Cecilio Waterman is not a household name in European football, but ask any Panamanian fan and they will tell you exactly who he is.
The striker became a national hero in March 2025 when he scored a stoppage-time winner against the United States to knock them out of the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal — then sprinted to the broadcast set to hug his idol Thierry Henry.
That moment captured everything about Waterman: raw emotion, a career built on grit, and a relentless will to win.
This article covers Cecilio Waterman’s net worth in 2026, his salary, contract, career earnings, and the journey that made him one of Central America’s most celebrated footballers.
Cecilio Waterman’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Cecilio Alfonso Waterman Ruiz |
| Date of Birth | April 13, 1991 |
| Age | 35 |
| Place of Birth | Panama City, Panama |
| Nationality | Panamanian |
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Weight | 73 kg (161 lbs) |
| Position | Striker / Winger |
| Current Club | Universidad de Concepción (Chile) |
| Turned Professional | 2010 |
| International Caps | 41+ (Panama national team) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $800,000 |
| Annual Salary | Approx. $150,000–$200,000 |
| Social Media | Instagram: @ceciliowaterman18 |
Early Life & Career
Cecilio Alfonso Waterman Ruiz was born on April 13, 1991, in Panama City, Panama. He grew up in a country where baseball traditionally dominates the sports culture, but football captured his imagination early.
He credited French legend Thierry Henry as his childhood idol — a fact that made his 2025 Nations League celebration one of the most talked-about moments in CONCACAF history.
Waterman came through the youth ranks at Río Abajo between 2007 and 2009 before joining Sporting San Miguelito in 2010.
He made his senior professional debut on September 26, 2010, in a match against Atlético Chiriquí in Panama’s domestic league.
Even at that early stage, he showed the instinct and movement that would define his career as a striker.
His international journey started quickly. He was part of the Panama Under-20 squad for the 2011 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, where he scored four goals and helped his country qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
That tournament performance put him on the radar of clubs outside Panama, setting the stage for a move to South America that would shape the rest of his career.
Professional Career
In mid-2011, Waterman transferred to Uruguayan club Centro Atlético Fénix — a move that launched a decade-long chapter of his career in South America.
He spent the bulk of his time at Fénix, interspersed with loan spells to Venados FC in Mexico (2016), Defensor Sporting (2017–2018), and Plaza Colonia (2019) in Uruguay.
The loan to Plaza Colonia proved to be the launchpad for his best years.
After returning from Uruguay, he joined Universidad de Concepción in Chile in early 2020, where he made 32 appearances and scored 17 goals across two seasons, a return that included a loan stint to Everton de Viña del Mar in 2021 (23 appearances, 6 goals in the top flight).
He later described Universidad de Concepción as the club that “changed his life.”
A permanent move to Cobresal in December 2022 followed, and 2023 was arguably his finest club season to date — 25 appearances, 10 goals, and a runners-up finish in the Chilean Primera División, the best league position in the club’s history at that point.
Waterman’s profile continued to grow and he moved to Peruvian giants Alianza Lima in 2024, scoring 5 goals in 15 matches before injuries disrupted his rhythm.
In January 2025, he joined Coquimbo Unido on a free transfer, and the timing could not have been better. He contributed 8 league goals in 25 appearances as Coquimbo Unido clinched their first-ever Chilean Primera División title.
After the season ended, he returned to Universidad de Concepción on December 25, 2025, where he currently plays in the 2026 season.
According to Transfermarkt, his current market value sits at approximately €255,000–€340,000.
On the international stage, Waterman has been a consistent presence for Los Canaleros.
His defining moment came on March 20, 2025, when his 94th-minute strike at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California beat U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner, sending Panama to the CONCACAF Nations League final — as ESPN reported, it was Panama’s only shot on target in the entire match.
Cecilio Waterman’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Cecilio Waterman has an estimated net worth of $800,000.
He built this wealth through professional football contracts spanning Panama, Uruguay, Chile, and Peru over a career stretching more than 15 years, alongside modest income from his continued involvement with the Panama national team.
