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Paraguay national football team facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Paraguay women's national football team.
Quick facts for kids
Paraguay
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Los Guaraníes (The Guaraníes)
La Albirroja (The White and Red)
Association Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol (APF)
Confederation CONMEBOL (South America)
Head coach Gustavo Alfaro
Captain Gustavo Gómez
Most caps Paulo da Silva (148)
Top scorer Roque Santa Cruz (32)
Home stadium Estadio Defensores del Chaco
FIFA code PAR
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 33 Decrease 1 (7 February 2019)
Highest 8 (March 2001)
Lowest 103 (May 1995)
Elo ranking
Current 39 Decrease 13 (3 March 2019)
Highest 4 (21 February 1954)
Lowest 43 (12 August 1962, 5 March 2014, 31 March 2015)
First international
 Paraguay 1–5 Argentina 
(Asunción, Paraguay; 11 May 1919)
Biggest win
 Paraguay 7–0 Bolivia 
(Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 30 April 1949)
 Hong Kong 0–7 Paraguay 
(Hong Kong; 17 November 2010)
Biggest defeat
 Argentina 8–0 Paraguay 
(Santiago, Chile; 20 October 1926)
World Cup
Appearances 8 (first in 1930)
Best result Quarter-finals (2010)
Copa América
Appearances 39 (first in 1921)
Best result Champions (1953, 1979)

The Paraguay national football team, also known as La Albirroja, represents Paraguay in men's international football games. The team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association (APF). Paraguay is a member of CONMEBOL, the football confederation for South America.

La Albirroja has played in eight FIFA World Cup tournaments. Their best result was reaching the quarter-finals in 2010. Paraguay also regularly plays in the Copa América, winning the championship twice in 1953 and 1979. Their highest ever FIFA World Rankings was 8th in March 2001.

The team had a very successful time under coach Gerardo Martino. He led Paraguay to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 2010. He also guided them to the final of the 2011 Copa América, where they finished second. Famous players like Carlos Gamarra and José Luis Chilavert were chosen for the World Cup All-Star Team in 1998. Paulo da Silva has played the most games for Paraguay (148 matches). Roque Santa Cruz is the team's top goal scorer with 32 goals. Denis Caniza is the only player to have played for Paraguay in four World Cups (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010).

The History of Paraguay's Football Team

Early Days of Paraguayan Football (1900–1930)

Paraguay 1929
Paraguay's team at the 1929 South American Championship.

Football came to Paraguay thanks to Williams Paats. Soon after, the Liga Paraguaya de Futbol was formed in 1906. This league is now known as the Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol.

The first national team played a friendly match in 1910 against an Argentine club. The game ended in a 0–0 draw. As more international games were played, the APF officially created the national team. They chose red and white striped jerseys, just like the Paraguayan flag.

In 1919, Paraguay was invited to the 1921 Copa América. To get ready, they played friendly matches. Their first official international game was a 5–1 loss to Argentina. But at the 1921 Copa América, Paraguay surprised everyone. They beat Uruguay, who had won the tournament three times, by a score of 2–1. Paraguay finished fourth in the tournament.

In 1930, Paraguay played in the very first World Cup in Uruguay. They lost their first game to the United States (0–3). Then, they beat Belgium (1–0) with a goal from Luis Vargas Peña. Only one team from each group could move on, so the U.S. advanced instead of Paraguay.

First Big Wins (1930–1970)

Paraguay did well in the Copa América tournaments in 1929, 1947, and 1949. They finished second in these competitions. This prepared them for their next World Cup.

They returned to the World Cup in 1950. Paraguay played against Sweden and Italy. They drew 2–2 with Sweden and lost 2–0 to Italy, so they did not move past the first round.

Paraguay's first major success came in 1953. They won the Copa América held in Peru. On their way to the title, they beat Chile (3–0), Bolivia (2–1), and Brazil (2–1). They also tied against Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay. Since Paraguay and Brazil had the same points, they played a final match. Paraguay won 3–2. Key players included Ángel Berni, Heriberto Herrera, and Rubén Fernández. The coach was Manuel Fleitas Solich.

