Orlendis Benítez

Orlendis Carlos Benítez Hernández (born 26 November 1996) is a Cuban professional footballer who plays for the Simcoe County Rovers in League1 Ontario.

Playing career
He began his career in his native Cuba with FC La Habana. During the 2018–19 season, he was named the Best Player of the Campeonato Nacional de Fútbol de Cuba.

In 2021 and 2022, he played for Vaughan Azzurri in League1 Ontario. In June 2022, he joined Canadian Premier League club Forge FC on a short-term loan. He made his debut for Forge on 12 June against Pacific FC.

In February 2023, he signed with the Simcoe County Rovers in League1 Ontario. He was named the L1O Midfielder of the Year and a First Team All-Star in 2023.

International career
In late August 2019, he received his first call-up to the Cuba national football team for their 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League matches against Canada in September. However, ahead of the match, he defected from the squad to settle in Canada and not return to Cuba, with the help of his uncle (whom he had never met) who was a baseball player who had also defected while in Canada.