Malea Cesar

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Engesserand the surname or paternal family name is Cesar.

Malea Cesar

Cesar in 2025
Personal information
Full name	Malea Louise Engesser Cesar [1]
Date of birth	(2003-12-09) December 9, 2003 (age 22)
Place of birth	Newport Beach, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) [2]
Position	Defender
Team information
Current team	Trinity Tigers
Number	26
Youth career
0000	Sunset HS Apollos
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023–	Trinity Tigers	19	(1)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023	Blacktown City	12	(1)
2025–	Corinthians	7	(1)
International career‡
2022–	Philippines	37	(1)
Medal record Women's football Representing the   Philippines ASEAN Women's Championship Winner 2022 Philippines Team Southeast Asian Games 2025 Thailand Team Vietnam 2021 Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of June 22, 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of December 17, 2025

Malea Louise Engesser Cesar (born December 9, 2003) is a footballer who plays as a defender for Trinity Tigers. ^[3] Born in the United States, she represents the Philippines at international level.

Early life

Cesar was born in the United States to former Filipino athlete Ben Cesar and an American mother. ^[4]

International career

She was part of the Philippines team for the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers but never appeared in a game. ^[5] Cesar was also part of the squad which participated in the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup in India. ^[6] She made her senior national team debut in the Philippines' 1–0 win against Thailand. ^[7] She scored her first international goal during stoppage time in the Philippines' 6–0 win against Indonesia. ^[8]

Personal life

Malea Cesar's father, Ben Cesar, is a sprinter who competed in the 1991 SEA Games. Her sister, Naomi, is also an athlete who won a gold medal at the 2025 SEA Games for the women's 800 m event. ^[9]

International goals

Scores and results list the Philippines' goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	January 27, 2022	Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune, India	Indonesia	6–0	6–0	2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup

Honors

Philippines

• Southeast Asian Games: 2025
• ASEAN Women's Championship: 2022

References

1. "Malea Cesar". Sports Reference . Retrieved January 28, 2022.
2. "FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 – Squad List" (PDF). FIFA. July 11, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
3. Malea Cesar at Soccerway. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
4. Calvert., Violi (May 20, 2022). "Focus: Filipinas' and one of their Young Players, Malea Cesar". Australian Filipina. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
5. "Malditas keep core of SEA Games team for AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
6. "Katrina Guillou, three others set for PWNFT debut in Asian Cup". Tiebreaker Times. January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
7. "PH women feel 'big weight off the shoulders' after upset of Thailand". Rappler . January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
8. "Women's Asian Cup: Philippines moves on to quarterfinals, blanks Indonesia". Sports.inquirer.net. January 28, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
9. Terrado, Reuben (December 16, 2025). "Cesar sisters, Malea and Naomi, shining in different SEAG sports". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved December 16, 2025.