For the 1958 World Cup, Paraguay surprisingly qualified. They beat Uruguay 5–0 in a key game. Their team had strong attackers like Juan Bautista Agüero, José Parodi, Jorge Lino Romero, Cayetano Ré, and Florencio Amarilla. In Sweden, Paraguay lost 7–3 to France. They then beat Scotland 3–2 and drew 3–3 with Yugoslavia. Paraguay finished third in their group.

Many of Paraguay's star players moved to play in Europe, especially Spain. This made the team a bit weaker. They almost qualified for the 1962 World Cup but were just beaten by Mexico.

More Continental Success (1970–1990)

Paraguay did not qualify for the World Cup for a while. However, they found success in the Copa América in 1979. Also, one of their top clubs, Olimpia, won the Copa Libertadores. This showed that Paraguay was still a strong football nation in South America.

Paraguay won the 1979 Copa América. They finished first in their group with two wins and two draws. In the semi-finals, they beat Brazil 4–3 over two games. In the finals, Paraguay defeated Chile 3–1 to win their second continental title. Important players from this team included Romerito, Carlos Alberto Kiese, Alicio Solalinde, Roberto Paredes, Hugo Ricardo Talavera, and Eugenio Morel. The coach was Ranulfo Miranda.

Paraguay returned to the World Cup in 1986 after 28 years. The team had players like Roberto Fernández (goalkeeper), Cesar Zabala, Rogelio Delgado, and Juan Bautista Torales (defenders). Midfielders included Jorge Amado Nunes, Vladimiro Schettina, and Romerito. Strikers were Roberto Cabañas, Ramón Ángel María Hicks, and Rolando Chilavert. In the first round, Paraguay beat Iraq 1–0. They then drew 1–1 with Mexico and 2–2 with Belgium. They reached the second round but lost 3–0 to England.

The Golden Generation (1998–2011)

After 1986, Paraguay did not qualify for the 1990 and 1994 World Cups.

In 1992, Paraguay won the South American Pre-Olympic tournament. This earned them a spot in the 1992 Summer Olympics football competition. At the Olympics, Paraguay finished second in their group. They were knocked out by Ghana in the quarter-finals. This team was important because new young players emerged. These included Carlos Gamarra, Celso Ayala, José Luis Chilavert, Francisco Arce, and José Cardozo. These players became part of Paraguay's "golden generation." They led the team to three World Cups in a row and strong performances in other tournaments. This made Paraguay one of the top teams in South America.

1998 FIFA World Cup Journey

Paraguay finished second in the qualifiers for the 1998 World Cup. They were just one point behind Argentina. The team, coached by Brazilian Paulo César Carpegiani, returned to the World Cup for the first time since 1986. They were in Group D with Bulgaria, Nigeria, and Spain.

Paraguay drew their first two matches 0–0 against Bulgaria and Spain. They then played Nigeria, who had already qualified. Paraguay won 3–1 and finished second in the group.

In the second round, Paraguay faced France on June 28. The game was 0–0 for 90 minutes. In extra time, Laurent Blanc scored in the 114th minute. This "golden goal" rule meant Paraguay was eliminated. Defender Carlos Gamarra and goalkeeper and captain José Luís Chilavert were chosen for the 1998 All-Star Team.

Copa América in 1999 and 2001

Paraguay hosted the 1999 Copa América. Coach Ever Hugo Almeida chose an experienced team, with many players from the 1998 World Cup. In their group with Bolivia, Japan, and Peru, Paraguay drew 0–0 with Bolivia. On July 2, Paraguay beat Japan 4–0. In their last group game, Paraguay won 1–0 against Peru. La Albirroja finished first in their group.

In the quarter-finals, Paraguay played Uruguay. The game went to a penalty shootout, where Uruguay won 5–3. After the tournament, striker Roque Santa Cruz won the 1999 Paraguayan Footballer of the Year award.

In the 2001 Copa America, coach Sergio Markarián mainly picked players from Paraguayan clubs. Paraguay was in a group with Peru, Mexico, and Brazil. Their first game on July 12 was a 3–3 draw. On July 15, Paraguay drew 0–0 with Mexico. Then, on July 18, Brazil won 3–1 against Paraguay, which meant Paraguay was eliminated with only two points.

