MLS Star Marco Angulo Dead at 22 One Month After Car Crash

The soccer world is mourning a rising star. 

FC Cincinnati midfielder Marco Angulo died on Nov. 11 as a result of injuries he suffered during a car crash in Ecuador last month, the soccer team confirmed. He was 22.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Marco," FC Cincinnati shared to Instagram Nov. 12, "a husband and father, a brother and son, a friend and teammate. He was a joyful, kind young man who lit up every room he entered."

The organization, which noted Marco is survived by his wife and young son, added, "Our entire club grieves this tragedy, and we are thinking of and praying for his family." 

Marco—who was born in Esmeraldas, Ecuador—had been in a traffic accident in his home country when the Ford Explorer carrying him and three others crashed into a metal structure, according to a report by Ecuador's El Universo, translated from Spanish.

The outlet added that following the Oct. 7 accident, Marco underwent a decompressive craniectomy to relieve pressure in his head and had also suffered a lung contusion that "required the placement of a chest tube."

In addition to Marco, El Universo noted that two others involved in the accident have also died, Roberto Cabezas Simisterra and Víctor Charcopa Nazareno, both 22. 

The MLS player had joined FC Cincinnati in January 2023 and played with the team for their 2023 season, where, as the league noted in their condolence message, he helped them earn the Supporters' Shield, the honor given to the team with the best regular season record. In March, he was loaned to Liga Deportiva Universitaria (LDU) Quinto, an Ecuadorian professional football club.

LDU also shared a message following Marco's death, writing on Instagram Nov. 12, translated from Spanish, "We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones."

They continued, "His departure is an irreparable loss that will leave an indelible mark on our hearts."

In a separate video tribute to Marco, the team wrote, "You will always be in our hearts, dear friend. Fly high, Marco."