Jose Luis Chilavert

Jose Luis Chilavert was one of Paraguay’s greatest soccer players. Even though he played the goalie position he scored many important goals for the national team and for Velez Sarsfield (the club in Argentina were he played for a long time).

Chilavert was an expert free kicker and penalty kicker. Rivals would tremble when there was a foul and Chilavert would come running from the other end of the field to take the free or penalty kick. Chilavert is second for the goalie with the most goals in history. He also has the record for the only goal keeper to score a hat trick.

Chilavert was born in Luque, Paraguay in July 27, 1965. He made his debut in Sportivo Luqueño at fifteen years old. He moved on to Guarani, San Lorenzo (in Argentina), Real Zaragoza (in Spain), Velez Sarsfield (Argentina), Racing Club de Strasbourg (France) and Peñarol (Uruguay). Chilavert retired in 2004 playing for Velez Sarsfield, the team that he loved.

With the national team (the albirroja) Chilavert played the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. In 1995 and 1997 he was voted the world’s best goalkeeper.

The Velez Sarsfield, Chilavert won the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Club Cup in 1994. He also won the Argentinean league on many occasions.

Chilavert is also known for his strong personality and his involvement with politics. He once refused to shake hands with corrupt general Lino Oviedo. Chilavert has also had a long lasting feud with Argentinean idol, Diego Maradona.

The National Soccer Team (the albirroja)

Soccer (futbol or football as we call it in the rest of the world) is the most popular sport in Paraguay. Paraguayans are divided into what teams in the national league they support. But usually everyone supports the national team.

The Paraguayan soccer league was formed in 1906 and the first national team was formed in 1910.

The national team is called the "albirroja" because of the stripes in the uniform. Paraguay had the honor of participating in the first World Cup in 1930. It also classified in 1950, 1958 and 1986 before the recent times of success. Paraguay also won the 1953 and 1979 versions of the Copa America.

The albirroja has done well in recent times. It has classified for the last three world cups in 1998, 2002 and 2006 world cups. It is also on top of the classifing table for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Only a disaster will keep Paraguay out of the next world cup.

Many great players have played for the national team in the last 15 years. Some of them are Jose Luis Chilavert, Celso Ayala, Carlos Paredes, Miguel Benitez, Carlos Gamarra, Jose Cardozo, Francisco Arce, Denis Caniza, Roque Santacruz, Julio Caceres, Nelson Cuevas, Gabriel Gonzalez, Salvador Cabañas, Roberto Acuña, Luis Monzon, Adriano Samaniego and Claudio Morel.

Other great players from earlier times include: Romerito, Aurelio Gonzalez, Saturnino Arrua, Roberto Fernandez, Eugenio Morel and Juan Villalba.

Arsenio Erico, Paraguay's greates player, never played an official game with the national team. He is often compared in greatness to Pele and Maradona.