2002 FIFA World Cup Adventure

Paraguay started its 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification in March 2000 with a 2–0 loss to Peru. A month later, they beat Uruguay 1–0. On June 3, 2000, Paraguay won 3–1 at home against Ecuador. They then lost 3–1 to Chile. On July 18, 2000, Paraguay had a big 2–1 home win against Brazil. They then drew their next two games.

Paraguay then won four games in a row against Venezuela, Colombia (2–0), Peru (5–1), and Uruguay (1–0). This moved them to second place in the qualifiers.

Chilavert sanlorenzo
José Luis Chilavert was a key player as Paraguay qualified for the 2002 World Cup.

Paraguay lost 2–1 to Ecuador. They beat Chile 1–0. They lost 2–0 to Brazil. Then, they beat Bolivia 5–1 at home. A month later, Paraguay drew 2–2 with Argentina. Paraguay stayed in second place. They then lost 3–1 to Venezuela and 4–0 to Colombia. Paraguay finished fourth with 30 points, qualifying for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. José Saturnino Cardozo scored six goals and Carlos Humberto Paredes scored five goals in the qualifiers.

Paraguay went into the 2002 World Cup with many players from the 1998 team. José Luís Chilavert was the captain. Cesare Maldini became coach in January 2002, which caused some debate.

Paraguay was in Group B with Spain, South Africa, and Slovenia. Their first game on June 2 against South Africa was a 2–2 draw. On June 7, Spain beat Paraguay 3–1. In their third game against Slovenia, Paraguay won 3–1. Paraguay and South Africa both had four points. But Paraguay advanced because they scored more goals (6 goals compared to South Africa's 5).

In the Round of 16, Paraguay played against Germany. Germany scored in the 88th minute to win 1–0, ending Paraguay's tournament.

2004 Copa América Performance

Nelson Valdez
Nelson Valdez played for Paraguay in the 2004 Copa América.

Coach Carlos Jara Saguier took a young team to the 2004 Copa América. Most players were from Paraguay's top league. Paraguay was in Group C with Brazil, Costa Rica, and Chile. They won their first game against Costa Rica 1–0 with a penalty. They drew 1–1 with Chile. In their game against Brazil, Paraguay won 2–1. This meant Paraguay topped the group without losing, with seven points.

In the quarter-finals, Paraguay played Uruguay. Uruguay won 3–1, and Paraguay was eliminated.

2006 FIFA World Cup Journey

Jose cardozo
José Saturnino Cardozo scored seven goals during the 2006 World Cup qualifiers.

Paraguay started the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification well, with three wins in their first four games in 2003. After losing 4–1 to Peru, Paraguay beat Uruguay (4–1) and Chile (1–0) to reach first place. In 2004, Paraguay drew 0–0 with Brazil and lost 2–1 to Bolivia. They had one win in 2004, a 1–0 victory against Venezuela. They ended the year with a 1–0 loss to Uruguay.

In 2005, Paraguay lost to Ecuador but then beat Chile 2–1. Brazil defeated Paraguay 4–1. Paraguay then beat Bolivia 4–1 and Argentina 1–0. This was Paraguay's first official win against Argentina. They also beat Venezuela 1–0. In their last game, Paraguay lost 1–0 at home to Colombia. Paraguay finished fourth in the qualifiers, making it their third World Cup in a row. José Cardozo was second in goals scored with seven.

On the pitch
Paraguay (right, in blue) playing against England (left, in white) at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Coach Aníbal Ruiz took 8 players from European clubs and 11 from South American clubs to Germany for the 2006 tournament. This was Paraguay's third World Cup in a row, and the team had experienced players like captain Carlos Gamarra.

Paraguay was in Group B with England, Sweden, and Trinidad and Tobago. They faced England in their first game on June 10. England won 1–0. On June 15, Sweden beat Paraguay, which meant Paraguay was out after only two games, without scoring a single goal. Paraguay's only win came in their last group game on June 20 against Trinidad and Tobago, a 2–0 victory. Paraguay finished third in their group. They were the only South American team not to get past the first round. After the 2006 World Cup, Aníbal Ruiz resigned as coach.

