The Copa América is South America's major tournament in senior men's football and determines the continental champion. Until 1967, the tournament was known as South American Championship. It is the oldest continental championship in the world.
Ecuador are one of only two CONMEBOL members who have never won a continental title, the other one being Venezuela. Both teams have never even placed in the top three.
With six goals in 1963, Carlos Alberto Raffo became that tournament's top scorer and the only Ecuadorian to ever receive an individual award at a continental championship. In spite of Raffo's goals, however, Ecuador only placed sixth out of seven nations that year.
Overall record
South American Championship / Copa América recordYearRoundPositionSquad 1916Not a CONMEBOL member 1917 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927Did not participate 1929 1935 1937 1939Fifth place5th4004418Squad 19415th4004121Squad 1942Seventh place7th6006431Squad 19457th6015927Squad 1946Withdrew 1947Sixth place6th7034317Squad 1949Seventh place7th7106721Squad 19537th6024113Squad 1955Sixth place6th5005422Squad 1956Withdrew 1957Seventh place7th6015723Squad 1959Withdrew 1959Fourth place4th411259Squad 1963Sixth place6th61231418Squad 1967Did not qualify1975Group stage9th4013410Squad19799th410347Squad19839th4022410Squad 19878th201114Squad 19897th412122Squad 19917th411265Squad 1993Fourth place4th6402135Squad 1995Group stage9th310223Squad 1997Quarter-finals5th422052Squad 1999Group stage11th300337Squad 20019th310255Squad 200412th3003310Squad 200711th300336Squad 201110th301225Squad 201510th310246Squad 2016Quarter-finals8th412174Squad 2019Group stage11th301227Squad 2021Quarter-finals8th503259Squad 20248th412154SquadTotalFourth place30/48130172885139331—
Record by opponent Ecuador fell victim to the highest defeat in tournament history when they were beaten 12–0 by Argentina in 1942. Ecuador's own highest victory was a 6–1 win against Venezuela in 1993.
Ecuador do not have a positive head-to-head record against any other CONMEBOL member at the tournament.
Copa América matches (by team)Opponent06111713561528131203121512531113161547211013122310014010013101011112365833915152614813143010123231141816662125136Total172885130139331
Record players
Álex Aguinaga took part in eight Copa América tournaments. The only other player with that number of tournaments is Uruguayan striker Ángel Romano, who competed in a time when the continental championship was held annually. RankPlayerMatchesTournaments1Álex Aguinaga251987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2001 and 20042Luis Capurro221987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995 and 19973Luis Antonio Mendoza211941, 1942, 1945 and 19474José María Jiménez201942, 1945, 1947 and 19495Jorge Henríquez181945, 1947 and 1953Carlos Sánchez181947, 1949, 1953 and 19577Enrique Álvarez171942, 1945 and 1947Napoleón Medina171942, 1945 and 1947Félix Zurita171942, 1945 and 1947José Vargas171947, 1949, 1953 and 1957Iván Hurtado171993, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2004 and 2007Enner Valencia172015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024
Top goalscorers
RankPlayerGoalsTournaments (goals)1Carlos Alberto Raffo81959 [Ecuador] (2) and 1963 (6)2Ney Avilés61989 (1), 1991 (2) and 1993 (3)3José María Jiménez51942 (2), 1945 (1) and 1947 (2)Enner Valencia52015 (2), 2016 (2) and 2019 (1)5Víctor Aguayo41945Jorge Cantos41949 (1) and 1957 (3)Jorge Larraz41957Álex Aguinaga41991 (2) and 1993 (2)Agustín Delgado42001 (2) and 2004 (2)
Awards and records
Individual awards Top scorer 1963: Carlos Alberto Raffo (6 goals)
Team records Most goals conceded (331) Most matches until first victory (34, 4–1 against Colombia in 1949) Highest defeat (0–12, against Argentina in 1942) Match with most goals (12, Argentina 12-0 Ecuador in 1942)
Individual records Most tournament participations: Álex Aguinaga (8, 1987–2004) (shared with Ángel Romano, 1916–1926) Longest time span between first and last match: Álex Aguinaga (17y 9d, 4 July 1987, against Peru at age 18 – 13 July 2004, against Mexico at age 36) Most own goals in one match: Honorato Gonzabay (2, 2–4 against Peru in 1955)
See also Ecuador at the FIFA World Cup Ecuador at the CONCACAF Gold Cup
References
External links RSSSF archives and results Soccerway database