Marco Angulo, rising soccer star who played in the MLS, has died at the age of 22

Marco Angulo, a rising Ecuadorian soccer star who played for FC Cincinnati in Major League Soccer, died Tuesday from injuries sustained in a car accident, officials said. He was 22.

Angulo was in a vehicle with his former youth soccer teammate Roberto Cabezas when the car crashed into a metal barrier on a highway near Quito last month. The driver, Cabezas and Angulo all died in the accident.

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The young player suffered severe head injuries and a bruised lung and fell into a coma. He died Monday night, El Universo reported.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Marco – a husband and father, a brother and son, a friend and teammate,” FC Cincinnati said in a statement on Tuesday.

“He was a cheerful, friendly young man who brightened up every room he entered. Our entire club mourns this tragedy and we are thinking and praying for his family. He was and will continue to be a valued member of the FC Cincinnati family.”

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FC Cincinnati midfielder Marco Angulo, #8, and DC United midfielder Lewis O’Brien, #17, battle for the ball during the second half at Audi Field in Washington, DC on June 24, 2023. (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

Angulo played for LDU de Quito on loan from Cincinnati.

Angulo “defended the colors of our country at every opportunity with his talent and commitment,” the Ecuadorian Football Association said in a statement. “Marco was not only an outstanding player, but also a great teammate. He leaves a deep pain in our hearts.”

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FC Cincinnati midfielder Marco Angulo, #8, runs on the field during the first half against the New England Revolution at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on July 1, 2023. (Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports)

He played in 24 games for Cincinnati as the club finished first in the Eastern Conference in the 2023 regular season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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