Raúl González | |
Fullname: | Raúl González III |
Birth Date: | 23 September 1994 |
Birth Place: | Ocean Springs, Mississippi, United States |
Height: | 1.73 m |
Position: | Midfielder |
Youthyears1: | 2007–2011 |
Youthclubs1: | Gulf Coast United |
Youthyears2: | 2012–2013 |
Youthclubs2: | IMG Academy |
Years1: | 2016 |
Caps1: | 7 |
Goals1: | 1 |
Years2: | 2017–2018 |
Caps2: | 56 |
Goals2: | 5 |
Years3: | 2019–2021 |
Caps3: | 27 |
Goals3: | 1 |
Collegeyears1: | 2013–2016 |
College1: | Memphis Tigers |
Collegecaps1: | 65 |
Collegegoals1: | 13 |
Nationalyears1: | 2021– |
Nationalteam1: | Puerto Rico |
Nationalcaps1: | 6 |
Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
Raúl González III (born 23 September 1994) is a Puerto Rican footballer who plays for USL Championship club Memphis 901 FC and the Puerto Rico national team. He is usually employed as a central or attacking midfielder.
From 2007 to 2011, González played youth soccer for Gulf Coast United's development program. In 2012 to 2013, he played at as a forward/midfielder for the U-18 IMG Academy. He also played four years of high school soccer for Ocean Springs High School. In addition, he was a varsity letter-winner for track, football and baseball.
Between his junior and senior years of college, González played in seven matches for the Premier Development League side, Des Moines Menace. He made seven appearances and tallied one goal for the Menace.[1]
On 30 March 2017, González signed a professional contract with the Richmond Kickers of the United Soccer League. He scored his first goal for the Kickers on 21 May 2017 in a 1–1 away draw at Rochester Rhinos.[2]
González joined USL Championship expansion team Memphis 901 FC ahead of the 2019 season. Unfortunately, he sustained a season-ending knee injury during a preseason friendly match against Louisville City FC on 20 February 2019.[3]
In October 2020, it was announced that González agreed to represent Puerto Rico internationally for the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification set to start in 2021.[4] He made his international debut on 19 January 2021, as a starter in a 1–0 away friendly win against the Dominican Republic.[5]