Edison Flores

Edison Michael Flores Peralta is a Peruvian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga 1 club Universitario de Deportes. A mainstay of the Peru national team, he has appeared in three Copa América tournaments and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he scored five goals in qualifying, tied with Paolo Guerrero.

Flores is known for his pace, dribbling, and clutch goals, most recently a late winner against Colombia in 2026 World Cup qualifying. As of 2026, he is a three-time Peruvian champion with Universitario, a club he first joined as a youth player. [edit]

Born in Lima, Flores grew up in the Peruvian capital and entered the youth system of Universitario de Deportes, one of the country's most storied clubs. His breakout came in 2011, when at 17 he led the club to the U-20 Copa Libertadores title and was named the tournament's best player.

That performance earned him a spot in the senior squad, where he made 99 appearances, scoring 15 goals and adding 27 assists. His form in the domestic league drew attention from abroad, setting the stage for his international move. [edit]

Flores first represented Peru at the 2016 Copa América, then played a key role in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, scoring five goals, tied with Paolo Guerrero. At the tournament itself, he started all three group matches. In 2019, he helped Peru reach the Copa América final, where they finished as runners-up.

In January 2020, he transferred to D.C. United in MLS as a Designated Player, a record deal for the club. After a loan back to Universitario, he moved permanently to Atlas FC in Liga MX in June 2022. He returned to Universitario and has since won three consecutive Peruvian championships, and in 2026 he scored a dramatic late winner against Colombia in World Cup qualifying. [edit]

Flores is regarded as a national hero in Peru, particularly after his 2018 World Cup participation and his crucial qualifying goals. His dramatic late winner against Colombia in 2026 was described as making him "the hero" of the match. He maintains a down-to-earth persona, emphasizing team unity and national pride. His Instagram bio reflects this, with the line "Es más que un equipo es mi familia" (It's more than a team, it's my family). No specific fandom name is documented, but Peruvian supporters, known collectively as La Blanquirroja, hold him in high regard. [edit]

Edison Flores's fanbase is a force of nature in Peru, where he is treated as a returning hero. The ultras of Universitario's Trinchera Norte have embraced him as a prodigal son, and his social media reflects a devoted following, over 1.2 million Instagram followers and nearly 1.3 million Facebook likes, most of them Peruvians. When he played for D.C. United, Peruvian fans in the U.S. organized watch parties and made Audi Field feel like Lima, prompting the club to publish content in Spanish to engage them. The campaign to bring him back to Universitario in 2024, #EdisonVuelveACasa, flooded social media and succeeded, culminating in a tricampeonato and street celebrations in Plaza San Martín.

But fame beyond Peru is a different story. iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated Edison Flores, but as of August 2026, he does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings, neither the Global Top 1,000 nor any Top-100 scope list. His renown is intense but concentrated, a national treasure rather than a global superstar. The fanbase has no formal name; they are simply the faithful who chant "Orejas" and mimic his signature corner-flag dance. It's a fame that speaks to the heart of a nation, not the breadth of the world.[edit]

Flores has played professionally in three countries: Peru, the United States, and Mexico. He wore jersey number 19 for both club and country. His EA Sports FC 26 rating is 73 overall, with his primary position listed as left wing. He is a three-time champion with Universitario, a feat his Instagram bio celebrates with the phrase "Tricampeones."

The goal that defined his career came on October 10, 2017, when he scored against Colombia in Lima to secure Peru's playoff spot for the 2018 World Cup, their first in 36 years. The match ended 1-1, and the goal is still called "el gol que nos llevó al Mundial." Fans have turned it into an inside joke: when Flores has a quiet match, they say he's "saving his magic for the next qualifier."

His nickname "Orejas" (Ears) dates to his youth at Universitario's academy, and fans chant it affectionately. After scoring, he runs to the corner flag with a distinctive arm-swinging celebration that fans replicate in the stands, a ritual that has become as iconic as the man himself.[edit]

Flores was born in Lima to a Peruvian family. His full name reflects his father's surname, Flores, and his mother's surname, Peralta. Details about his parents, siblings, and household are not public. He has kept his family life private, though his Instagram bio includes the phrase "Es más que un equipo es mi familia," meaning "It's more than a team, it's my family," suggesting a strong bond with his clubmates. [edit]

Paolo Guerrero, a Peru national team teammate, jointly topped Peru's scoring charts in 2018 World Cup qualifying. Flores also played alongside his Universitario de Deportes teammates, as well as those at D.C. United and Atlas FC. [edit]

Edison Flores has kept his romantic life private. No confirmed public relationships, engagements, or marriages are documented in the available sources. As of 2026, his relationship status is not publicly known, though he is believed to be single. [edit]

iFANN currently estimates Edison Flores's net worth at $8 million. His primary income has come from football salaries, most notably his Designated Player contract with D.C. United in MLS, which typically pays over $1.5 million per year. He also earned transfer fees when he moved to D.C. United in 2020 and later to Atlas FC in 2022. His current contract with Universitario de Deportes runs until December 31, 2028. Endorsement deals and business ventures have not been publicly documented, so the bulk of his wealth stems from his playing career.[edit]

Flores won the U-20 Copa Libertadores in 2011 with Universitario and was named the tournament's best player. He also finished as runner-up with Peru at the 2019 Copa América and has won three Peruvian championships with Universitario. [edit]