He’s a designated player for the Seattle Sounders. Nelson Valdez wears the number 16 uniform. He is a forward on the team. Valdez was born on November 28, 1983 in Caaguazú, Paraguay. The 31-year-old weighs 160 pounds and stands at 5’10.

Valdez was signed on to play for the Sounders as a designated player in August of 2015. His status was pending due to his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate. The Sounders have two other Designated Players: Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins.

Valdez was playing for the German side Eintracht Frankfurt at the time of the announcement. Since playing for the sounders, Valdez has made seven game appearances during the regular season. Of those, he was able to start in five.  He played a total of 413 minutes on the field and scored one goal for the team out of five shots taken. Valdez has received no red cards, as well as no yellow cards, as of yet.

During his participation in post-season games, Valdez has played in a total of three games, starting in two of those. He played for 179 minutes, scoring one goal out of five shots taken. He was given no red or yellow cards during these games. Fans can enjoy an interview featuring Valdez following the Sounders’ victory over LA Galaxy online on October 20, 2015.

Although a rookie for the Sounders this past season, Valdez is no stranger to the game. The Paraguay National Team has boasted him as a player for years. He has earned 68 caps with the team. Twelve were international goals. He was present in not only every match during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but also during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Valdez’s parents, Antonio and Silvia, remain in Paraguay where he was born and raised. He has two children with his wife, Martynka Merscheder, whom he married in 2008. In addition to his soccer skills, Valdez demonstrates a great level of caring about those less fortunate than he has been, spearheading a foundation to help poverty stricken individuals in his home country. His wife Martynka helps run the charity from Paraguay. His two children are called Nelson Samuel and Tynka Noemi Beatha.

Fans of Valdez can find him at @Haedo18Valdez9. Although most of his posts are in Spanish, even non-Spanish speaking fans will enjoy his family photos and sports-related shares. Valdez himself speaks five languages fluently.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia