# Willian Pacho professional achievements > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/willian-pacho-professional-achievements > Updated: 2026-10-26T08:01:59.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 3. Ecuadorian defender Willian Pacho has achieved significant recognition and statistical milestones during his tenure with Paris Saint-Germain. In late September 2026, Pacho was named among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, becoming only the second Ecuadorian footballer to receive the distinction after É Edison Méndez in 2006. An official profile titled “The strength born from pain” detailed his journey from Quinindé to European football, noting his use of the number 51 to honor his mother, who passed away in 2019 on the day of his professional debut. Pacho also credited former coach Renato Paiva for support during a 2021 period when a transfer to Borussia Mönchengladbach collapsed due to foreign player quota issues. By mid-October 2026, Pacho reached 36 Champions League appearances, ranking him second among all Ecuadorian players in the tournament's history, trailing only Antonio Valencia. He maintained a notable disciplinary record, playing 36 matches without receiving a yellow or red card. Additionally, UEFA statistics for the 2025-2026 season indicated he led the Champions League in ball recoveries with 105 successful actions over 17 matches. On October 16, 2026, Pacho celebrated his 25th birthday. His career includes formative years at Independiente del Valle, where he won the 2020 Copa Libertadores Sub-20, followed by stints at Royal Antwerp and Eintracht Frankfurt. Since joining PSG in August 2024, he has secured multiple titles, including Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, two Champions League trophies, the UEFA Super Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, and the French Super Cup. He was also named to the Ligue 1 Team of the Year. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-26: Willian Pacho nominated for 2026 Ballon d'Or Ecuadorian defender Willian Pacho has been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or following a trophy-laden season with Paris Saint-Germain. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/willian-pacho-nominated-for-2026-ballon-dor-1 ### 2026-10-15: Willian Pacho celebrates 25th birthday amid Champions League success Ecuadorian defender Willian Pacho celebrates his 25th birthday following a highly successful career with PSG, including two Champions League titles and a record-breaking disciplinary run. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/willian-pacho-reaches-milestone-in-champions-league ### 2026-09-28: Willian Pacho nominated for 2026 Ballon d'Or Ecuadorian defender Willian Pacho has been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, following a successful career path from Independiente del Valle to Paris Saint-Germain. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/willian-pacho-nominated-for-2026-ballon-dor --- Cite as: Willian Pacho professional achievements. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/willian-pacho-professional-achievements