Fafà Picault Bio
Fabrice Jean-Ian “Fafà” Picault (born 23 February 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami CF and the Haiti national team. Standing 173 cm tall, he is widely recognized for his quickness, technical vision, and consistent scoring touch across multiple leagues in North America and Europe. Over the course of his career, Picault has represented clubs in the United States, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Canada, while also earning caps for both the United States and Haiti at the international level.
Early Life and Background
Fafà Picault was born on 23 February 1991 in Manhattan, New York, United States, to Haitian immigrants. He comes from a multigenerational football lineage. His grandfather played for the Haiti national team, while his father, Leslie Picault, played professional indoor soccer with the Philadelphia Fever in the Major Indoor Soccer League.
Picault grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, near Riverbank State Park along the Hudson River, where he played his first organized game. At the age of nine, his parents moved with him to Miami for a change of life. When he was sixteen, he relocated to Italy to begin his youth career, where he learned Italian and connected with the local culture.
Path to Soccer
Picault started his senior career path with the youth and reserve team of Italian club Cagliari, spending five years in Sardinia before parting ways with the club. During his time in Italy, he has openly discussed being subjected to frequent racism, an experience that shaped his resilience and perspective on the game.
After his stint with Cagliari, Picault returned to the United States and attended the NASL player combine in 2012. He impressed scouts working for the Tampa Bay Rowdies and signed a one-year deal with the club. This opportunity marked his entry into professional football in North America and laid the foundation for a journeyman career across multiple leagues.
Fafà Picault Career
Early Career (2012–2014)
Prior to starting his career with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Picault suffered a broken foot bone that sidelined him through the preseason and the first month and a half of the regular season. He made his professional debut in a 3–2 victory against Atlanta Silverbacks on 19 May 2012. Making 18 appearances in league play, Picault helped the Rowdies win Soccer Bowl 2012, though he registered no goals. After the end of the 2012 NASL Season, the Rowdies declined the contract option for Picault.
He returned to the NASL for a second spell with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers ahead of the 2014 season. He made his debut for the Strikers on 12 April in a 2–0 win over Ottawa Fury, and he scored his first goal for Fort Lauderdale on 26 April in a 3–2 win over Indy Eleven. Picault experienced a breakout season with 12 goals in 24 appearances, the second-best mark in the NASL that year. The Strikers reached Soccer Bowl 2014 but ultimately lost to the San Antonio Scorpions.
European Move (2015–2017)
In January 2015, Picault moved to Czech side Sparta Prague. He was released by Prague on 17 June 2015 without making a league appearance, though he did feature briefly in a Czech Cup match against Jablonec, and spent most of his time with the U21 side.
In September 2015, Picault signed a one-year contract with German 2. Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli, with an option for a one-year extension. He made his debut on 14 September in a 2–0 win over MSV Duisburg, registering an assist. On 11 March 2016, he scored his first goal for St. Pauli in a 4–3 loss to SC Paderborn, then scored twice on 16 April in a 2–0 win over VfL Bochum. He ended his first German season with four goals and one assist from 16 appearances, helping St. Pauli finish 4th in the table. After his contract was extended in April 2016, he made six league appearances and one assist in 2016–17, plus two DFB-Pokal appearances, before being sold in the winter transfer window.
Philadelphia Union Era (2017–2019)
On 2 February 2017, Picault returned to the United States and signed with MLS side Philadelphia Union. He made his MLS debut as a substitute in the Union’s home opener against Toronto FC. In May 2017, he scored his first goal for the Union in a 4–0 win over D.C. United and scored again in the next match, a 2–0 win over the Houston Dynamo. He ended his first MLS regular season with seven goals and three assists from 28 appearances.
Ahead of the 2018 season, Picault received a three-match suspension for offensive language exchanged with Pierre da Silva during a closed-door preseason scrimmage with Orlando City SC. He rebounded to score ten goals and add five assists from 29 appearances, helping the Union qualify for the playoffs. In 2019, he made 32 appearances with four goals and four assists as the Union finished 3rd in the Eastern Conference. In the opening playoff match, Picault came off the bench and scored in the 78th minute to level the score at 3 against the New York Red Bulls, then assisted Marco Fabián’s extra-time goal as the Union won 4–3.
FC Dallas Era (2019–2020)
On 26 November 2019, Picault was traded to FC Dallas in exchange for $300,000 of 2020 General Allocation Money. He made his Dallas debut on 29 February in a 2–0 win over the Philadelphia Union. On 29 August, he scored his first goal for Dallas in a 3–2 win against Minnesota United FC and was named to the MLS Team of the Week two days later. On 31 October, he scored twice and added an assist in a 3–0 win over the Houston Dynamo, earning a second Team of the Week selection that season.
