Chilavert (born July 27, 1965 in Luque) is an
football (soccer) goalkeeper from Paraguay. He is considered by
many to be the greatest soccer player to come out of that South
American nation. Chilavert is also one of the world's leading
free-kick specialists, and often takes penalties. This unusual
expertise for a goalkeeper has made him the all-time leading
scorer among professional keepers. He has scored 62 goals in his
professional career, including eight in international matches.
Four of his international goals were scored during Paraguay's
qualification for the 2002 World Cup.
Chilavert made his debut as a soccer player at the age of 15,
with the team Sportivo Luqueno, which were a second division
team at that time. In 1989, he played for the Paraguayan
national team for the first time. By then he had already reached
division one football, with Argentina's San Lorenzo.
He later moved to Spain, where he played with the club Real
Zaragoza. He returned to Argentina, where he played with Vélez
Sarsfield, helping them to the Argentine championship three
times as well as the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental
Cup, both won in 1994.
He was voted World Goalkeeper of the Year in 1995 and 1997. In
1998, he participated in the World Cup, helping take Paraguay to
the second round, where the team lost against France. Chilavert
made boasts about being the Cup's best goalkeeper before this
tournament.
During a qualifying game for the 2002 World Cup, he spat on
Brazil's player Roberto Carlos, an action which caused FIFA to
give him a three-match suspension and forced him to watch the
first two games of the tournament from the stands. He recently
announced his retirement from international football.
Furthermore he has been charactised as a spoiled player thanks
to his attitude towards fellow team mates, players and managers.
He has 74 international caps for Paraguay and an impressive 8
goals. |
