Diego Palacios

Lore & Background

Born in Guayaquil, Palacios made his senior debut with Aucas in 2017, in the Ecuadorian Serie A. After a short period at Norte América, he moved to Aucas in 2016. He spent a season with the youth sides before making his first team debut for Aucas in 2017. In July 2018 he agreed a season long loan with Willem II. On 12 August 2019, Palacios signed a contract with Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC. On 2 January 2024, Palacios was announced at Corinthians.

In Their Own Story

The BMO Stadium concourse was still half-empty, the 7:30 kick-off not yet here. Palacios stood by the tunnel, one boot tucked under the other, watching the floodlights hum to life over the grass. He could smell the freshly mowed pitch mixing with the diesel from the grounds crew's last mow. A veteran striker clapped him on the back—no words, just the flat palm against the shoulder blade that meant *you're in tonight, make it count.* He nodded, pulled his socks up to the knee, and felt the familiar cold of the stadium air on his calves. Out there, the red and gold would blur into a sea of noise. But in the middle of the park, in the quiet space between the first and second touch, he knew exactly where his left foot needed to be. He'd been placing it there since he was fourteen, in the same building, on the same grass. Tonight it just had more people watching.

Reader's Guide

Palacios plays as a left-back. During the 2020 CONCACAF Champions Cup, he won the award for Best Young Player. He was selected in the 28 player Ecuador squad for the 2021 Copa América and named in the Ecuadorian squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Did You Know?

• Palacios made his debut for the Ecuador national team in October 2018 in a friendly against Qatar.
• He helped Aucas gain promotion to the Ecuadorian Serie A and made his debut in that category in 2018.
• Palacios won the MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield with LAFC in 2022.