Raúl Mario RuidÃÂaz Misitich (; born 25 July 1990) is a Peruvian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Liga 1 club Atlético Grau.
His nickname, "The Flea", stems from his small frame and his ability to get past defenders with great ball control. RuidÃÂaz began his career at Universitario de Deportes in Peru and later played for Chilean Primera División club Universidad de Chile and Monarcas Morelia in Liga MX between stints with Universitario. He joined Seattle Sounders FC in 2018 and became their all-time top goalscorer in Major League Soccer play during his seven seasons with the club.
RuidÃÂaz grew up in the Lima neighbourhood of Villa MarÃÂa del Triunfo. He is of maternal Croatian descent. He made his first steps in club football at Primera División club Universitario de Deportes aged eight. In January 2008, the player was promoted to the first adult team and immediately loaned to América Cochahuayco, the club's filial team, directed by the coach Héctor Chumpitaz, a historic football player of the Peruvian national team in the 1982 World Cup. His first professional goal was against Hijos de Acosvinchos. After the arrival of Jorge Gonzáles, he began to play as a striker.
RuidÃÂaz made his professional debut in the Peruvian First Division on 4 October 2009 against Total Chalaco in the Monumental, at the age of 19. The coach at the time, Juan Reynoso, decided to play him from the start of the match, which finished 2âÂÂ1 in favor of Universitario. He finished the season by scoring 3 goals in 7 games in the Peruvian 2009 Championship and also won his first National title with Universitario de Deportes. RuidÃÂaz has often been called pequeño Messi (little Messi) in his home country, mainly because of his ability to charge a player one on one, as well as his unique technical skills. Ruidiaz was listed among the greatest talents of South American football by O Globo Brazilian newspaper in 2010.
On 20 January 2012, RuidÃÂaz was appointed as new player of the Primera División club Universidad de Chile. Despite some early success with his new club, Raul's lack of match fitness and the emergence of young talented strikers at the club RuidÃÂaz fell out of favour with the Universidad de Chile manager towards the end of the season. On 15 July 2012, RuidÃÂaz and club Universidad de Chile had mutually agreed to release him.
After participating in the Copa América Centenario, RuidÃÂaz signed for Mexican club Monarcas Morelia on a season-long loan deal for a reported fee of â¬105,000. He was presented to the media in Morelia on 1 July 2016 and was given the number 9 shirt. RuidÃÂaz made his Liga MX debut on 15 July 2016 replacing Diego Valdés in a 2âÂÂ0 away loss to Tijuana. The following week, in Morelia's home opener, RuidÃÂaz scored his first goal in a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Querétaro. On 1 August 2016, RuidÃÂaz scored a hat-trick in a 4âÂÂ2 away win against Santos Laguna. RuidÃÂaz ended the season with 11 goals which made him the season's top scorer along with Tijuana's Dayro Moreno.
Before Morelia's Clausura 2017 home opener against Tijuana, RuidÃÂaz was honored with a commemorative plaque at Estadio Morelos for being the club's first Liga MX scoring champion. RuidÃÂaz later scored the second goal in Morelia's 2âÂÂ0 opening match victory over Tijuana. Later that night, it was announced Morelia signed RuidÃÂaz to a permanent three-year transfer. Later in the season RuidÃÂaz scored his second hat-trick for Morelia in a 4âÂÂ0 win over UNAM. In the final game of the season, RuidÃÂaz scored a crucial game-winning goal in a 2âÂÂ1 away victory over Monterrey. The goal helped Morelia avoid relegation, helped the team qualify to the liguilla and helped RuidÃÂaz win his second straight Liga MX scoring title.
On 6 June 2018, it was reported that RuidÃÂaz would be signing a contract with MLS side Seattle Sounders FC. The signing was made official on 29 June, as the club announced Ruidiaz as a Designated Player. He set club records for being the fastest to score 10 goals in MLS play (in 14 games), and scoring in the most consecutive appearances (8 games).
On 10 November 2019, RuidÃÂaz scored Seattle's final goal in a 3âÂÂ1 home win over Toronto FC in the MLS Cup Final.
In the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Final, he scored two goals in a 3âÂÂ0 win in the second leg against UNAM, in which his club secured their first title in the competition by winning 5âÂÂ2 on aggregate. This was the first time (and as of March 2025, still the only time) that an MLS team has won the CONCACAF Champions League.
RuidÃÂaz became the top goalscorer across all competitions in the team's MLS era on March 23, 2024, surpassing Fredy Montero's 79-goal record with the Sounders.
On 4 December 2024, the Sounders announced that RuidÃÂaz would not return for an eighth season after his contract was not renewed.
On 3 April 2025, Atlético Grau of the Peruvian Primera División signed RuidÃÂaz to a one-year contract.
RuidÃÂaz made his international debut on 7 June 2011 in a 0âÂÂ0 draw against Japan in Niigata in the Kirin Cup. In the same month, RuidÃÂaz was called up by coach Sergio Markarián to represent Peru in the Copa América held in Argentina, RuidÃÂaz was a member of the Peruvian squad that finished 3rd, after a 4âÂÂ1 victory over Venezuela, RuidÃÂaz made only one appearance in the tournament in a match against Chile in which Peru lost 1âÂÂ0.
RuidÃÂaz was named as a member of Peru's 23-man squad for the Copa América Centenario in 2016. In Peru's third group match against Brazil on 12 June 2016, RuidÃÂaz scored a controversial goal, a winner in the 75th minute by guiding the ball into the net with his arm. After a lengthy discussion between the referee and his assistant, the goal was allowed to stand, and Brazil went on to lose 1âÂÂ0, resulting in their elimination from the tournament. The result sent Peru through to the knockout stage as winners of Group B.
In May 2018, he was named in Peru's provisional 24 man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Universitario de Deportes
Universidad de Chile
Seattle Sounders FC
Peru
Individual