Ecuadorian international footballer Marco Angulo has passed away at the age of 22, a month after sustaining critical injuries in a car accident, the Ecuadorian Football Federation confirmed on Tuesday. Angulo was involved in the fatal crash on October 7, which also claimed the life of his former youth teammate, Roberto Cabezas. Angulo suffered head injuries and a lung contusion, and he succumbed to his injuries after a week in intensive care at a hospital in Quito on Monday night.
Angulo had been on loan to LDU Quito, Ecuador's reigning league champions, from Major League Soccer's FC Cincinnati since March. He debuted with Ecuador’s national team in 2022, earning two caps. “Marco was not only a talented player but also a dedicated teammate who represented our country with pride,” the Ecuadorian Football Federation said in a statement on Tuesday.
FC Cincinnati expressed deep sorrow, calling Angulo “a joyful and kind young man” and a “husband, father, brother, and friend.” According to local media reports, three of the five people in the vehicle, including Angulo, lost their lives in the accident. Angulo is survived by his wife and young son.