Gerardo Martino (marzo de 2014)
Gerardo Martino became the new coach in January 2007.

After 2006, many key players retired. The team went through a big change. In 2007, Argentine Gerardo "Tata" Martino became the new head coach.

2007 Copa América Journey

Gerardo Martino took an experienced team to Venezuela. Players like Darío Verón, Claudio Morel Rodríguez, Carlos Bonet, Julio Manzur, Paulo da Silva, Aureliano Torres, Roque Santa Cruz, and captain Julio César Cáceres were all there. New players included Enrique Vera, Óscar Cardozo, and Jonathan Santana. This was also one of the last tournaments for veteran Nelson Cuevas.

Paraguay was in Group C with Argentina, Colombia, and the USA. In their first game, they beat Colombia 5–0. Roque Santa Cruz scored three goals and Salvador Cabañas scored two. In their second game against the USA, Paraguay won 3–1. Édgar Barreto scored first, then the USA tied. But goals from Óscar Cardozo and Salvador Cabañas secured the win.

Paraguay and Argentina both had six points. They played their last group game with some players resting. Argentina won 1–0. Paraguay moved to the knockout stage to play Mexico. Mexico had already beaten Brazil and finished first in their group. Paraguay's goalkeeper, Aldo Bobadilla, got a red card early in the game. Mexico scored a penalty and was up 3–0 by halftime. Mexico scored three more goals, winning 6–0 and ending Paraguay's Copa América.

2010 FIFA World Cup Success

Salvador Cabañas
Coach Gerardo Martino considered Salvador Cabañas to be Paraguay's best player.

Paraguay started their 2010 World Cup qualifying with a 0–0 draw against Peru. They then won four games in a row against Uruguay (1–0), Ecuador (5–1), Chile (3–0), and Brazil (2–0). These wins put Paraguay in first place in the CONMEBOL standings. They stayed in first place for nine rounds. Paraguay lost for the first time in a 4–2 game against Bolivia.

Paraguay then drew 1–1 with Argentina. Days later, they beat Venezuela 2–0 at home, staying in first place. Paraguay then won two 1–0 games against Colombia and Peru. This kept them in first place as 2008 ended. In 2009, Paraguay lost 2–0 to Uruguay and drew 1–1 with Ecuador. By June, Paraguay lost 2–0 at home to Chile and 2–1 to Brazil.

In the last four qualifying matches, Paraguay won 1–0 at home against Bolivia. They secured their spot in the World Cup on September 9, when they beat Argentina 1–0. Paraguay finished the qualifiers with a 2–1 win against Venezuela and a 2–0 loss to Colombia. They ended with 33 points. Salvador Cabañas scored six goals, making him one of the top scorers.

FIFA World Cup 2010 Italy Paraguay3
La Albirroja playing against Italy on June 14, 2010.

Paraguay had an experienced team for the 2010 World Cup. Players included Roque Santa Cruz, Édgar Barreto, Carlos Bonet, Enrique Vera, Cristian Riveros, Nelson Valdez, and Paulo da Silva. This was Paraguay's fourth World Cup in a row. For Denis Caniza, it was a record fourth World Cup. Nine players were from European clubs.

Paraguay was in Group F with Italy, Slovakia, and New Zealand. They drew their first game 1–1 with Italy, after scoring first. They then beat Slovakia 2–0 and drew 0–0 with New Zealand. This meant they finished first in their group.

In the second round, Paraguay played Japan. The game was a 0–0 draw, so it went to a penalty shootout. Paraguay won 5–3, reaching the quarter-finals for the first time ever.

La Albirroja then played Spain in the quarter-finals. Paraguayan goalkeeper Justo Villar saved a penalty kick. But Spain scored in the 83rd minute to win 1–0. Spain went on to win the whole tournament. After the match, Gerardo Martino said he would leave his coaching job.

2011 Copa América Finalists

Justo Villar en acción 3
Paraguay's Justo Villar (center, in yellow) was named best goalkeeper of the 2011 Copa América.

