Enner Remberto Valencia Lastra, born on November 4, 1989, in San Lorenzo, Ecuador, is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Internacional and captains the Ecuador national team.
Club Career:
- Early Career: Valencia began his professional journey with CS Emelec in Ecuador, where he won the national championship in 2013 and was the top scorer in the Copa Sudamericana that same year.
- International Moves: His impressive performances led to a move to CF Pachuca in Mexico, where he became the league’s top scorer in the Clausura 2014. He later signed with West Ham United in the English Premier League in 2014.
- Subsequent Transfers: Valencia had loan spells with Everton and later joined Fenerbahçe in Turkey, where he was the league’s top scorer in the 2022–2023 season with 29 goals. In June 2023, he transferred to Internacional in Brazil, signing a three-year contract.
International Career:
- World Cup Contributions: Valencia has been instrumental for Ecuador in World Cup qualifiers, notably scoring two goals against Venezuela on March 21, 2025, which propelled Ecuador to second place in the South American qualifiers. He has also scored goals in previous World Cups, including three in Brazil 2014 and three in Qatar 2022.
Recent Performance:
- In the March 2025 match against Venezuela, Valencia’s two goals were pivotal in securing a 2-1 victory for Ecuador, bringing them closer to World Cup qualification.