Rodrigo Faria

Rodrigo Faria (born February 24, 1977 in Rio de Janeiro) is a Brazilian soccer striker, who is currently living back in his native Rio de Janeiro.

Rodrigo Faria (right) with players of the MetroStars

Faria, a once youth player in the Flamengo and Vasco da Gama system, came to the United States to attend Concordia College, with soccer an afterthought. During college, he also played for the Westchester Flames in the Premier Development League. He was discovered by the MetroStars and then drafted 13th overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft (it has been said that Metro head coach Octavio Zambrano had Faria tank the player combine to fall in the draft).

In his first season with the Metros, Faria tied the MLS rookie record (since broken) by scoring eight goals (and two assists, plus added three goals and an assist in the playoffs) on the way to being named the MLS Rookie of the Year. In an expanded role in 2002, he upped his total to twelve goals (plus two in the US Open Cup) and five assists to lead the club in scoring. However, his Metro career was cut short when the team obtained head coach Bob Bradley from the Chicago Fire; Faria had to depart to Chicago as compensation.

Rodrigo split the 2003 MLS season between the Fire and the San Jose Earthquakes, without scoring a regular season goal. He did score the overtime game-winner for the Quakes in the dramatic comeback against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS Cup semifinals. San Jose went on to win the cup, but that was it in MLS for Faria, as he was cut after the season; his frequent unannounced absences were deemed not worthy his contribution on the field.

Honors

Individual

• MLS Rookie of the Year: 2001