Nicolás Cardona

Nicolás Cardona
Cardona with Hartford Athletic supporters in 2021
Personal information
Full name Nicolás Javier Cardona Ruiz
Date of birth (1999-02-11) February 11, 1999 (age 27)
Place of birth San Juan, Puerto Rico
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 El Paso Locomotive
Youth career
GPS Conquistadores de Guaynabo
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2019 Assumption Greyhounds 33 (2)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020 Almenara Atlètic 8 (0)
2020–2021 UB Conquense 0 (0)
2021 Hartford Athletic 21 (1)
2022–2023 Chattanooga Red Wolves 61 (5)
2024–2025 Miami FC 48 (0)
2026– El Paso Locomotive 0 (0)
International career‡
2018 Puerto Rico U20 5 (0)
2021– Puerto Rico 28 (1)
Medal record
Representing  Puerto Rico
Men's football
FIFA Series
Winner2026 Puerto Rico
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of October 25, 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of March 28, 2026

Nicolás Javier Cardona Ruiz (born February 11, 1999) is a Puerto Rican footballer who currently plays as a defender for El Paso Locomotive FC in the USL Championship.

International career

Cardona made his international debut for Puerto Rico in a 1–0 win over the Dominican Republic. He had previously played in friendlies with the team including a match against his future club, Hartford Athletic in 2019. On June 1, 2021, Cardona was named as captain for Puerto Rico in the team's 7–0 win over the Bahamas during 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Club career

Cardona signed with USL Championship team Hartford Athletic on February 22, 2021. He had previously spent time with the U23 team of Spanish club UB Conquense. Cardona scored his first professional goal on June 19, 2021 when he scored the go ahead goal in Hartford's 2–1 win over Loudoun United in the 94th minute.

On February 22, 2022, Cardona signed with USL League One club Chattanooga Red Wolves.

Cardona joined Miami FC on the USL Championship on December 18, 2023.

On March 3, 2026, El Paso Locomotive announced they had signed Cardona to a contract for 2026 USL Championship season.

Honours

Puerto Rico

References

  1. ↑ Nicolás Cardona at Soccerway
  2. 1 2 Athletic, Hartford (February 22, 2021). "Hartford Athletic Signs Puerto Rican International Nicolás Cardona". Hartford Athletic | Connecticut's Professional Soccer Team.
  3. ↑ "Nicolás Cardona is the new captain of the Blue Hurricane". fedefutbolpr.com. June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Unbelievable scene". hartfordathletic.com. June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  5. ↑ USLLeagueOne com Staff (February 22, 2022). "Red Wolves Sign Puerto Rican National Team Captain Nicolás Cardona". USL League One.
  6. ↑ Borer, Sarah. "Miami FC signs Defender Nicolás Cardona". MiamiFC.com. Miami FC. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  7. ↑ Staff, USLChampionship com (March 3, 2026). "El Paso Locomotive FC signs Puerto Rico international Nicolas Cardona". USL Championship. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  8. ↑ "🚨 ¡PUERTO RICO CAMPEÓN! 🤩🇵🇷🏆❤️⚽️🔥". Instagram. Retrieved March 29, 2026.