Luis Paradela


Luis Paradela, is a Cuban professional football player who plays for Jocoro F.C. in the La Liga Mayor on loan from Universidad SC, and the Cuban national football team. He primarily plays as a forward, but can also be deployed as a winger or an attacking midfielder.

Club career

Youth career

Paradela began his youth career in his native Cuba with clubs FC Matanzas, FC Guantánamo, FC Isla de La Juventud, and FC Pinar del Rio.

Universidad SC

He joined Universidad SC in 2019, when he signed his first professional contract.
He made his competitive debut for Universidad SC in a 2–1 home defeat against Sansare FC on January 20, 2019, during the Clausura tournament of the 2018-2019 season. He scored his first goal and brace in a 4-1 home victory over Deportivo Achuapa on January 26, 2019, followed by another brace four days later in a 2-2 away tie against Aurora F.C..

Reno 1868

In August 2019, Paradela joined USL Championship side Reno 1868 on loan. Paradela became the first Cuban soccer player to play in the United States without defecting.

Jocoro F.C.

In January 2020, after being denied return to the USL Championship due to pressure from the Football Association of Cuba, and missing out on several offers in different countries due immigration bottlenecks, Paradela joined Jocoro F.C. in the La Liga Mayor on loan.

International career

On August 27, 2018 he made his official senior international debut in a friendly against Barbados. He scored 3 goals against Turks and Caicos Islands resulting in a biggest win for Cuba with an 11-0 victory on September 8, 2018.

Style of play

Paradela is a talented, fast, skillful, and hardworking player, with good technique, a short stature, and a strong build. He usually plays as a left winger, a position which enables him to beat opponents with the ball, cut into the centre, and shoot on goal from outside the area with his stronger right foot, although he is also an accurate striker of the ball with his left foot; he is also capable of creating chances for teammates as well as scoring goals himself. He is also known for his defensive contribution off the ball, and has been deployed anywhere along the front line, as well as in several midfield positions, most frequently as either an attacking or central midfielder, although he has also been used as a main or second striker on occasion.

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.8 September 2018Estadio Pedro Marrero, Havana, Cuba1–011–02019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification
2.8 September 2018Estadio Pedro Marrero, Havana, Cuba4–011–02019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification
3.8 September 2018Estadio Pedro Marrero, Havana, Cuba6–011–02019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification
4.12 October 2018Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada1–02–02019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification
5.24 March 2019Stade Sylvio Cator, Port-au-Prince, Haiti1–11–22019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification