Kevin José Rodríguez Cortez (born 4 March 2000) is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Belgian Pro League club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and the Ecuador national team.
Club career Imbabura Born in Ibarra, Rodríguez joined hometown side Imbabura at the age of 13. He progressed through the youth setup until making his first team debut in 2017, featuring in two matches as his club was relegated from the Serie B.
Rodríguez started to feature more regularly in 2018, scoring seven times in the national stage of the Segunda Categoria. After scoring 11 goals overall during the 2019 season, he only scored once in five matches in 2020. In 2021, he only scored twice as his side returned to the second level.
Rodríguez became a regular starter for Imbabura in the 2022 Serie B, scoring ten times as his side finished fifth. In the 2022 Copa Ecuador, he notably scored the winner to knock out LDU Quito in the round of 16.
Independiente del Valle On 2 December 2022, Independiente del Valle announced the signing of Rodríguez.
Union Saint-Gilloise On 1 September 2023, Belgian Pro League club Union Saint-Gilloise announced the signing of Rodríguez on a four-year deal, with an option for an additional year. Rodríguez made his debut as a substitute in Union's opening UEFA Europa League group game against Toulouse on 21 September 2023, which Union drew 1–1. Later that year, on 12 November, he scored his first goals by netting a brace in a 3–0 win over Kortrijk.
International career Rodríguez was called up to the Ecuador national team for the first time in November 2022, as part of a preparation match against Iraq ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup later that month. He made his debut in the match, which finished as a 0–0 draw, coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute for José Cifuentes. Two days later, he was included by coach Gustavo Alfaro in Ecuador's squad for the World Cup.
Rodríguez was named in the Ecuadorian squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. On 12 October 2023, he scored his first international goal – a 96th-minute winner against Bolivia in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. He was called up to the final 26-man Ecuador squad for the 2024 Copa América. On 31 May 2026, he was selected in Ecuador's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsImbabura2017Ecuadorian Serie B20———202018Ecuadorian Segunda Categoría97——911882019Ecuadorian Segunda Categoría12510—10623112020Ecuadorian Segunda Categoría41——10512021Ecuadorian Segunda Categoría112——201322022Ecuadorian Serie B291042——3312Total672552—2279434Independiente del Valle2023Ecuadorian Serie A164006130255Union SG2023–24Belgian Pro League1934160—2942024–25Belgian Pro League22120120003612025–26Belgian Pro League311044601041142026–27Belgian Pro League2000200040Total74141052601011119Career total1574115732122723056
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsEcuador2022302023812024101202560202680Total352
Scores and results list Ecuador's goal tally first. + List of international goals scored by Kevin RodríguezNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 12 October 2023 Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia 2–1 2–1 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification2 4 July 2024 NRG Stadium, Houston, United States 1–1 1–1 2024 Copa América
Honours Independiente del Valle Supercopa Ecuador: 2023 Recopa Sudamericana: 2023
Union SG Belgian Pro League: 2024–25 Belgian Cup: 2023–24, 2025–26 Belgian Super Cup: 2024
References
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