David Rodríguez - 2025 Golden Scarf Nominee
They say you should never fall in love with loan players.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
From the moment David Rodríguez first took to the pitch at TD Place on a cold and rainy April afternoon against the Halifax Wanderers, you knew he was going to be something special. Only a few days prior, I had the pleasure of meeting him at the season seat member welcome event, where I was tabling for CCSG. I made a remark along the lines of, “I can’t wait to see you do well this season”. With humility, and a sly grin, the then 22-year-old, from San Luis Potosi, thanked me and said he would try his best.
By minute 60 of the first game, he would make good on that statement. Taking down a lovely lofted ball from Sam Salter, Rodríguez dribbled around Rayane Yesli and slotted home the first of Atlético Ottawa’s 63 goals (as of the time of writing) for the 2025 season across all competitions. He’d add on a goal and an assist the very next week in a 4-1 drubbing of Vancouver FC, and would continue that torrid pace throughout the campaign.
At the time of writing, Rodríguez has 23 goal contributions in all competitions through 31 matches in all competitions. The 12 goals he’s scored have come in a variety of ways – a number of efforts resembling his initial strike, where he dribbled around defenders and the goalkeeper before slotting it home, and others from outside the box curling or being smashed into the netting. This would be a club record by a significant margin were it not for the exploits of the striker he has partnered with on so many of his goal involvements this season.
This output is emblematic of the shift in mentality that Atlético Ottawa has had in its football this season. We can certainly attribute this change to the new manager, Diego Mejía, but for it to manifest on the pitch, the players needed to be able to execute the game plan being set forth. With the rest of the front five being returning players from last season, the difference on the pitch has been Rodríguez, whose creativity has manifested not only in the previously mentioned goal contributions but also in the space available for the rest of the attackers on the team to flourish.
It’s clear that his teammates enjoy playing with him, and that enthusiasm has manifested in the stands as well. No one on this team plays with the type of dynamism that Rodríguez brings to the pitch on a weekly basis. The collective murmur rises when David gets on the ball because there really hasn’t been a player this exciting, who can generate something from absolutely nothing, in the history of this club. It is remarkable that we’ve been given the chance to see a player like this perform week in, week out, missing only one game of the 30 that have been played in all competitions. His footwork is magnificent, with a number of defenders falling victim to the close control he maintains, evoking the old adage that he seemingly has the ball on a string.
While David’s season has been overwhelmingly positive, there was one moment that stood out negatively among the myriad of successes. I’m, of course, talking about the red card against Forge FC in May. Even then, this served far more as a rallying point for us as fans behind David rather than a deluge of criticism. The frustration on display echoed the collective frustration of the fanbase regarding the circumstances of that first matchup against Forge, and the continued excellence that he has displayed in the final three quarters of the season more than makes up for one moment of letting his emotions get the better of him. Seeing a player who can manage the game in a new country and adapt to the different style of play, including managing the officials, is a sharp contrast to some of the international players who have tried to ply their trade in the CPL.
There are many worthy candidates for the Golden Scarf this season. In a year where the team has lost only ten percent of their games while winning over 50 percent, there will undoubtedly be a number of significant contributors. The other two nominees have proven themselves well: Ingham with his sustained success from previous years, and Salter with his renaissance. But everything about this team suggests that David Rodríguez is the lynchpin who has allowed Diego Mejía’s tactical approach to flourish throughout the 2025 season. He has provided a platform for Sam Salter’s skills to evolve, and the attention he draws from opposing defences has created space for Gabi Antinoro, Kevin dos Santos, and Ballou Tabla to demonstrate their creativity and attacking prowess.
It’s impossible to prove the counterfactual of what this team would look like without Rodríguez in Mejía’s system. The few glimpses we have had – whether that’s when he’s been substituted late in games or during the match against Halifax, for which he was suspended – suggest that this system needs a player of his calibre to truly make everything work. Regardless, he has been an electric element to a team that is among the most dynamic and exciting to ever grace the CPL and certainly the most entertaining Atlético Ottawa side in history. The smile on his face has been shared by the entire fanbase as they’ve watched this team score for fun and remain unbeaten at home this season. His success has basically guaranteed he won’t be around next year and will most likely be getting an opportunity with his hometown club in Liga MX. As such, we should celebrate him while we still can.
That celebration will of course be focused primarily on his accomplishments on the field, but David's contributions extend beyond his play. This season has seen a significant push to build a connection with our Mexican sister club, Atlético de San Luis, and, as such, the Mexican community within the city of Ottawa. David has been crucial, as one of the many Mexican players on the roster, to fostering this relationship with his presence at various community events. His imprint on the community has extended past just building that relationship, as he has been a fixture with various outreach opportunities, tying himself to the city and making himself available to the fans on a consistent basis. He has endeared himself to all of us because of his play, but also his attitude and approachability off the field has supplemented that excellently. Taking these two things into consideration makes him the ideal candidate to take home the golden scarf.
You don’t choose who you fall in love with, and sometimes that feeling is fleeting. Diego Espejo captivated me for two full seasons, and David has done so in 2025. David is a beacon of brilliance even among a sea of stars that have shone throughout the summer. And as it should be, he who has been the brightest should be rewarded with our highest honour.
About Patrick
Having joined CCSG in 2022, Patrick started his footie career playing at the age of 4 and began watching the pros around the same time. While the first pro team he supported was Manchester United, as soon as Atlético Ottawa came to town, he was immediately on board. His wealth of footie knowledge has been a constant asset, along with his role as caretaker for ATO's Wikipedia pages.
