Ángel Israel Mena Delgado (born 21 January 1988) is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a winger for LigaPro Serie A club Orense.
Club career Emelec Mena had extended his contract until 2017 with Club Sport Emelec. He played in 129 games for the national championship and scored 25 goals, according to records of the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF).
He debuted in the first division in 2007. He scored his first official goal on 16 March 2008 at the Técnico Universitario.
In 2010, he was loaned to Deportivo Cuenca. In 2011, he returns to Club Sport Emelec, and was champion in 2013 and 2014.
After scoring 14 goals as Emelec won the 2014 championship, Mena extended his contract with the club for two years in February 2015. Mena scored the first goal in the 2014 Ecuadorian Serie A season final match against Barcelona SC, winning 3–0.
Cruz Azul In 2017 Mena joined Mexican side Cruz Azul. On 12 February Mena scored an impressive free-kick goal against Santos Laguna which earned Cruz Azul a 2–2 draw.
International career In April 2014, being in Emelec, Mena was first called up to the Ecuador national football team, led by coach Reinaldo Rueda, for a microcycle. Mena was called for Ecuador's provisional 30-man squad for World Cup 2014 in Brazil.
Later in 2014, the interim coach of the Ecuador national team, Sixto Vizuete called up Mena to play friendly matches against Bolivia and Brazil. However, Mena suffered an injury that prevented him playing with the national team.
Mena made his debut on 28 March 2015 in a match against Mexico, coming in as a sub for Jefferson Montero.
Mena was selected in the 23 player Ecuador squad for the Copa América Centenario.
Mena was selected in the 23-man Ecuador squad for the 2019 Copa América.
Mena was selected in the 28 player Ecuador squad for the 2021 Copa América.
Mena was named in the Ecuadorian squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Mena was called up to the final 26-man Ecuador squad for the 2024 Copa América. He retired from the national team on 17 November 2024.
Personal life Mena is married to Shirley Posligua with whom he has two daughters. He and his family are devout Christians. Mena is good friends with fellow footballer Joao Rojas with whom he shared a locker while at Emelec, the fact that Rojas played for Cruz Azul was a significant factor in motivating Mena to join the club.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsEmelec2007Serie A40—00—402008Serie A182—00—1822009Serie A242—10—2522010Serie A00—20—202011Serie A366—60—4262012Serie A212—71—2832013Serie A313—41—3542014Serie A4114—144—55182015Serie A3813—143—52162016Serie A3616—93—4519Total24958—5712—30670Deportivo Cuenca (loan)2010Serie A305—00—305Cruz Azul2016–17Liga MX1654200—2072017–18Liga MX2736000—3332018–19Liga MX902000—110Total52812200—6410León2018–19Liga MX23143100—26152019–20Liga MX30160011—31172020–21Liga MX37170020—39172021–22Liga MX351400204341172022–23Liga MX3030053003562023–24Liga MX3260053414110Total18770311868421382Pachuca2024–25Liga MX5000002070Career total5231411537216104622171
International
EcuadorYearAppsGoals2015402016412017402019832020422021151202270202391202460Total618
+ List of international goals scored by Ángel MenaNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 24 March 2016 Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito, Ecuador 2–2 2–2 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification2 9 June 2019 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States 1–1 2–3 Friendly3 24 June 2019 Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, Brazil 1–1 1–1 2019 Copa América4 13 October 2019 Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, Elche, Spain 1–3 1–6 Friendly5 12 November 2020 Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia 2–1 3–2 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification6 17 November 2020 Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito, Ecuador 2–0 6–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification7 27 June 2021 Estádio Olímpico Pedro Ludovico, Goiânia, Brazil 1–1 1–1 2021 Copa América8 21 November 2023 Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito, Ecuador 1–0 1–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
Honours Emelec Serie A: 2013, 2014, 2015
Cruz Azul Copa MX: Apertura 2018
León Liga MX: Guardianes 2020 CONCACAF Champions League: 2023 Leagues Cup: 2021
Individual Serie A Assist Leader: 2014 Liga MX Golden Boot: Clausura 2019 Liga MX Offensive Midfielder of the Year: 2018–19 Liga MX Best XI: Clausura 2019, Guardianes 2020, Apertura 2021 Liga MX All-Star: 2021, 2022 Leagues Cup top scorer: 2021
References
External links