Cristian
Roldan
- Position Midfielder
- Number 16
- Date of Birth Jun 03 1995
- Hometown Pico Rivera, CA
- Height 5' 8"
- Club Seattle Sounders FC
Christian Roldan has used his superior ball-handling skills and ability to read the game to earn looks for the MNT. The high school standout was recruited by the University of Washington where he made 42 appearances and was critical in helping to lead the team to a PAC-10 title in 2013 earning him Soccer America National Freshman of the Year honors. At the 2015 MLS SuperDraft he was selected 16th overall by the Seattle Sounders where he has been a regular starter. Roldan made his debut at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, starting in a group stage match against Martinique and has gone on to become a solid contributor to the MNT at the start of the 2022 World Cup cycle.
ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY
Roldan’s talents playing in his hometown of Pico Rivera got him noticed from an early age, with his juggling skills landing him a spot in a commercial at nine years old. He was offered valuable scholarships to play for prestigious private high schools in the area but instead opted to play for his local public school, El Rancho High School. Owing to his strong sense of loyalty to the community he grew up in, he felt an obligation to remain local and play where his parents, friends, and neighbors could more easily watch him.
It had been quite some time since the high school boys’ team had won a championship. During Roldan’s tenure, they won state championships three of the four years he played and he was honored with the National High School Player of the Year award in 2013.
FINDING THE AMERICAN DREAM
Roldan was born in Artesia, California to father Cesar from Guatemala and mother Ana from El Salvador. They came to the United States in the hopes of providing their sons with opportunities unavailable to them in their home countries. Given the option to play for both of his parents’ birth countries, he instead held out for the opportunity to play for the United States.
Throughout the early part of his career, whenever the National Anthem played before any match he took part in, Roldan chose not to hold his hand over his heart until he settled on which National Team he would play for. That came on July 12, 2017, when Roldan was officially cap-tied to the USA by virtue of starting the MNT’s Concacaf Gold Cup match against Martinique. In seeing Cristian hold his hand over his heart for the “Star Spangled Banner,” his parents felt an enormous sense of pride, knowing their sacrifices and his hard work had given him an opportunity to fulfill the dream of playing for the MNT.
RUNS IN THE FAMILY
It isn’t just Roldan’s parents that have joined him in his soccer journey. His older brother Cesar Jr. is a trainer with MLS’ LA Galaxy. His younger brother Alex followed in Cristian’s footsteps also playing at his high school alma mater, winning another state championship and earning league MVP honors his senior year. Alex joined Cristian at the Seattle Sounders, having been drafted in 2018.
ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY
Roldan’s talents playing in his hometown of Pico Rivera got him noticed from an early age, with his juggling skills landing him a spot in a commercial at nine years old. He was offered valuable scholarships to play for prestigious private high schools in the area but instead opted to play for his local public school, El Rancho High School. Owing to his strong sense of loyalty to the community he grew up in, he felt an obligation to remain local and play where his parents, friends, and neighbors could more easily watch him.
It had been quite some time since the high school boys’ team had won a championship. During Roldan’s tenure, they won state championships three of the four years he played and he was honored with the National High School Player of the Year award in 2013.
FINDING THE AMERICAN DREAM
Roldan was born in Artesia, California to father Cesar from Guatemala and mother Ana from El Salvador. They came to the United States in the hopes of providing their sons with opportunities unavailable to them in their home countries. Given the option to play for both of his parents’ birth countries, he instead held out for the opportunity to play for the United States.
Throughout the early part of his career, whenever the National Anthem played before any match he took part in, Roldan chose not to hold his hand over his heart until he settled on which National Team he would play for. That came on July 12, 2017, when Roldan was officially cap-tied to the USA by virtue of starting the MNT’s Concacaf Gold Cup match against Martinique. In seeing Cristian hold his hand over his heart for the “Star Spangled Banner,” his parents felt an enormous sense of pride, knowing their sacrifices and his hard work had given him an opportunity to fulfill the dream of playing for the MNT.
RUNS IN THE FAMILY
It isn’t just Roldan’s parents that have joined him in his soccer journey. His older brother Cesar Jr. is a trainer with MLS’ LA Galaxy. His younger brother Alex followed in Cristian’s footsteps also playing at his high school alma mater, winning another state championship and earning league MVP honors his senior year. Alex joined Cristian at the Seattle Sounders, having been drafted in 2018.
