John Mercado
FullnameJohn Anthony Mercado Cuero
Birth date3 June 2002 (age 24)
Birth placeGuayaquil, Ecuador
Height1.86 m
PositionWinger
CurrentclubSparta Prague
Clubnumber7
Youthclubs 1Clan Juvenil
Youthyears 22016–2019
Youthclubs 2Panamá
Youthyears 32020–2022
Youthclubs 3Athletico Paranaense
Years 12022
Clubs 1Athletico Paranaense
Caps 11
Goals 10
Years 22022
Clubs 2→ CSA (loan)
Caps 29
Goals 20
Years 32023
Clubs 3Vilafranquense
Caps 313
Goals 32
Years 42023–2025
Clubs 4AVS
Caps 461
Goals 47
Years 52025–
Clubs 5Sparta Prague
Caps 526
Goals 57
Nationalyears 12017
Nationalteam 1Ecuador U15
Nationalyears 22019
Nationalteam 2Ecuador U17
Nationalcaps 213
Nationalgoals 23
Nationalyears 32020
Nationalteam 3Ecuador U20
Nationalcaps 32
Nationalgoals 30
Nationalyears 42024–
Nationalteam 4Ecuador
Nationalcaps 46
Nationalgoals 40
Pcupdate27 May 2026
Ntupdate30 May 2026

John Anthony Mercado Cuero (born 3 June 2002) is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Czech First League club Sparta Prague and the Ecuador national team.

Club career

Born in Guayaquil, Mercado agreed to a contract with Athletico Paranaense in July 2019,[1] but only moved to his new side in August 2020, after his 18th birthday.[2] After playing for the under-20s, he impressed manager Alberto Valentim in 2022, and was promoted to the first team squad.[3]

Mercado made his professional debut on 2 March 2022, coming on as a second-half substitute for Léo Cittadini in a 0–2 away loss against Palmeiras, for the year's Recopa Sudamericana.[4][5] In July, Athletico sent him on loan to Série B club CSA until the end of the season.[6]

In January 2023, Mercado terminated his contract with Athletico Paranaense and moved to Portugal, joining Liga Portugal 2 side Vilafranquense.[7] At the end of the 2022–23 season, Vilafranquense relocated to Vila das Aves and was rebranded as AVS Futebol SAD.[8] On 18 December 2023, he extended his contract with AVS until 2027.[9]

On 10 August 2025, Mercado signed a contract with Czech First League club Sparta Prague.[10]

International career

Mercado represented Ecuador at under-15 level in the 2017 South American U-15 Championship, and at under-17 level in the 2019 South American U-17 Championship[11] and the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[12]

Mercado debuted for the senior Ecuador national team on 6 September 2024 in a World Cup qualifier against Brazil at the Estádio Couto Pereira. He substituted Kevin Rodríguez in the 68th minute, Brazil won 1–0.[13]

Career statistics

Club

[14]

ClubSeasonLeagueState LeagueCupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Athletico Paranaense2022Série A100000—001[a]020
CSA (loan)2022Série B90—————90
Vilafranquense2022–23Liga Portugal 2132—00———132
AVS2023–24Liga Portugal 2284—1031—2[b]1346
2024–25Primeira Liga333—11——2[c]0364
Total617—2131—417010
Sparta Prague2025–26Czech First League267—21—9[d]1—379
Career total11016004231915113321

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Ecuador202430
202520
202610
Total60

References

  1. ^ "Athletico contrata três novatos que estavam no futebol do Exterior" [Athletico sign three youngsters who were in the foreign football] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Bem Paraná. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  2. ^ "El juvenil John Mercado fue fichado por el Atlético Paranaense brasileño" [The youngster John Mercado was signed up by Brazilian Atlético Paranaense] (in Spanish). El Comercio. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  3. ^ ""Vem gostando muito"; Valentim se rende ao talento de atacante e Athletico muda de ideia" ["He is liking a lot"; Valentim surrenders to the talent of forward and Athletico change their mind] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Bolavip. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Atuações do Athletico: atacantes somem, e John Mercado estreia contra o Palmeiras na Recopa" [Performances of Athletico: forwards disappear, and John Mercado debuts against Palmeiras in the Recopa] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Atacante John Mercado estreou entre os profissionais do Furacão" [Forward John Mercado debuted amongst the professionals of Furacão] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Club Athletico Paranaense. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  6. ^ "John Mercado é emprestado para o CSA" [John Mercado loaned to CSA] (in Brazilian Portuguese). OneFootball. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  7. ^ "John Mercado rescinde com o Athletico e acerta com time de Portugal" [John Mercado terminated contract with Athletico and reaches agreement with Portuguese team] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Vilafranquense SAD assume nova imagem na transferência para Vila das Aves" [Vilafranquense SAD takes on new image over relocation to Vila das Aves] (in pt-pt). Público. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Aves SAD: avançado equatoriano John Mercado renova contrato" [Aves SAD: Ecuadorian forward John Mercado renews contract] (in Portuguese). O Jogo. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  10. ^ Lizec, Jiří & Pekár, Tomáš (10 August 2025). "Pátá letní posila. Preciadův parťák už patří Spartě" [Fifth summer signing. Preciado's partner now belongs to Sparta] (in Czech). Sport.cz. Borgis. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  11. ^ "ELLOS SON NUESTROS TRICOLORES SUB 17" [THESE ARE OUR UNDER-17 TRICOLORES] (in Spanish). FEF. 7 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  12. ^ "Los convocados de Ecuador para el Mundial Sub 17 de Brasil" [The called up ones for Ecuador for the Under-17 World Cup in Brazil] (in Spanish). El Canal de Fútbol. 8 October 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Brazil v Ecuador game report". ESPN. 6 September 2024.
  14. ^
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in Recopa Sudamericana
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in Liga Portugal 2 Playoffs
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in Primeira Liga Playoffs
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Conference League