Maykel Galindo

Professional

FC Dallas acquired the rights to Maykel Galindo in exchange for a 2012 first round supplemental draft selection from Chivas USA on April 1, 2011.Originally from Villa Clara, Cuba, Galindo sought political asylum in the U.S. while participating in the 2005 Gold Cup with the Cuban National Team. He left the team hotel on July 10, 2005, just one day after scoring Cuba’s only goal in a 3-1 loss to Costa Rica at Seattle’s Qwest Field.

Galindo joined Chivas USA on Feb. 8, 2007, from the Seattle Sounders, then of the USL-1, where he had played in 2005 and 2006. Galindo was the Goats' leading scorer in 2007, with 12 goals, and scored once in 2008, playing in 10 games (5 starts) while recovering from three sports hernia surgeries. At the beginning of the 2009 season, Galindo continued to recover from off season injuries, but finished the season playing in 23 games (15 starts) with four goals and two assists. Galindo played in both Super Clásico playoff games against the Galaxy that season, scoring one goal...

2008: Galindo scored a late-game equalizer in the first match of the season, a 1-1 draw at FC Dallas, but struggled with a sports hernia throughout the season and finished the year with one goal and two assists in 10 games... 2007: Led Chivas USA with 12 regular-season goals and five assists, earning the team’s Budweiser Golden Boot award and finishing fifth overall in the MLS in goals scored. Galindo played one postseason game for Chivas USA, logging 90 minutes.

Other Pro Experience
Galindo started his professional career in the United States with the Seattle Sounders. In one and-a-half seasons (2005-2006) with the USL First Division Sounders, Galindo played 1,023 minutes and scored five goals. His most-important goal came in the 2005 USL First Division Championship game where Galindo netted a game-tying goal to send the match into overtime. Seattle would eventually win the match in penalty kicks. Galindo previously played for FC Villa Clara in Cuba from 2001-2005.

International
Galindo played a total of 35 games with the Cuban National Team from 2002-2005, scoring 12 goals before defecting during the 2005 Gold Cup in the United States.

Personal
Started playing soccer when he was eight years old – when a coach came to his school and asked who wanted to play, Maykel raised his hand… Family still lives in Cuba and includes his father, Rolando, his mother, Cristina, and, “most important,” his grandmother, Isabel…His favorite food is Cuban food, especially rice, beans, and fried bananas.