Enner Valencia has added another chapter to his record-breaking career. The Boca Juniors striker scored a last-gasp winner in a 1-0 victory over Defensa y Justicia on Saturday, 7 November, and claimed the 2026 Liga title, which goes to the leader of the annual table in Argentine football. The goal places Ecuador’s all-time leading scorer among a small group of compatriots who have won official honours in Argentina.
Ecuadorians who have won in Argentina
The most notable precedent is goalkeeper Carlos Luis ‘Pestañita’ Morales, who joined Independiente de Avellaneda in 1994. He was part of the squad that won the Clausura that year, and also lifted the 1994 Supercopa Sudamericana and the 1995 Recopa Sudamericana. Morales became one of the reference points for Ecuadorian players in Argentina and left his mark on the club known as the ‘King of Cups’.
Arturo Mina also tasted success with River Plate, winning the 2016 Copa Argentina and the Recopa Sudamericana that same year. Raúl ‘Pavito’ Noriega, who played for Boca Juniors between 1993 and 1994, was part of the Boca side that won the 1993 Copa de Oro Nicolás Leoz, a continental tournament organised by Conmebol. Not all of these players, however, won the top-flight league championship.
A moment of pride for Ecuador
More than three decades after Morales’s triumph, Valencia has brought another moment of joy to Ecuadorian football while wearing the blue-and-gold shirt. What makes it especially meaningful is that he was the one to score the decisive goal in the final minute against Defensa y Justicia.
His performance also drew praise from teammates and opponents alike. Leandro Paredes and Miguel Ángel Merentiel were among those who acknowledged the importance of the Ecuadorian’s contribution. From Carlos Luis Morales to Enner Valencia, Ecuador continues to leave its imprint on Argentine football.
Source: www.metroecuador.com.ec
