Matías Medina was born in Montevideo. He turned 19 in February of this year, and just a few weeks later he was starting the first semester of his degree program in Architecture at Universidad ORT Uruguay in Universidad ORT Uruguay. At the same time, Medina has his sights set on another career: professional soccer.
"The soccer player and economist Diego Riolfo is a great example of how you can combine the two, and that's the path I want to follow: playing soccer while pursuing my degree at the same time."
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Where did you train as a soccer player?
I started playing soccer when I was very young, around five or six years old. My first team was Rincón de Carrasco, where I played in the youth leagues until I was old enough to play in the U-16 division. It wasn’t until then that I moved on to the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF).
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Which teams did you play for in the youth leagues?
My first youth team was Fénix. It was actually the first team I trained with, because I couldn't continue due to scheduling conflicts with school. My class schedule prevented me from making it to some practices, so I went whenever I could, and that's how it was for months.
It wasn't until late that year that I tried out at Torque and got the job. The hours suited me better, and I stayed there for two years.
Then, in early 2020, I decided to try out for Wanderers, where I currently play.
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Which division are you in these days?
I'm currently in my second year in the fourth division, and we train alongside the third-division players. We've also played friendly matches against the first division, with my team.
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What position do you play?
I've always played up front; I don't really have a set position, so to speak. If I had to pick a favorite position—where I feel most comfortable—it would be right winger, where I can cut inside and shoot on goal, since I'm left-footed. But I've played pretty much every position in the attacking line.
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What is your goal in soccer this year?
Making my debut in the top flight. I'm working hard to be as prepared as possible for when the opportunity arises.
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How did your interest in architecture begin?
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always had a certain interest in architecture. I enjoyed putting together 3D puzzles, playing with Legos, and I had a knack for subjects like drawing. I always knew that, in addition to my passion for soccer, I also wanted to get involved in the world of architecture.
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How do you schedule your college classes, practices, and games?
It really is a mess. You don't know until the last minute whether you're going to train or play, and it throws all your plans off. Even more so during the pandemic, which has started and stopped several times. All that uncertainty makes it hard to strike a balance between training and studying. Right now, I'm taking classes in the morning and training in the afternoon.
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Have you heard about Diego Riolfo, who is a professional soccer player—also with Wanderers—and also holds a bachelor’s degree in economics?
I'm familiar with Diego's story. I don't know him personally, but last year he gave a talk to the entire fourth-division squad. The truth is, he's someone who commands a lot of respect among all the youth players.
It’s obviously a great example of how you can do both, and that’s the path I want to follow: playing soccer and pursuing my degree at the same time.
Luckily, these days you see more players who are also studying. Just like me, I have teammates at Wanderers who are in college. I think it's great to find something else you enjoy besides playing soccer.