Ecuador’s Enner Valencia on way to breaking scoring record

Enner Valencia, known as Ecuador’s “superman” for his scoring ability, has nailed 26 goals for the national team in 45 matches and is about to break the 31-goal record of the best scorer in the South American nation’s history, Agustin “El Tin” Delgado.

The 29-year-old Valencia looks unimposing, but he has a nose for the goal and still has a long career with the national team ahead of him.

Sports reporters in this Andean nation have written extensively about Valencia’s skill and speed, which he uses to get past defenders and score goals.

Valencia has already tied Ecuador’s No. 2 scorer, Eduardo “Tanque” Hurtado, who scored 26 goals in 74 matches with the national team.

Hurtado said he was not bothered by the young forward’s accomplishments and was cheering him on.

“I hope there are many more goals and victories for the whole country,” Hurtado tweeted after congratulating Valencia, a fellow native of Esmeraldas.

Valencia is now gunning for the record set by Delgado, who scored 31 goals for the national team in 71 matches.

The forward, who plays for the Mexican league’s Tigres UANL, has a full schedule next year, with friendlies and South American qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as well as the 2019 Copa America in Brazil, on tap.