Justin Cuero Explained

Justin Cuero
Full Name:Justin Raúl Cuero Palacio[1]
Birth Date:18 March 2004
Birth Place:Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Height:1.84 m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Orenburg
Clubnumber:19
Youthyears1:2017–2022
Youthclubs1:Independiente del Valle
Years1:2023–2024
Clubs1:Independiente del Valle
Caps1:2
Goals1:0
Years2:2023–2024
Clubs2:Independiente Juniors
Caps2:6
Goals2:1
Years3:2023–2024
Clubs3:Orenburg (loan)
Caps3:13
Goals3:1
Years4:2024–
Clubs4:Orenburg
Caps4:2
Goals4:0
Nationalyears1:2022–
Nationalteam1:Ecuador U20
Nationalcaps1:9
Nationalgoals1:4
Club-Update:17 August 2024

Justin Raúl Cuero Palacio (born 18 March, 2004) is an Ecuadorean football player who plays as a forward for Russian club Orenburg. He played as Ecuador finished runners-up at the 2022 South American Games and represented his country at the 2023 South American U-20 Championship.

Early life

Cuero is from Esmeraldas, Ecuador, in the north-western part of the country.[2] He came from the Independiente del Valle football academy.[3]

Career

Cuero made his Liga Pro debut for Independiente del Valle in a 3-1 home win against Mushuc Runa S.C. on February 25, 2023.[4]

On 15 August 2023, Cuero joined Russian Premier League club Orenburg on loan with an option to buy.[5]

International career

Cuero was selected to play Football at the 2022 South American Games in October 2022 for Ecuador in Asunción. He scored a hat-trick in the semi-final against Uruguay to help his team to the final against hosts Paraguay.[6] [7] Cuero excelled playing for Ecuador at the 2023 South American U-20 Championship.[8] Cuero was Ecuador's top scorer in the initial phase of the tournament from which they qualified for the Hexagonal group stage.[9] Cuero scored four goals in total at the tournament, including two against Paraguay that ensured his country finished in the top four and qualified from the Hexagonal group stage for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup to be held in Indonesia.[10] [11] Cuero thanked the Ecuadorean fans for helping the team achieve their never-say-die attitude.[12]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Independiente del Valle2023Ecuadorian Serie A20000020
Independiente Juniors2023Serie B00005050
Orenburg (loan)2023–24Russian Premier League13180211
Orenburg2024–25Russian Premier League102232
Career total16110250313

Style of play

Cuero has been described as a target man style centre forward,[13] adept at playing on his own up-front.[14] He has also been described as being “powerful physically and with good movements in the area to make space for himself”.[15] [16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ SQUAD LIST: Ecuador (ECU) . FIFA . 5 . 22 May 2023 . 30 May 2023.
  2. Web site: Esmeraldeños in the Ecuadorian sub-20 team. Lahora.com.
  3. Web site: Beyond Brazil: get to know the other jewels of the U-20 South American Championship. Placar.Arbil.com.
  4. Web site: INDEPENDIENTE DEL VALLE VS. MUSHUC RUNA 3-1. February 25, 2023. May 11, 2023. Soccerway.
  5. Web site: FC Orenburg. Новичок ФК "Оренбург" - Джастин Куэро. 15 August 2023. ru.
  6. Web site: The mini 'Tri' with a 'hat-trick' from Cuero advances to the final of the South American Games. ecuavisa.com.
  7. Web site: Ecuador will play the soccer final at the South American Games in Asunción 2022. El Telegrafo.
  8. Web site: Justin Cuero, among the figures of the South American Sub-20. Elcomercio.com.
  9. Web site: Justin Cuero says that Ecuador will fight in the hexagonal of the South American U-20. Elcomercio.com.
  10. Web site: Double by Justin Cuero in the 2-1 victory of Ecuador against Paraguay. Ambito.com.
  11. Web site: Ecuador, with a brace from Justin Cuero, dramatically defeats Paraguay and qualifies for the World Cup. Aficioncentral.com.
  12. Web site: Justin Cuero:Our team never gave up. Directvsports.com.
  13. Web site: Uruguay, Brazil among those standing out so far at South American U20 Championships. ESPN.
  14. Web site: Pateando tachos: Justin Cuero, nueve funcional. Expreso.ec.
  15. Web site: Ecuador sub-20 and the two 'cracks that will go to the 2023 World Cup', according to the newspaper AS. Eluniverso.com.
  16. Web site: Los cracks de las selecciones que irán al Mundial Sub-20 de Indonesia. AS.com.