John Mercado
John Anthony Mercado Cuero is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Czech First League club Sparta Prague and the Ecuador national team.
Club career
Born in Guayaquil, Mercado agreed to a contract with Athletico Paranaense in July 2019, but only moved to his new side in August 2020, after his 18th birthday. After playing for the under-20s, he impressed manager Alberto Valentim in 2022, and was promoted to the first team squad.Mercado made his professional debut on 2 March 2022, coming on as a second-half substitute for Léo Cittadini in a 0–2 away loss against Palmeiras, for the year's Recopa Sudamericana. In July, Athletico sent him on loan to Série B club CSA until the end of the season.
In January 2023, Mercado terminated his contract with Athletico Paranaense and moved to Portugal, joining Liga Portugal 2 side Vilafranquense. At the end of the 2022–23 season, Vilafranquense relocated to Vila das Aves and was rebranded as AVS Futebol SAD. On 18 December 2023, he extended his contract with AVS until 2027.
On 10 August 2025, Mercado signed a contract with Czech First League club Sparta Prague.
International career
Mercado represented Ecuador at under-15 level in the 2017 South American U-15 Championship, and at under-17 level in the 2019 South American U-17 Championship and the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup.Mercado debuted for the senior Ecuador national team on 6 September 2024 in a World Cup qualifier against Brazil at the Estádio Couto Pereira. He substituted Kevin Rodríguez in the 68th minute, Brazil won 1–0.