Andy Rojas Bio
Andy Emanuel Rojas Maroto, born on December 5, 2005, in Grecia, Alajuela, Costa Rica, is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a left midfielder or forward for Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls and the Costa Rica national team. A versatile and quick attacker, Rojas is nicknamed Tuti and gained international attention when he became the youngest Costa Rican player ever to score in FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He is widely viewed as one of the most promising young talents to emerge from Costa Rican football in recent years.
Early Life and Background
Andy Emanuel Rojas Maroto grew up in Grecia, a city in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica. From an early age, he was exposed to football through the country’s vibrant local scene, where the sport is played in neighborhoods, schools, and organized academies across nearly every community. His family has ties to the professional game, and his uncle, former Costa Rican international Óscar Rojas, helped nurture his early interest in becoming a professional footballer.
Rojas joined the youth ranks of C.S. Herediano, one of the most successful clubs in Costa Rica, where he refined his technical skills and tactical understanding. The Herediano academy is known for producing top-level Costa Rican talent, and Rojas progressed steadily through its age-group system as he developed into an attacking player capable of playing on the left side of midfield or as a forward.
Path to Soccer
Rojas’s rise through the Herediano youth system was swift, and he transitioned into senior football earlier than most players in his age group. On September 3, 2022, he made his professional debut for Herediano in a Liga FPD match against Guadalupe, a game Herediano won 5–0. The appearance made him one of the youngest players ever to feature for the club in a top-flight fixture.
During the 2023 season, Rojas continued to earn first-team opportunities and scored his first career league goal on August 27, 2023, against Alajuelense, even though Herediano lost the match 2–3. Later that year, he gained continental experience when he featured for Herediano in the 2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup against Comunicaciones, scoring in a 2–1 victory that helped his club finish first in the group stage.
Andy Rojas Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
Rojas began his senior career with C.S. Herediano in the Costa Rican Liga FPD, where he quickly adapted to the demands of professional football. His first career goal, scored against one of Costa Rica’s biggest clubs in Alajuelense, marked him out as an emerging attacking talent. He also earned continental minutes in the CONCACAF Central American Cup, giving him early exposure to regional competition beyond the domestic league.
By the end of 2023, Rojas had established himself as a regular contributor for Herediano, combining league appearances with cup and continental outings. His ability to play across the front line and his composure in front of goal convinced the coaching staff that he was ready for a more prominent role heading into 2024.
Herediano Breakthrough (2024)
The 2024 season was a defining year for Rojas at Herediano. On July 7, 2024, he helped the club win the 2024 Supercopa de Costa Rica, entering the match against Deportivo Saprissa in the 56th minute before scoring the equalizer in the 76th minute. The contest ended in a 1–1 draw, with Herediano lifting the trophy 5–4 on penalties.
Later that year, on December 27, 2024, Rojas was crowned champion of the Apertura 2024 with Herediano, defeating Alajuelense 3–2 on aggregate. He started both legs of the final, cementing his status as a key player for the club. His performances in these high-stakes matches underlined his knack for delivering in decisive moments.
New York Red Bulls Era (2025–Present)
On February 7, 2025, Rojas was loaned to New York Red Bulls II, the reserve side of the New York Red Bulls organization, with the Major League Soccer club holding an option to make the move permanent in 2026. He made his Red Bulls II debut on March 7, 2025, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Atlanta United 2, an immediate signal of his scoring touch.
On August 7, 2025, Rojas made his New York Red Bulls first-team debut, starting in a 1–1 Leagues Cup draw against Liga MX side FC Juárez. Less than two weeks later, on August 19, 2025, the club announced it had completed a permanent transfer from C.S. Herediano and signed him to a three-and-a-half-year MLS contract, formally moving him into the senior squad at one of the league’s most storied franchises.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rojas is recognized for his agility, quick feet, and ability to operate in tight spaces along the left side of the attack. Comfortable as a left midfielder or as a forward, he combines direct dribbling with a willingness to arrive in the box and finish, traits that have translated from Costa Rican football to the American game. His composure in front of goal, demonstrated from his early senior career, has been central to his rapid rise.
Notable Events and Milestones
Rojas’s standout milestone came on June 6, 2024, when he debuted for the senior Costa Rica national team against Saint Kitts and Nevis in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Entering as a substitute in the 81st minute, he scored just three minutes later in a 4–0 win, becoming the youngest Costa Rican player to score in a World Cup qualifier at 18 years, 6 months, and 1 day old. He was subsequently included in Costa Rica’s squad for the 2024 Copa América.
Andy Rojas Career Wins
Across his short but fast-moving career, Rojas has already collected significant team honours at club level. His Supercopa de Costa Rica title in 2024 and the Apertura 2024 championship with Herediano established him as a winner at a young age, while his permanent move to the New York Red Bulls in 2025 marked a major individual milestone in his progression.
Herediano Highlights
Rojas played a central role in Herediano’s 2024 trophy haul, including the Supercopa de Costa Rica win over Deportivo Saprissa and the Apertura 2024 league title against Alajuelense. He featured in both legs of the Apertura final as a starter and scored the crucial equalizer in the Supercopa victory, contributing directly to silverware in his first full year as a senior contributor.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his domestic achievements with Herediano, Rojas gained continental experience in the 2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup and scored in a group-stage win over Comunicaciones that helped Herediano top their group. On the international stage, his debut goal against Saint Kitts and Nevis stands as one of the most memorable individual performances by a young Costa Rican in recent qualifying history.
Andy Rojas Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Rojas comes from a family with connections to Costa Rican professional football. His uncle, Óscar Rojas, is a former Costa Rican international, and the influence of that footballing lineage helped shape Andy’s early interest in the sport and his pathway into the Herediano youth system.
Personal Life
Rojas is best known publicly through his football career and remains focused on his development as a young professional. Information about his broader personal life, including relationships and education, has not been publicly detailed, and he continues to be represented primarily through his on-field accomplishments in Costa Rica and Major League Soccer.
2025 Season Performance
Rojas’s 2025 season has been defined by his transition from Costa Rican football to Major League Soccer. After starting the year at Herediano, he joined New York Red Bulls II on loan in February and immediately made an impact, scoring on his debut against Atlanta United 2 in a 1–0 win. His form in the reserve side paved the way for his promotion to the senior squad.
In the summer of 2025, Rojas was integrated into the first team, making his New York Red Bulls debut in a Leagues Cup draw with FC Juárez before completing a permanent transfer from Herediano on a three-and-a-half-year MLS contract. The move signaled the club’s long-term commitment to developing him within one of MLS’s established player development pipelines.
Looking ahead, Rojas enters the remainder of the 2025 MLS campaign as part of the Red Bulls’ senior squad, with the option for further integration into the first team and continued opportunities in domestic and continental competition. His trajectory from Herediano youth product to MLS signing underscores the rapid nature of his rise in the sport.