In a shortened season impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Picault played in 18 of 23 possible regular-season games, scoring three goals and adding two assists. He helped Dallas finish 5th in the Western Conference and qualify for the playoffs. Picault started both of Dallas’s postseason matches as the team reached the Conference Semifinals, where they lost 1–0 to Seattle Sounders FC.
Houston Dynamo Era (2020–2022)
On 17 December 2020, Picault was traded to the Houston Dynamo, Dallas’s Texas Derby rivals, in exchange for $275,000 of General Allocation Money plus potential incentives. He made his Dynamo debut on 16 April in a 2–1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes. He scored his first Houston goal on 8 May in a 1–1 draw against FC Dallas, then scored twice on 11 September in a 3–0 win over Austin FC, earning MLS Team of the Week honors. He ended the season with 31 appearances, 11 goals, and five assists and was named Dynamo MVP and Dynamo Players’ Player of the Year.
In 2022, Picault scored his first two goals of the season on 2 April in a 3–1 win against Inter Miami CF and added a brace on 13 September in a 3–1 win over the New England Revolution. He finished the regular season with 7 goals and 3 assists in 30 appearances as Houston finished 13th in the West and missed the playoffs.
Nashville SC and Vancouver Whitecaps (2022–2024)
On 9 November 2022, Picault was traded to Nashville SC in exchange for combined General Allocation Money. He made 29 appearances and scored 5 goals before leaving Nashville following the 2023 season.
Picault joined Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the 2024 season. During the campaign, he played 33 games for the club and scored nine goals before leaving at the end of the season as a free agent.
Inter Miami CF Era (2025–Present)
Picault joined Inter Miami CF as a free agent starting in the 2025 season. He made his debut for Inter Miami in the club’s first match against New York City FC, which ended in a 2–2 draw. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 win against Atlanta United, with teammate Lionel Messi also finding the net in the same match.
Driving Style and Strengths
Picault is known for his quickness and pace combined with his vision and technical abilities. He has consistently contributed goals and assists across multiple leagues, adapting his game to the demands of NASL, the German second division, and Major League Soccer.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Picault helped Tampa Bay Rowdies win Soccer Bowl 2012, scored 12 goals in the 2014 NASL season to finish second in the league, was named Houston Dynamo MVP in 2021, and scored a dramatic stoppage-time goal to give Philadelphia Union a 1–0 win over Seattle Sounders FC in 2018.
Fafà Picault Career Wins
Fafà Picault has collected notable team silverware and individual accolades throughout his professional career, including a Soccer Bowl 2012 title with the Tampa Bay Rowdies and the Houston Dynamo MVP award in 2021. He has consistently delivered double-digit goal contributions across multiple leagues and clubs.
Tampa Bay Rowdies Highlights
Picault made 18 league appearances for the Tampa Bay Rowdies during the 2012 NASL season, helping the club win Soccer Bowl 2012. Although he registered no goals, the championship marked his first major team honor as a professional.
Other Wins and Performances
In 2014, Picault scored 12 goals in 24 appearances for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, the second-best mark in the NASL that season, although the Strikers lost Soccer Bowl 2014. In 2021, he was named Houston Dynamo MVP and Dynamo Players’ Player of the Year after recording 11 goals and five assists in 31 appearances.
Fafà Picault Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Picault was born to Haitian immigrants in New York City and comes from a multigenerational football lineage. His grandfather played for the Haiti national team, while his father Leslie played professional indoor soccer with the Philadelphia Fever in the Major Indoor Soccer League. The family’s deep connection to soccer played a central role in shaping his early career.
Personal Life
Picault has maintained a strong connection with his Haitian roots and holds passports from both the United States and Haiti. He is fond of Haitian cuisine, especially cooked plantain, and enjoys Haitian music; friends and a cousin are part of a Haitian band. He speaks seven languages and is fluent in English, Creole, French, Italian, and Spanish, while speaking a little Portuguese and German.
2025 Season Performance
Fafà Picault joined Inter Miami CF as a free agent ahead of the 2025 Major League Soccer season, adding experience and pace to the club’s attacking line. He made his debut in the season opener against New York City FC, a 2–2 draw that signaled his quick integration into the squad. Shortly after, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 win over Atlanta United, sharing the scoresheet with Lionel Messi.
On the international stage, Picault had already been included in Haiti’s 23-man roster for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he started and played 84 minutes in Haiti’s 2–1 win over Qatar, marking his competitive debut for the national team.
With his proven track record of goal contributions and adaptability across leagues, Picault is expected to be a consistent contributor for Inter Miami throughout the 2025 season, providing depth and experience alongside the club’s star-studded attacking corps.