Damian Esau Rivera (born 8 December 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for USL Championship club Phoenix Rising FC.
[4] He made his professional debut with New England's USL League One affiliate on 7 August 2020 against Orlando City B.
[5] In October of that season, Rivera scored his first professional goal, netting in the 83rd minute of a 4–0 victory over the Richmond Kickers.
In the process he became only the third player in league history to score in the first minute of his first MLS start, and the first to do so since Real Salt Lake's Matias Mantilla on 29 August 2007.
[8] Rivera signed a multi-year contract with Phoenix Rising FC on December 11, 2024.