Luis Paradela

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Paradela and the second or maternal family name is Díaz.

Luis Paradela

Personal information
Full name	Luis Javier Paradela Díaz
Date of birth	(1997-01-21) 21 January 1997
Place of birth	Calimete, Cuba
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team	Universitatea Craiova (on loan from Deportivo Saprissa)
Number	7
Youth career
0000–2015	Matanzas
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2018	Matanzas
2019	USAC	12	(6)
2019	→ Reno 1868 (loan)	5	(0)
2020	Jocoro	6	(1)
2020–2021	Chalatenango	14	(1)
2021–2022	Santos de Guápiles	46	(12)
2022–	Deportivo Saprissa	82	(23)
2024–	→ Universitatea Craiova (loan)	12	(2)
International career‡
2018–	Cuba	41	(11)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 November 2024

Luis Javier Paradela Díaz (born 21 January 1997) is a Cuban professional footballer who plays for Liga I club Universitatea Craiova, on loan from Liga FPD club Saprissa and the Cuba national team. He primarily plays as a attacking midfielder, but can also be deployed as a winger.

Club career

Youth career

Paradela began his youth career in his native Cuba with club FC Matanzas.

Universidad SC

He joined Universidad SC in 2019, making 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. Due to the unique unprecedented process, the P1 VISA took months to be processed and was obtained with only single entry and for 90 days validity. The player was cleared to arrive in Reno only with 6 games remaining in the season.

Jocoro

In late 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, playing six matches before the cancellation of the Clausura 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chalatenango

In August 2020, after not being able to join Santos de Guápiles F.C. in Costa Rica due to the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions, Luis Paradela confirmed his commitment to play the Apertura 2020 with C.D. Chalatenango. The offer by Santos de Guápiles F.C. remained valid for the Clausura 2021.

Santos de Guápiles

In early January 2021, Paradela transferred to Santos de Guápiles in the Liga FPD debuting shortly after in a match against C.S. Cartaginés.

In 2022, Paradela was awarded the best foreign player of the 2021–22 season award for his excellent performance in the Apertura 2021. His participation in the Clausura 2022 was limited to 7 games only due to an immigration issue affecting several foreign players in Costa Rica, which also prevented him from participating in the Concacaf Champions League 2022 series against New York City FC.

Saprissa

Paradela was signed by Saprissa on a transfer from Santos in the summer of 2022 along with his offensive partner Javon East. He quickly established himself as a fans’ favorite, scoring 4 goals in his first 6 matches at the club.

International career

On 27 August 2018, Parabela made his official senior international debut for Cuba in a friendly against Barbados. He scored a hat-trick against Turks and Caicos Islands on 8 September 2018 in an 11–0 victory, helping Cuba to their biggest ever win.

Paradela was included in the best eleven of 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying and was among the top scorers with five goals.

International stats

As of match played 18 November 2024

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Cuba	2018	5	4
	2019	9	1
	2020	0	0
	2021	6	1
	2022	8	2
	2023	10	1
	2024	3	2
Total		41	11

Scores and results list Cuba's goal tally first.

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	8 September 2018	Estadio Pedro Marrero, Havana, Cuba	Turks and Caicos Islands	1–0	11–0	2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualification
2.				4–0
3.				6–0
4.	12 October 2018	Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada	Grenada	1–0	2–0
5.	24 March 2019	Stade Sylvio Cator, Port-au-Prince, Haiti	Haiti	1–1	1–2
6.	2 June 2021	Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores, Guatemala City, Guatemala	British Virgin Islands	1–0	5–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
7.	5 June 2022	Estadio Antonio Maceo, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba	Barbados	3–0	3–0	2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League B
8.	9 June 2022	Warner Park, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis	Antigua and Barbuda	1–0	2–0	2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League B
9.	4 July 2023	Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, United States	Canada	1–2	2–4	2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup
10.	15 November 2024	SKNFA Technical Center, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Kitts	Saint Kitts and Nevis	1–1	1–2	2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification play-in
11.	18 November 2024	Estadio Antonio Maceo, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba	Saint Kitts and Nevis	3–0	4–0	2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification play-in

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 midfielder, although he has also been used as a main or second striker on occasion.

Honours

Saprissa

• Liga FPD: 2022 Apertura, 2022 Clausura, 2023 Apertura, 2024 Clausura
• Costa Rican Cup runner-up: 2023
• Supercopa de Costa Rica: 2023
• Recopa de Costa Rica: 2023