Wikelman Carmona Bio
Wikelman Carmona, born 24 February 2003, is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls and the Venezuela national team. Also known by the nickname Wiki Carmona, he has developed through the New York Red Bulls system and represents a new generation of Venezuelan talent competing at the top level of North American soccer. Standing 180 centimeters tall, Carmona combines technical midfield work with an eye for goal, a quality he has demonstrated repeatedly since turning professional.
Early Life and Background
Wikelman Carmona was born in Valle de la Pascua, a city in the state of Guárico, Venezuela, on 24 February 2003. Growing up in a country with a deep passion for football, he was introduced to the sport at an early age through local play and structured youth training. His early development reflected the typical path of promising Venezuelan players who join organized academies in childhood to sharpen their skills.
When Carmona was 13, he moved to Margarita Island to join Academia Dynamo FC, where his formal academy education in football began in 2016. The academy setting provided him with structured coaching, regular competition, and exposure to higher-level tactical concepts. That early chapter on Margarita Island laid the foundation for his transition toward professional football and prepared him for the opportunity that would eventually take him to Major League Soccer.
Path to Professional Soccer
Carmona’s progression from Academia Dynamo to a Major League Soccer roster represents a clear developmental arc. His time at the Venezuelan academy gave him the technical grounding that attracted the attention of New York Red Bulls, one of MLS’s most established player-development organizations. The Red Bulls are known for signing young South American talents and developing them through their reserve sides before integrating them into the first team.
On 25 January 2021, Carmona signed a contract with New York Red Bulls, marking his entry into professional football at the age of 17. Shortly after signing, he was loaned to New York Red Bulls II, the club’s reserve side, where he could gain competitive minutes and adjust to the speed and physicality of the North American game. That pathway from academy signing to loan assignment to first-team debut reflected a structured plan focused on his long-term development rather than immediate exposure.
Wikelman Carmona Career
Early Career (2021)
Carmona’s first season as a professional began with New York Red Bulls II in 2021. He made his debut on 30 April 2021, starting in a 3–2 loss to Hartford Athletic. The appearance marked his first official minutes in the American professional ranks and signaled the start of his adaptation to senior football. Later that season, he was recalled to the New York Red Bulls first team.
On 17 April 2021, Carmona made his Major League Soccer debut, entering the match in the second half during a 2–1 loss to Sporting Kansas City. His first professional goal arrived on 31 July 2021, when he scored in a 2–3 defeat to New England Revolution. Although the result was unfavorable, the goal confirmed his attacking instinct and his willingness to take chances in the final third.
New York Red Bulls Breakthrough (2021–2023)
The 2022 season proved more difficult for Carmona, as he missed several months at the start of the campaign due to injury. After recovering, he was again sent on loan to New York Red Bulls II to build match fitness. He scored his first goal in the USL Championship on 20 August 2022, finding the net in a 2–2 draw against Pittsburgh Riverhounds. He returned to the first team on 31 August 2022, playing 20 minutes in a 1–0 victory over CF Montréal, a result that suggested his readiness for MLS minutes.
Carmona’s 2023 campaign showed visible growth. He began the year with New York Red Bulls II in MLS Next Pro, scoring three goals in his first four matches of the season, a streak that earned him a recall to the senior side. On 8 July 2023, he scored the game-winning goal for New York Red Bulls in a 2–1 victory over New England Revolution, the same opponent against which he had recorded his first professional goal. The performance marked a turning point, as it demonstrated his ability to influence outcomes at the MLS level.
New York Red Bulls Era (2024–Present)
Carmona continued his upward trajectory into 2024. On 23 March 2024, he scored his first goal of the season in a 4–0 win over Inter Miami, a statement result against one of the league’s most prominent clubs. On 19 June 2024, he opened the scoring for New York in a 2–2 draw with CF Montréal, and on 17 July 2024, he found the net again against CF Montréal in another 2–2 draw. The stretch of consistent contributions highlighted his growing role within the team’s attacking structure.
Playing Style and Strengths
Carmona operates primarily as a midfielder with a forward’s instinct for goal. His recorded strengths include arriving late into the penalty area, finishing with composure, and contributing in high-pressure moments, qualities that have produced goals against New England Revolution, Inter Miami, and CF Montréal. As he continues to mature within the Red Bulls system, his combination of midfield work rate and finishing ability makes him a versatile option for his coaching staff.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Carmona’s most memorable moments is his 8 July 2023 game-winning goal against New England Revolution, his 23 March 2024 strike in a 4–0 rout of Inter Miami, and his senior international debut for Venezuela against Australia in late 2025. Each event represents a step forward in his career, from MLS debut to first professional goal, first USL Championship goal, first senior cap, and decisive finishes against league opposition.
Wikelman Carmona Career Wins
Wikelman Carmona’s professional record includes goals scored across MLS, the USL Championship, MLS Next Pro, and international youth competition. His contributions have come in regular-season matches for New York Red Bulls and their reserve sides, with notable performances against New England Revolution, Inter Miami, and CF Montréal. As an active professional still in the early stages of his career, his list of decisive finishes continues to grow each season.
New York Red Bulls Highlights
Carmona’s first MLS goal arrived on 31 July 2021 against New England Revolution, and he added a game-winner against the same opponent on 8 July 2023. He opened his 2024 account with a goal in a 4–0 victory over Inter Miami on 23 March 2024, followed by strikes against CF Montréal on 19 June 2024 and 17 July 2024. These finishes illustrate a pattern of impact against familiar opponents and in matches of competitive significance.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond MLS, Carmona scored his first USL Championship goal on 20 August 2022 against Pittsburgh Riverhounds and recorded three goals in his first four MLS Next Pro matches of 2023. At youth international level, he represented Venezuela at the 2019 South American U-17 Championship in Peru and scored in a 5–3 victory against Bolivia.
Wikelman Carmona Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Carmona was raised in Valle de la Pascua, Venezuela, where he developed his early love for football before moving to Margarita Island at age 13 to join Academia Dynamo FC. Specific details about his parents and family members are not publicly confirmed in available sources.
Personal Life
Off the field, Wikelman Carmona maintains an active presence on social media, including an Instagram account under the handle wiki10_carmona. He continues to focus on his professional career with New York Red Bulls and the Venezuela national team, balancing club commitments with senior international duty.
2025 Season Performance
Carmona’s 2025 campaign with New York Red Bulls represents another step in his development as a consistent MLS contributor. Building on his 2024 form, which included goals against Inter Miami and CF Montréal, he entered the year as an established member of the midfield rotation. His prior record of scoring against top opponents positioned him as a player to watch within the team’s attacking plans.
On the international stage, Carmona received his first senior call-up to the Venezuela national team for a set of October 2025 friendlies. He made his senior debut a month later in a friendly against Australia, a milestone that elevated his profile and reflected Venezuela’s confidence in his progression from the U-17 setup where he previously featured in 2019.
Looking ahead, Carmona’s outlook for the remainder of 2025 centers on sustaining his scoring contributions for New York Red Bulls and building on his senior international debut with Venezuela. With his trajectory trending upward and several productive seasons already behind him, he remains a young midfielder whose combination of midfield craft and finishing instinct continues to attract attention across Major League Soccer and the Venezuelan national team program.