Who is Piero Hincapié?

Stats correct as of 21 December 2024

Piero Hincapié

Age: 22 (born: 9 January 2002)
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Position: Centre-back/ left-back
Country: Ecuador (43 caps, three goals)

Key stats

Hincapié made the switch to Leverkusen at the age of 19, after impressing for Ecuador at the 2021 Copa America. Handed his senior international debut in the group opener against Colombia, the 6'0" defender started all five games as his country reached the quarter-finals, where they lost 3-0 to eventual winners Argentina. He had already made 33 competitive appearances for Argentinian club Talleres when he signed a five-year deal with Leverkusen, for whom he debuted and scored his first goal in the 2021/22 UEFA Europa League groups.

Hincapié's maiden international strike followed in a 1-0 2022 World Cup qualifying win over Venezuela - three points that ultimately proved the difference between his country's automatic passage to the finals and a place in the play-offs - and he ended the year with a first Bundesliga goal, against Greuther Fürth, to his name. The Bayer No.3 wrapped up his debut Bundesliga season with 27 appearances under his belt, before going on to start all three of his country's group games at the FIFA World Cup 2022.

A 2020 U20 Copa Copa Libertadores winner with boyhood club Independiente del Valle, Hincapié is now approaching 100 Bundealiga games and 40 in UEFA club competition. He flits between centre- and left-back in Die Werkself colours, but has won all his senior international caps to date at the heart of the defence. The Esmeraldas native captained Ecuador for the first time in October 2024 as La Tri drew 0-0 with Uruguay in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying, months after he helped Leverkusen win the Bundesliga, DFB Cup and DFL Supercup.

Plays a bit like: Lucas Hernández

Tenacious, comfortable with the ball at his feet, versatile and left-footed: Hincapie has a lot in common with ex-Bayern Munich defender Lucas Hernández. Statistically - at least for slide tackles, aerial challenges and passes to a man in the Bundesliga - he's even ahead of the France 2018 World Cup winner.

Watch: Piero Hincapié was a January 2024 Player of the Month nominee

Did you know?

Hincapie says his brother has compared him to Argentina's Cristian Romero, but the man himself modelled his game on legendary Spain centre-back pair Carles Puyol and Sergio Ramos.

"On Fridays, when we travelled by bus for seven or eight hours to play for Independiente del Valle, I watched a lot of videos of Puyol and Sergio Ramos," Hincapie - who left home at 10 to pursue his dream of one day playing football professionally - told Scouted Football.

"I watched the videos so I wouldn't get bored on the bus, and that's when I realised that I really liked Puyol. He had a special way of playing, perhaps less technical than Ramos, but he was a leader and captain. One of the best centre-backs I've ever seen."

What they're saying

"I think he’s a very modern defender. He can play in different positions. He’s served us as a full-back, but has also been the left centre-back when we’ve played with a back three. He’s aggressive, is making better decisions when he has the ball, backs himself more to play diagonal passes and get in behind. It motivates me to have a player with his potential and desire because he helps you and you help him. He's a great player." - Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso

"Piero Hincapié came to us as a 19-year-old in 2021, but even then we could see the confidence he has in his abilities. Today Piero battles on an equal footing with world-class players like Lionel Messi and Mo Salah. He’s earned that respect from around the world. It’s even better for us that Piero has now committed himself long  term again to Bayer 04." - Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes after tying Hincapié down to a new deal in December 2024