10 Best Football (Soccer) Players from Paraguay

Paraguay squad 1953 Photo sourced from Wikimedia

10 Best Football (Soccer) Players from Paraguay

Paraguay is one of the best countries from South America with football as its most popular sport in Paraguay. Paraguay’s national team has played at eight FIFA World Cup competitions and has won two Copa América tournaments.

Olimpia Asunción is the country’s most successful club in domestic and international competitions. Paraguay’s football leagues are divided into four divisions. In 2020, Paraguay’s top-tier was ranked 8th in the world by the IFFHS. 

Let’s take a look at some of the best players from Paraguay;

1.Jose Luis Chilavert

Jose L. Chilavert posing with the River Plate goalkeeper shirt Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Jose Luis Felix Chilavert González is a Paraguayan former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.He was renowned for being a fast and agile shot-stopper, known for his leadership, strong personality, and goalkeeping ability. He was regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world in his prime. 

He could also play outfield with his ability as a free kick specialist, and often took penalties. He represented Paraguay national team 74 times from 1989 to 2003, scoring 8 goals and representing the team at five major tournaments. He scored a total of 67 goals in his career which one of the best for a goalkeeper. 

2.Arsenio Erico

Paraguayan striker Arsenio Erico while playing for CA Independiente.
Photo sourced by Wikimedia

Arsenio Pastor Erico Martinez was a Paraguayan football striker. He is the all-time highest goalscorer in the Argentine first division, with 295 goals. Erico is also considered the best Paraguayan footballer of all time. He was known for his playing style, he was a striker noted for his technique, finishing and aerial ability.

He is considered as one of greatest players to have played in the Argentinean league.He died of heart attack on 23rd July 1977 after he had had his left leg had to be cut off. Several places and stadiums have been named in his honor and has been praised by some of the greatest players to be among the all time best. 

3.Roque Santa Cruz

Roque Santa Cruz Photo by Paolo Camera Wikimedia

Roque Luis Santa Cruz who was born on 16th  August 1981 is a Paraguayan footballer who plays as a striker for Paraguayan club Club Libertad. He is the record goal scorer with 32 goals and has earned over 100 caps for the Paraguay national team, thus he is regarded as one of the best players in the nation’s history. 

He played for some of the best teams in the world including Manchester City and Bayern Munich and scored some of the most crucial goals to help his clubs. Roque Santa Cruz caused problems for opposing defences with his natural flair for goalscoring and surging runs into the penalty box. 

4.Miguel Almiron

Miguel Angel Almiron Rejala who was born on 10th February 1994 is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Premier League club Newcastle United and the Paraguay national team. He can play in the wings and in the middle of the attacking three behind the main striker. 

Almiron made his international debut for Paraguay in 2015, and represented the country at the Copa América in 2016, 2019 and 2021.He has represented Paraguay in 47 appearances scoring 6 goals in the process. He has also been voted the Paraguay player of the year twice in 2017 and 2018.

4.Paulo da Silva

Paulo Cesar da Silva Barrios who was born on 1 February 1980 is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays for 12 de Octubre in Paraguay, as a centre-back.He is known as one of the toughest defenders with tackling ability which always makes him to stand out. 

He has represented his country Paraguay in a total of 150 appearances from 2000 to 2017 and scoring 3 goals in the process making him the country’s all time most capped player. He is also capable of playing in all the defending roles including the defensive midfield. 

5.Angel Romero

Angel Rodrigo Romero Villamayor who was born on 4th July 1992, more commonly known as Angel Romero, is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga MX club Cruz Azul and the Paraguay national team. He is the twin brother of Oscar Romero. 

He has represented the Paraguay national team in a total of 41 appearances and scored 8 goals in the process. He has also played fir several top clubs including Brazil top club Corinthians where he has spent most of his top flight career. 

6.Carlos Gamarra

Carlos Gamarra was a Paraguayan player who played as a defender for the Paraguay national team. He was widely considered a top defender in South America during his peak years. He played in Paraguay, Brazil, Greece, Italy and Portugal. 

He was named as the Paraguayan Footballer of the Year in 1997 and 1998, and was also included in the 1998 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament.He  was known for his leadership, physical strength, ability in the air, heading accuracy, and outstanding tackling skills, which made him one of the most respected defenders in South America. 

7.Jose Cardozo

Jose Saturnino Cardozo Otazu who was born on 19th March 1971 is a Paraguayan football manager and former professional footballer. He played as a striker and spent 10 years of his career playing for Toluca and is the club’s all-time top goalscorer. He also managed Toluca in 2013 up to 2016.

Cardozo earned 82 caps for Paraguay between 1991 and 2006, putting him ninth in their most-capped players of all time, with his haul of 25 international goals the second most for the nation. He represented them at three Copa America tournaments, two FIFA World Cups, and the 2004 Olympic tournament, winning silver in the latter. 

8.Oscar Romero

Oscar David Romero Villamayor who was born on 4th July 1992 is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Argentine Primera División club Boca Juniors and the Paraguay national team. He is one of the current crop of Paraguayan footballers. 

He is also the twin brother of Angel Romero and has represented the Paraguay national team in a total of 55 appearances and scored 4 goals from the midfield in the process. He has also played for some of the top teams including Boca Juniors, Racing club, nd Shanghai Shenhua. 

9.Gustavo Gomez

Gustavo Gomez is a Paraguayan footballer who currently plays as a defender for and captains the Brazilian Serie A club Palmeiras and the Paraguay national team.Gomez is considered one of the most promising defenders of Paraguay. 

Gustavo is a strong defender capable of playing in any position at the back. He is a hard tackler and good in the air. He was instrumental in Lanus’ style of building attacks from behind. He has represented the Paraguay national team in 59 appearances and scored 4 goals in the process. 

10.Edgar Barreto

Edgar Osvaldo Barreto Caceres who was born 15 July 1984 is a Paraguayan former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder. He spent most of his career in the Italian Serie A, with several clubs including Atalanta and Palermo. 

Barreto earned 60 caps for the Paraguay national team from 2004 to 2011. After winning a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics, he played for the country at three Copa America tournaments and two FIFA World Cups, finishing as runner-up in the 2011 Copa America.

Though Paraguay is not going to the 2022 world cup in Qatar, we could see them in the future with the current squad of some of the best young talents coming through to the national team.