The player who sold food on the street until he was 25, and now has more goals than CR7 and Lewandowski

Álex Arce, the top scorer in Ecuador’s LigaPro, will soon step onto the pitch of the Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium once again, but this time as an opponent. The Paraguayan forward is set to represent his national team against Ecuador in the ninth round of the South American World Cup Qualifiers.

Having signed with Liga de Quito in February, Arce quickly made his mark at the Rodrigo Paz Stadium, consistently finding the back of the net. The tall striker has scored in every competition the Ecuadorian club has participated in, amassing an impressive 26 goals so far—19 of them in the LigaPro.

Of his 15 goals at Casa Blanca, 10 have come in Ecuador's domestic league, while the rest have been spread across the Copa Sudamericana, Copa Libertadores, Copa Ecuador, and Recopa Sudamericana. Notably, 7 of those goals were headers, while 5 came from his right foot, and 3 from his left.

Arce has scored against a wide range of teams, both in domestic and international competitions, showcasing his versatility and knack for finding the goal. Notable performances include scoring in LigaPro against Delfín, Técnico Universitario, and Universidad Católica, and international goals against teams like Fluminense, Universitario of Peru, and Lanús of Argentina.

While Arce is not yet a regular starter for Paraguay, he has gained minutes in both World Cup Qualifiers and the Copa América. Now, as Paraguay faces Ecuador in Quito, Arce will find himself in familiar territory, playing in front of the same fans that cheer him on week after week in LigaPro matches.

Arce’s journey to success is nothing short of inspirational. At one point in his career, he was close to giving up football entirely. After being released by Cerro Porteño, where he made his professional debut and helped the team win the 2017 Torneo Apertura, he took a step back, joining Rubio Ñu in Paraguay's second division. During this time, he not only worked to regain his form, scoring seven goals, but also supported himself by working as a street vendor, selling blankets and hammocks made by his grandfather.

Now, as one of LigaPro’s brightest stars, Arce’s return to the Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium as a national team player is a testament to his resilience and determination. His story serves as a reminder of the power of perseverance in the face of adversity.