Rubén Duarte

Rubén Duarte Sánchez (born 18 October 1995) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Liga MX club UNAM. Mainly a left-back, he can also play as a central defender.

Espanyol
Born in Almería, Andalusia, Duarte joined RCD Espanyol's youth system in 2009, aged 13, after spells at Los Molinos CF and Polideportivo Ejido. In 2012, he was linked to Manchester City, and made his senior debut with the reserves in the Segunda División B.

On 7 January 2015, Duarte made his first-team debut, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 away loss against Valencia CF in that season's Copa del Rey. His maiden La Liga appearance occurred on 8 February, against the same opponent and with the same scoreline, but at the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat.

Duarte renewed his contract with the Catalan club on 11 June 2015, signing until 2019 and being promoted to the main squad.

Alavés
On 29 May 2017, after falling down the pecking order, Duarte signed a three-year deal at Deportivo Alavés in the same league. He played 24 matches in his first season, in a 14th-place finish.

Duarte scored his first goal in the Spanish top division – and as a professional – on 16 May 2021, in a 4–2 home win over Granada CF. In July 2023, after helping to another promotion to the main tier, he renewed his contract until 2026.

On 9 July 2024, Duarte terminated his contract with the Babazorros.

UNAM
Hours after leaving Alavés, Duarte moved abroad for the first time in his career, after being announced at Liga MX side UNAM.

International career
After playing for Spain at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 levels, Duarte was first called to the full side on 26 May 2015 for a friendly with Costa Rica and a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Belarus.