2022 27 1 27 1
2023 24 1 4 0 3[a] 0 31 1
2024 19 1 19 1
Total 122 7 4 0 0 0 3 0 129 7
Career total 122 7 4 0 0 0 3 0 129 7
  1. ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup

References[edit]

External links[edit]

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