At the 2011 Copa América, Paraguay was in Group B with Brazil, Venezuela, and Ecuador. They drew their first game 0–0 with Ecuador. Paraguay then drew 2–2 with Brazil. Their third game was a 3–3 draw with Venezuela. Paraguay finished third in their group with three points. They were one of the best third-place teams, so they moved on.

In the quarter-finals, Paraguay played Brazil. The game went to a penalty shootout, and Paraguay won 2–0. Paraguay then faced Venezuela in the semi-final. They won 5–3 in another penalty shootout. This sent Paraguay to the final, their first since the 1979 Copa América. They lost 3–0 to Uruguay. However, Paraguayan goalkeeper Justo Villar was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Gerardo Martino resigned as coach soon after.

2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification Challenges

Chiqui Arce
Francisco Arce coached La Albirroja in 2011 after Gerardo Martino left.

Francisco Arce took over as coach for the qualifiers. In October 2011, Paraguay lost their first two games 2–0. Four days later, they drew 1–1 with Uruguay. Paraguay got their first win by beating Ecuador 2–1. Fourth place was the highest they reached, as the team then had many losses.

Paraguay lost 2–0 to Chile and 3–1 to Bolivia. Francisco Arce left as coach in 2012 after the loss to Bolivia. Gerardo Pelusso replaced him. Paraguay then lost 3–1 to Argentina, 2–0 to Venezuela, and 2–0 to Colombia. These losses put Paraguay at the bottom of the table.

Roque Luis Santa Cruz
Roque Santa Cruz scored his 26th goal, becoming Paraguay's all-time leading scorer.

Paraguay ended their losing streak by beating Peru 1–0. This was only their second win in the qualifiers. Paraguay then drew 1–1 with Uruguay. They lost 4–1 to Ecuador.

In Round 13, Paraguay lost 2–1 to Chile. In this game, Roque Santa Cruz scored his 26th goal, making him Paraguay's all-time leading goal scorer. By this time, Gerardo Pelusso had left, and coach Víctor Genes took over. Paraguay then beat Bolivia 4–0. However, a 5–2 loss to Argentina officially meant Paraguay could not qualify.

Paraguay's last two games in October 2013 were against Venezuela and Colombia. They drew 1–1 with Venezuela. In their last game, they lost 2–1 to Colombia. Paraguay finished last in the table with only 12 points from three wins and ten losses. The 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification was not successful. Paraguay changed coaches three times during this period.

Recent Copa América Tournaments

Paraguay did much better in the 2015 Copa América than in the World Cup qualifiers. They reached the semi-finals, beating Brazil in a penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw. However, they were eliminated by Argentina, losing 6–1.

Before the 2016 Copa América Centenario, the media called Roque Santa Cruz, Nelson Haedo, Paulo da Silva, and Justo Villar "historics." They were the only four experienced players in the team. Santa Cruz got injured and was replaced by Antonio Sanabria.

After a difficult tournament, Ramón Díaz resigned as coach. Former players like José Luís Chilavert and José Cardozo criticized the team's performance. Cardozo said, "There are players that do not even know our national anthem." He added, "We used to play until we would suffer severe injuries, and we performed because we loved La Albirroja. Today, someone has pain in their stomach and does not want to train." Celso Ayala also said, "Any team beats us. In La Albirroja, we've stopped kicking, blocking and heading."

Team Colors and Kits

Paraguay usually wears red and white shirts, blue shorts, and blue socks. Their away colors were originally blue, but they have worn all white since they started using Puma kits. Puma became their kit provider after their contract with Adidas ended. They did not use their away colors during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Kit provider Period
West Germany Adidas 1979-1980
Brazil Textil Paraná 1981–1983
Brazil Rainha 1984-1986
Argentina Sportman 1987–1990
Brazil Textil Paraná 1991–1992
Italy Ennerre 1993–1994
United States Reebok 1995–1998
Germany Puma 1999–2006
Germany Adidas 2007–2019
Germany Puma 2020–present

Recent Games and Schedule

Main article: Paraguay national football team results (2020–present)

Here are the results of matches Paraguay has played in the last year, and upcoming games.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2024 Matches

2025 Matches

Coaching Staff

See also: History of the Paraguay national football team § Managers
Position Name
Head coach Argentina Gustavo Alfaro
Assistant coach Argentina Carlos González
Assistant coach Argentina Claudio Cristofanelli
Goalkeeping coach Argentina Diego Carranza
First-team Doctor Paraguay Justo Tapia
Physiotherapist Paraguay Luis Canteros
Academy manager Argentina Elvio Paolorosso

Players on the Team

See also: Paraguay international footballers

Current Squad Members

The players listed below were chosen for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification games in November 2024.

