Ángelo Preciado


Ángelo Smit Preciado Quiñónez is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a right-back or winger for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Atlético Mineiro and the Ecuador national team.

Club career

Born in Shushufindi, Sucumbíos, Preciado joined Independiente del Valle's youth setup in 2015, from América de Quito. In February 2018, during the semifinals of the 2018 U-20 Copa Libertadores, he went viral after using the corner flag to defend himself from a fight with the River Plate Montevideo players.
Promoted to the first team after playing a short period in the reserve team, Alianza Cotopaxi, Preciado made his senior – and Serie A – debut on 9 July 2018, starting in a 3–1 away loss against Aucas. He soon became a regular starter, and scored his first goals on 25 August by netting a brace in a 4–2 home defeat of El Nacional.
On 28 December 2020, Belgian Pro League club Genk announced the signing of Preciado on a two-and-a-half-year contract, with an option for a further two years, for a reported fee of €3 million. He made his debut for the Belgian club on 16 January 2021, starting in a 2–0 away loss at Royal Excel Mouscron.
On 4 September 2023, Czech First League club Sparta Prague announced the signing of Preciado for a reported fee of €2.5 million, which could increase to €3 million with add-ons. On 15 February 2024, he scored his first goal in the UEFA Europa League in a 3–2 defeat to Galatasaray.
On 16 January 2026, Preciado joined Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Atlético Mineiro on a four-year contract.

International career

On 4 May 2017, Preciado was called up to Ecuador under-20s for the year's FIFA U-20 World Cup, On 30 August of the following year, he was called up to the full side by manager Hernán Darío Gómez, for two friendlies against Jamaica and Guatemala.
Preciado made his full international debut on 12 October 2018, replacing Independiente teammate Stiven Plaza in a 4–3 loss against Qatar at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.
Preciado was selected in the 28 player Ecuador squad for the 2021 Copa América.
Preciado was named in the Ecuadorian squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Preciado was called up to the final 26-man Ecuador squad for the 2024 Copa América.

Honours

Independiente del Valle
Genk
Sparta Prague