NEW YORK - Missouri State's Jesus Barea was selected by Real Salt Lake in the first round (19th overall) of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft 2025 held on Friday.

A forward from Cádiz, Spain, Barea spent five years with the Bears including a historic 2024 season where he scored 15 goals, tied for fourth in the nation and one shy of the Missouri State single-season record. This past campaign, Barea led Division I in shots on goal per game (2.78). He was also third in the nation in shots per game (4.50), fourth in points per game (1.89) and fifth in goals per game (0.89). Barea opened the 2024 season scoring eight goals in Missouri State's first five matches.

"Missouri State University men's soccer is among the elites in college soccer and Jesus Barea has played a key role in the continued development of the program," head coach Michael Seabolt said. "He arrived to a great team in 2020, endured COVID with his Bears family and has thrived on and off the field for four and a half years."

In 2024, Barea was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America first team and was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist. He became the first Missouri State player to win multiple Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year awards (2022, 2024). He was also named the league's Forward of the Year in 2024.

Barea made an impact the moment he arrived in Springfield, earning a spot on the 2020-21 MVC All-Freshman Team. He became a three-time All-MVC first team player, a three-time United Soccer Coaches All-West Region player and was named to the 2023 MVC All-Tournament Team. In his five years with the team, Missouri State won four regular season conference titles and three consecutive MVC Tournament championships. The Bears made the NCAA Tournament each season and are one of only seven teams to make the DI Tournament each of the last six seasons.

Across his collegiate career, Barea cemented his name in the Missouri State record books. He is tied for second in program history in goals (34), third in points (87) and tied for sixth in assists (19). He is the program's all-time leader in shots (261), including 81 shot attempts in 2024 which is the third-most by a Bear in a single season. He is also second in career starts (85) and tied for fifth in game-winning goals (10).

"He is a team player, a captain, a goal-scorer and a graduate of this great University. Everyone at Missouri State is thrilled for him to represent the Bears in Major League Soccer and we have no doubt he will continue to elevate his game for Real Salt Lake."

Barea is the fifth Missouri State Bear to be selected in the MLS SuperDraft, joining Matt Caution (1998), Matt Pickens (2004), Jamal Sutton (2004) and Matthew Bentley (2020). Barea matches Pickens as the highest draft selection in Missouri State history. He is the first Missouri State player to be selected in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft.

Real Salt Lake went 16-11-7 in 2024 to finish third in the MLS Western Conference standings.

Missouri State MLS SuperDraft History
1998: Matt Caution - Round 3 - Pick 25 - Dallas
2004: Matt Pickens - Round 2 - Pick 19 - Chicago
2004: Jamal Sutton - Round 4 - Pick 32 - Columbus
2020: Matthew Bentley - Round 4 - Pick 88 - Minnesota
2024: Jesus Barea - Round 1 - Pick - 19 - Salt Lake City