| Damian Rivera | |
| Full Name: | Damian Esau Rivera[1] |
| Birth Date: | 8 December 2002 |
| Birth Place: | Cranston, Rhode Island, United States |
| Height: | 1.78 m[2] |
| Currentclub: | Tampa Bay Rowdies (on loan from New England Revolution II) |
| Clubnumber: | 8 |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Youthyears1: | 2016–2019 |
| Youthclubs1: | New England Revolution |
| Years1: | 2019– |
| Clubs1: | New England Revolution |
| Caps1: | 17 |
| Goals1: | 1 |
| Years2: | 2020–2023 |
| Clubs2: | New England Revolution II |
| Caps2: | 52 |
| Goals2: | 16 |
| Years3: | 2024– |
| Clubs3: | → Tampa Bay Rowdies (loan) |
| Caps3: | 0 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2019 |
| Nationalteam1: | United States U17 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2023– |
| Nationalteam2: | Costa Rica U23 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 3 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 00:27, 8 June 2023 (UTC) |
| Ntupdate: | 00:27, 8 June 2023 (UTC) |
Damian Esau Rivera (born 8 December 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club New England Revolution.[3] Born in the United States, he represents Costa Rica at youth level.
In November 2019, Rivera signed a homegrown contract with the Revolution.[4] He made his professional debut with New England's USL League One affiliate on 7 August 2020 against Orlando City B.[5] In October of that season, Rivera scored his first professional goal, netting in the 83rd minute of a 4–0 victory over the Richmond Kickers.[6] He would finish his inaugural season with the club with two goals and an assist in 14 league appearances.[7]
On 30 April 2022, Rivera made his first MLS start, and subsequently scored his first MLS goal, in the Revolution's 2–0 win over Inter Miami CF. In the process he became only the third player in league history to score in the first minute of his first MLS start, and the first to do so since Real Salt Lake's Matias Mantilla on 29 August 2007.[8]
Born in the United States, Rivera is of Costa Rican and Guatemalan descent. He is a youth international for the United States, having represented the United States under-17s. He was called up to play for the Costa Rica under-23s at the 2023 Maurice Revello Tournament.[9]
New England Revolution