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Nineteen-year-old utility player Rio Cardines became the tenth Trinidad and Tobago international to play in the England Premier League today, when he played for all 90 minutes in a 2-1 home loss to Arsenal in their final league match of the 2025/26 season.
Cardines, who has played at right wing and right back for the Soca Warriors, featured at left back for Palace.
(via TTFA Media.)
Both London-based clubs featured experimental teams today, as they prepare for upcoming European cup finals. Palace face Spanish club Rayo Vallecano in the Uefa Conference League final on Wednesday while Arsenal tackle Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League final next Saturday.
Cardines, who was born in Stevenage, England but qualified to represent the two-island republic through the lineage of his grandfather and former Morvant resident Patrick Cardines, took the opportunity to make his mark for T&T.
It is the first time in 12 years that a Trinidad and Tobago international has featured in the Premier League. Former Soca Warriors captain and Point Fortin-bred forward Kenwyne Jones was the last, when he represented Cardiff City in 2014.
Jones played for four England Premier League teams in his career: Southampton, Sunderland, Stoke City and Cardiff.
(via Wales Online.)
The other Soca Warriors to play in England’s top flight competition are: Dwight Yorke, Shaka Hislop, Clint Marcelle, Stern John, Kenwyne Jones, Anthony Warner, Carlos Edwards, Jason Scotland, and Jlloyd Samuel.
Warner, who was born in England, and Samuel got two caps each for the red, white and black.
Former Arsenal defender Justin Hoyte, also born in England, played 17 times for Trinidad and Tobago, but his first international cap came five years after he left the Premier League for the second tier Championship.
Current Soca Warriors head coach Derek King told the TTFA Media that Cardines’ progress strengthens the national team.
“Making your Premiership debut at such a young age is never easy and it’s pleasing to see him step into that environment and put in a strong performance,” said King, who stressed that Cardines earned his outing through hard work.
(via TTFA Media.)
“We are always encouraged when our players continue to progress at club level because it also strengthens what we are building with the national team. We congratulate him and encourage him to keep pushing forward.”
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Kieron Edwards also congratulated Cardines on his milestone.
“On behalf of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association, I want to congratulate Rio on this significant achievement,” said Edwards. “To see one of our young players step onto the field in one of the world’s top leagues is a proud moment for our football community.
Photo: TTFA Media.
“Rio has shown commitment and determination throughout his journey and we hope this is just the beginning of many more memorable moments in his career.”
Although Cardines has featured primarily with Palace’s youth teams, he did make his senior competitive debut on 2 October 2025 as a late substitute in Palace’s Conference League victory over Dynamo Kyiv.
He is expected to be included in a Trinidad and Tobago team that travel to Kaliningrad to play Russia in an international friendly on 9 June 2026.
Rio Cardines made his senior international debut in a 3-2 loss to Jamaica at the Unity Cup in London on 27 May 2025.
Photo: TTFA Media.
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Minor note: Jlloyd Samuel was born in T&T (San Fernando) and moved to England as a child.
You’re quite correct.
Well done, Rio!
*applause*
We would like to congratulate Rio Cardines for his remarkable performance & his 1st debut despite Crystal Palace’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal. We hope that he’ll be in the T&T squad for tough friendly matches vs. South Korea Republic & Russia.