Enner Valencia retires from Ecuador after World Cup exit

Valencia calls time after Mexico knockout

Enner Valencia has retired from the Ecuador national team (1). The 36-year-old forward announced his decision after the World Cup round of 32 defeat to co-host Mexico, closing a career that made him Ecuador's all-time top scorer.

Beccacece's side had reached the knockouts as a best third-place finisher, sealed by that dramatic late win over Germany in Group E. But the Azteca proved a wall. Mexico's historical edge over South American opponents held, and the co-hosts advanced.

Fan-reaktioner

The mood is split between gratitude and grief. Fans on r/soccer are mostly paying tribute to Valencia's years of service rather than dissecting the Mexico loss. One thread simply calls him a legend, and that seems to be the consensus. The fact that he chose to announce it immediately after the final whistle tells you how much this tournament meant to him. Read the full discussion