Inter Miami CF II defender and Academy product Cesar Abadia-Reda has been named as MLS NEXT Proās 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 IIās 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 Academyās U-17 side, made his professional debut in March as a member of Inter Miami IIās 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 Menās National Team training camp in August of 2022.Ā
This marks the first time an Inter Miami II player has been selected as MLS NEXT Proās RIsing Star of the Matchday.
