Fidel Barajas
Fidel Barajas Juarez Jr. (born April 5, 2006) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for USL Championship club Charleston Battery. Born in the United States, he is a youth international for Mexico. Club career
Born in Sacramento, California, Barajas had been part of the youth academies at both Sacramento Republic and San Jose Earthquakes before signing a professional contract with USL Championship club Charleston Battery on September 3, 2022. On October 1, Barajas made his professional debut for the Battery in their 6–3 defeat at Hartford Athletic, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute and recording one assist. He made his first start on October 8 against Indy Eleven, registering another assist in the 4-1 loss. Barajas made three total appearances in 2022. On March 25, 2023, Barajas scored his first professional goal in a 3–0 win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies, in the 3rd minute, and also added an assist in the second half. He was subsequently named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for his performance against Tampa Bay. Barajas entered the league record books on July 22, 2023, with a two-assist match against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, becoming the fourth-youngest player to achieve the feat. He turned in another noteworthy performance on September 22 against FC Tulsa with the first brace of his professional career, becoming the ninth-youngest player in league history to record a two-goal game. He ended the regular season with four goals and nine assists, the latter being one away from the league lead, and was named Players' Choice Young Player of the Year by the USL Players Association. On 11 October 2023, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide. International career
Barajas has represented both the United States and Mexico youth national teams. Barajas competed in a UEFA Development Tournament in May 2022 with the USYNT, playing against the youth squads of Portugal, Italy and Belgium. He tallied an assist in the match against Belgium, a 0–3 victory, and also played against the youth teams of Argentina and Uruguay. For Mexico, Barajas played for the Mexico U-17's at the International Dream Cup in Japan in June 2022. He featured in matches against Japan, South Korea, and Uruguay, scoring one goal against South Korea and contributing two assists against Uruguay. Barajas rejoined Mexico in October 2022 for the UNCAF FIFA Forward U-16 Tournament in Honduras. Fidel appeared in all four matches, scoring one goal and contributing four assists, as Mexico ended as runners-up in the tournament final. Barajas was selected for the 2023 CONCACAF U-17 Championship by Mexico and helped lead them to win the tournament. He started all seven matches and contributed three goals and five assists. He played 74 minutes in the final, against the U.S., and had a hand in setting up two of Mexico's three goals to lift the trophy in Guatemala City. In addition to winning the title, Barajas and Mexico earned qualification for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia in the following November. Career statistics

Club

Honours
Charleston Battery
USL Players Association USLC Young Player of the Year: 2023

Mexico U17
CONCACAF U-17 Championship: 2023

References

External links
 Profile at Charleston Battery

2006 births
Living people
Soccer players from Sacramento, California
Mexican men's footballers
Mexico men's youth international footballers
American men's soccer players
United States men's youth international soccer players
Men's association football forwards
Charleston Battery players
USL Championship players