Contract
Waterman rejoined Universidad de Concepción on December 25, 2025, on what is believed to be a short-term contract running through the 2026 Chilean Primera División season.
The club competes in Chile’s top flight, and contracts at this level for experienced international strikers typically run on a year-by-year basis. No official contract length or release clause has been disclosed by the club.
Salary
Waterman’s salary at Universidad de Concepción is not publicly disclosed.
Based on salary benchmarks for experienced foreign strikers at Chilean Primera División clubs — a tier where average annual wages for established players range from approximately $120,000 to $200,000 — his compensation is estimated at around $150,000–$180,000 per year.
His 2025 stint at Coquimbo Unido, a newly crowned Chilean champion, was likely on a similar scale given his free transfer status and veteran profile. Earlier in his career, his wages at Fénix and smaller Uruguayan clubs would have been considerably lower.
Career Earnings By Year
| Period | Club | Estimated Annual Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Sporting San Miguelito | ~$10,000–$20,000 |
| 2011–2016 | Centro Atlético Fénix | ~$30,000–$60,000/year |
| 2016 | Venados FC (loan) | ~$40,000–$60,000 |
| 2017–2019 | Defensor Sporting / Plaza Colonia (loans) | ~$50,000–$80,000/year |
| 2020–2022 | Universidad de Concepción | ~$80,000–$110,000/year |
| 2021 | Everton de Viña del Mar (loan) | ~$90,000–$120,000 |
| 2022–2023 | Cobresal | ~$100,000–$140,000/year |
| 2024 | Alianza Lima | ~$120,000–$160,000 |
| 2025 | Coquimbo Unido | ~$140,000–$180,000 |
| 2026– | Universidad de Concepción | ~$150,000–$180,000 |
Career Statistics
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Sporting San Miguelito | Panama Liga | 15 | 5 | — |
| 2011–2015 | Centro Atlético Fénix | Uruguay Primera | ~120 | ~30 | — |
| 2016 | Venados FC (loan) | Mexico Ascenso | ~20 | 5 | — |
| 2017–2018 | Defensor Sporting (loan) | Uruguay Primera | ~30 | 4 | — |
| 2019 | Plaza Colonia (loan) | Uruguay Segunda | ~20 | 8 | — |
| 2020–2022 | Universidad de Concepción | Chile Primera B | 32 | 17 | — |
| 2021 | Everton de Viña del Mar (loan) | Chile Primera | 23 | 6 | — |
| 2022–2023 | Cobresal | Chile Primera | ~45 | 16 | — |
| 2024 | Alianza Lima | Peru Liga 1 | 15 | 5 | — |
| 2025 | Coquimbo Unido | Chile Primera | 25 | 8 | 1 |
| 2026 | Universidad de Concepción | Chile Primera | 5+ | 1+ | 0 |
| International | Panama | Senior | 41+ | 11+ | — |
FAQs
What is Cecilio Waterman’s net worth?
Cecilio Waterman’s estimated net worth is approximately $800,000, accumulated through more than 15 years of professional football across Panama, Uruguay, Chile, and Peru.
What club does Cecilio Waterman currently play for?
He currently plays for Universidad de Concepción in Chile’s top-flight Primera División, having rejoined the club in December 2025 after his championship-winning spell at Coquimbo Unido.
How many international goals has Cecilio Waterman scored for Panama?
Waterman has scored at least 11 international goals in over 41 caps for Panama, including his famous 94th-minute winner against the United States in the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League semifinal.
Did Cecilio Waterman win any trophies in his career?
Yes — he won the 2025 Chilean Primera División title with Coquimbo Unido, the club’s first-ever league championship, contributing 8 goals across the season.
Why did Cecilio Waterman celebrate with Thierry Henry?
After scoring Panama’s winner against the USMNT, Waterman spotted Henry — his childhood idol — on the CBS Sports broadcast set at SoFi Stadium, climbed up, hugged him, and told him “Tu eres mi idolo” (You are my idol). Henry later called it one of the most unique goal celebrations he had ever witnessed.
