In Quito, a new Ecuadorian forward is carrying two famous football names at once. Juan Riquelme Angulo, only 18, has moved from an instant impact at Independiente del Valle to Sunderland and now a first international goal, earning comparisons with Erling Haaland while bearing the given name of Argentina’s great No. 10.
Key takeaways
- Juan Riquelme Angulo scored Ecuador’s only goal of the October international window against Panama on 5 October.
- The 1.93m striker made his senior debut for Independiente del Valle on 7 March 2026 and scored in that first outing.
- Sunderland signed him in September, although a resolved work-permit issue has delayed his first-team debut.
- He has made three appearances for Ecuador, totalling 91 minutes, since his international debut against South Korea on 24 September.
- His father, former Ecuador forward José Enrique “Tin” Angulo, named him in tribute to Juan Román Riquelme.
A landmark week with La Tri
Marcelo Gallardo handed Angulo his Ecuador debut against South Korea on 24 September, and the striker has needed little time to leave a mark. In his third senior international appearance, he found the net against Panama, converting as a penalty-box forward should: arriving in the right place and taking the opportunity.
The goal was Ecuador’s sole strike during this international break and gives Angulo an early personal milestone with La Tri. He wore the No. 13 shirt, a number long associated with Enner Valencia, whose eventual succession is a subject of considerable interest in Ecuador.
Angulo’s nickname, “the Ecuadorian Haaland”, reflects his profile rather than any claim that he has reached the Norwegian’s level. At 1.93m, he has the frame to occupy centre-backs and compete inside the area, yet he also turns sharply, carries the ball well and covers ground quickly with a long stride. He can operate beyond the penalty area as comfortably as he can finish within it.
From Valle to Wearside
His rise has been unusually rapid. Angulo’s first-team bow for Independiente del Valle came on 7 March, when he scored immediately. By September, seven months after that debut, Sunderland had brought him to England.
His first months at the Stadium of Light have been shaped by paperwork as much as football. The work-permit difficulty has now been settled, and Angulo is training under Régis Le Bris, but he is still waiting for a competitive appearance for the Sunderland first team.
The route into the side will not be clear of obstacles. Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor are ahead of him in the attacking order, meaning that minutes must be earned rather than assumed. Still, Ecuador’s newest international striker has already shown how quickly he can seize a first chance.
The Riquelme part of his name comes from a different football tradition. José Enrique “Tin” Angulo chose it to honour Juan Román Riquelme, the Argentine playmaker celebrated for his spells with Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Villarreal and Argentina. His son has instead emerged as a modern central forward: a tall, mobile scorer with a name borrowed from an artist of the old No. 10 school.
