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Carlos
Valderrama
(Colombia)
This
colourful and talented midfielder has been regarded as
one of the very best in his position in South America
over the past decade or so. Valderrama made his debut
for Colombia in October 1985 losing 3-0 to Paraguay,
but established himself soon and won the captaincy at
an early age. At clublevel, he started playing for
Colombia’s first division side Union Magdalena in
1981. He also played for Millionarios and Deportiva
Cali before he signed for French side Montpellier in
1988, a club he won a French Cup championship with two
years later. Valderrama also played for Spanish team
Valladolid before he returned home to his native
Colombia to play for Atletico Juniors where he also
won two league championships.
Known as “El Pibe”
(the kid), Carlos Valderrama is easy recognizable with
his big curly blonde hair and all his jewelry. He was
an accurate passer of the ball and a playmaker of
finest caliber. He is also one of very few players to
have captained his country in three World Cups. His
biggest World Cup moment was when he dribbled past
several players and delivered a pinpoint pass to
teammate Rincon who scored the necessary equalizer
three minutes into injurytime against eventual winners
West Germany in 1990. That goal meant Colombia
qualified to the second round.
In 1994, Colombia were
one of the hottest candidates to win the World Cup,
much thanks to a 5-0 thrashing of Argentina in Buenos
Aires in the qualifying rounds, and even though
Valderrama was on top of his game, Colombia
disappointed a lot and got knocked out already in the
first round. Neither in France four years later, at
the age of 37, could “El Pibe” and his teammate
get past the first round. He joined Tampa Bay Mutiny
in the MLS in 1996 where he has had success as one of
the best players.
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