Mauro Coronel

Nacional Asunción handed a plaque to their under-17 international rather than to a first-team regular. Mauro Coronel made his senior debut for the club on 30 May 2025, coming on in the 93rd minute of an Apertura fixture against General Caballero, and by the middle of that year had two appearances in Copa de Primera to his name, without a goal or a card yet against him. He also featured for Nacional's under-20 side, the level from which he was pushed into the first-team picture.

His name became known beyond the academy through the under-17 national team. In April 2025, with Paraguay facing Ecuador in a play-off for a place at the World Cup, the tie went to a penalty shoot-out, and it was Coronel who converted the decisive spot-kick, sending Paraguay through to the tournament in Qatar. He described the campaign in terms of the fight the squad put in to get there. Once in Qatar, he did not stay in the shadows: he scored in Paraguay's 2-1 win over Panama.

Nacional recognised the achievement back home, presenting Coronel with a commemorative plaque for his part in the under-17 qualification and World Cup run — an honour for a player who, at club level, was still only two substitute appearances into his senior career.

Born in Asunción, Coronel came through Nacional's own academy, the only club so far on his résumé.