Joel Ordóñez

Heading to World Cup with Ecuador

Ordonez haș been called up by his national team and is expected to play a major role at the 2026 World Cup.

Analysis: Ordonez will likely take on right-back duties for Ecuador despite spending most of the past season at center-back for Club Brugge. The defender gained valuable experience in the Champions League, where he logged 872 minutes, scored once and accumulated 58 clearances against elite competition. His impact with the national team has been equally impressive, as Ecuador recorded seven clean sheets over the eight qualifying games he appeared in. During that stretch, Ordonez averaged 3.9 clearances, 1.2 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per match, underscoring his defensive consistency. Whether deployed centrally or out wide, he should remain one of the key pieces of Ecuador's formidable back line.