César Araújo

César Nahuel Araújo Vilches (born 2 April 2001) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Orlando City and the Uruguay national team.

Montevideo Wanderers
Growing up in Cerrito, Montevideo, Araújo played for youth club Marconi FC before joining the academy at Montevideo Wanderers. On 1 August 2019, Araújo made his professional debut as a 68th-minute substitute in a 2–1 defeat to Brazilian side Corinthians in the 2019 Copa Sudamericana round of 16. He didn't make another senior appearance for 12 months until substituting on for his Uruguayan Primera División debut on 9 August 2020 in a 2–0 win against Boston River. At the end of the 2021 season, Araújo was named on the bench in the Primera División Team of the Year. He was also named Wanderers' Player of the Year in 2021.

Orlando City
On 7 January 2022, Araújo transferred to Major League Soccer team Orlando City for a reported $2,000,000 fee. He signed a three-year contract with an additional option year and joined as part of the new MLS U22 initiative. Having never previously scored a goal in his senior club career spanning 88 matches, Araújo scored his first goals on 27 July 2022 when he netted twice during a 5–1 victory over New York Red Bulls in a 2022 U.S. Open Cup semifinal.

International career
Araújo was named to multiple Uruguay under-20 training camps in 2020 and 2021.

On 7 January 2022, Araújo received his first senior Uruguay national team call-up as part of a 50-player preliminary roster for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. On 21 October 2022, he was named in Uruguay's 55-man preliminary squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Araújo made his debut on 5 June 2024 in a friendly against Mexico at the Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. He substituted Rodrigo Bentancur in the 89th minute as Uruguay won 4–0.

Personal life
Araújo has five siblings. His oldest brother, Maximiliano Araújo, is also a professional footballer for Toluca.

Club

 * Orlando City
 * U.S. Open Cup: 2022