By Editorial Staff / Social Media Image

TENERIFE, SPAIN - Did you know that a Guatemalan played in the Copa del Rey in the heart of the 21st century? We are talking about the Guatemalan youth player Duvan Ruano, who plays for CD Tenerife in Spain.

This promising young talent—an undiscovered gem of Guatemalan football—had the opportunity in early February 2026 to compete in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey Juvenil with Spain's CD Tenerife.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THIS YOUNG PROMISE:

Although not much is known about the youngster, it is presumed that he has Guatemalan roots and currently resides in Spain. Like many compatriots who have chosen to migrate to countries such as the United States or various European nations, it is possible that his parents migrated and he was either born there or moved at a young age.

What is certain is that he plays for the youth academy of CD Tenerife and was able to play several minutes in this cup, where we hope he gained significant exposure.

HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE COPA DEL REY JUVENIL:

According to various pages specialized in scouting young Guatemalans abroad, Duvan reportedly entered the match in the second half.

Although the result was unfavorable—as CD Tenerife fell 1-0 to Deportivo La Coruña due to a penalty—Duvan's participation demonstrates the coach's confidence in him and his footballing skills.

ANOTHER GUATEMALAN IN THE COPA DEL REY:

We know that Duvan is not the first Guatemalan to have played in the Copa del Rey or to have competed in the Spanish league. The first to do so was Federico Revuelto, who actually played for Real Madrid during the club's early years, but that is a topic for another article.

We hope that not only Duvan, but also other undiscovered Guatemalans playing in European football, can excel and one day wear the jersey of the Guatemala National Team.