Ángel Mena


Ángel Israel Mena Delgado is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Orense and the Ecuador national team.
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Club career

Emelec

Mena had extended his contract until 2017 with Club Sport Emelec. He played in 129 games for the national championship and scored 25 goals, according to records of the Ecuadorian Football Federation.
He debuted in the first division in 2007. He scored his first official goal on 16 March 2008 at the Técnico Universitario.
In 2010, he was loaned to Deportivo Cuenca. In 2011, he returns to Club Sport Emelec, and was champion in 2013 and 2014.
After scoring 14 goals as Emelec won the 2014 championship, Mena extended his contract with the club for two years in February 2015. Mena scored the first goal in the 2014 Ecuadorian Serie A season final match against Barcelona SC, winning 3–0.

Cruz Azul

In 2017 Mena joined Mexican side Cruz Azul. On 12 February Mena scored an impressive free-kick goal against Santos Laguna which earned Cruz Azul a 2–2 draw.

International career

In April 2014, being in Emelec, Mena was first called up to the Ecuador national football team, led by coach Reinaldo Rueda, for a microcycle. Mena was called for Ecuador's provisional 30-man squad for World Cup 2014 in Brazil.
Later in 2014, the interim coach of the Ecuador national team, Sixto Vizuete called up Mena to play friendly matches against Bolivia and Brazil. However, Mena suffered an injury that prevented him playing with the national team.
Mena made his debut on 28 March 2015 in a match against Mexico, coming in as a sub for Jefferson Montero.
Mena was selected in the 23 player Ecuador squad for the Copa América Centenario.
Mena was selected in the 23-man Ecuador squad for the 2019 Copa América.
Mena was selected in the 28 player Ecuador squad for the 2021 Copa América.
Mena was named in the Ecuadorian squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Mena was called up to the final 26-man Ecuador squad for the 2024 Copa América. He retired from the national team on 17 November 2024.

Personal life

Mena is married to Shirley Posligua with whom he has two daughters. He and his family are devout Christians. Mena is good friends with fellow footballer Joao Rojas with whom he shared a locker while at Emelec, the fact that Rojas played for Cruz Azul was a significant factor in motivating Mena to join the club.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
124 March 2016Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito, Ecuador2–22–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
29 June 2019AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States1–12–3Friendly
324 June 2019Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, Brazil1–11–12019 Copa América
413 October 2019Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, Elche, Spain1–31–6Friendly
512 November 2020Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia2–13–22022 FIFA World Cup qualification
617 November 2020Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito, Ecuador2–06–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
727 June 2021Estádio Olímpico Pedro Ludovico, Goiânia, Brazil1–11–12021 Copa América
821 November 2023Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito, Ecuador1–01–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Emelec
Cruz Azul
León
Individual