Caps (games played) and goals are updated as of November 19, 2024, after the match against Bolivia.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Carlos Coronel (1996-12-29) 29 December 1996 (age 28) 9 0 United States New York Red Bulls
12 1GK Roberto Júnior Fernández (1988-03-29) 29 March 1988 (age 37) 24 0 Brazil Botafogo
22 1GK Juan Espínola (1994-11-02) 2 November 1994 (age 30) 1 0 Argentina Belgrano
2 2DF Gustavo Velázquez (1991-04-17) 17 April 1991 (age 34) 8 1 Argentina Newell's Old Boys
3 2DF Saúl Salcedo (1997-08-29) 29 August 1997 (age 27) 6 1 Argentina Newell's Old Boys
4 2DF Juan Cáceres (2000-06-01) 1 June 2000 (age 25) 7 0 Argentina Lanús
5 2DF Fabián Balbuena (1991-08-23) 23 August 1991 (age 33) 45 2 Russia Dynamo Moscow
6 2DF Júnior Alonso (1993-02-09) 9 February 1993 (age 32) 59 2 Brazil Atlético Mineiro
13 2DF Agustín Sández (2001-01-16) 16 January 2001 (age 24) 2 0 Argentina Rosario Central
15 2DF Gustavo Gómez (captain) (1993-05-06) 6 May 1993 (age 32) 79 4 Brazil Palmeiras
23 2DF Santiago Arzamendia (1998-05-05) 5 May 1998 (age 27) 24 0 Argentina Estudiantes
2DF César Olmedo (2003-02-28) 28 February 2003 (age 22) 0 0 Paraguay Olimpia
7 3MF Ramón Sosa (1999-08-31) 31 August 1999 (age 25) 20 1 England Nottingham Forest
8 3MF Diego Gómez (2003-03-27) 27 March 2003 (age 22) 12 1 United States Inter Miami
10 3MF Miguel Almirón (1994-02-10) 10 February 1994 (age 31) 64 8 England Newcastle United
14 3MF Matías Galarza (2002-02-11) 11 February 2002 (age 23) 5 0 Argentina Talleres
16 3MF Damián Bobadilla (2001-07-11) 11 July 2001 (age 23) 9 0 Brazil São Paulo
17 3MF Alejandro Romero Gamarra (1995-01-11) 11 January 1995 (age 30) 26 5 United Arab Emirates Al Ain
20 3MF Mathías Villasanti (1997-01-24) 24 January 1997 (age 28) 47 0 Brazil Grêmio
9 4FW Antonio Sanabria (1996-03-04) 4 March 1996 (age 29) 35 6 Italy Torino
11 4FW Ángel Romero (1992-07-04) 4 July 1992 (age 32) 45 8 Brazil Corinthians
18 4FW Álex Arce (1995-06-16) 16 June 1995 (age 30) 9 0 Ecuador LDU Quito
19 4FW Julio Enciso (2004-01-23) 23 January 2004 (age 21) 23 2 England Brighton & Hove Albion
21 4FW Alfio Oviedo (1995-12-18) 18 December 1995 (age 29) 2 0 Bolivia Bolívar
4FW Isidro Pitta (1999-08-14) 14 August 1999 (age 25) 5 0 Brazil Cuiabá

Players Called Up Recently

The following players have been called up to the team in the last 12 months:


Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Alfredo Aguilar (1988-07-18) 18 July 1988 (age 36) 3 0 Paraguay Sportivo Luqueño 2024 Copa América
GK Rodrigo Morínigo (1998-10-07) 7 October 1998 (age 26) 3 0 Paraguay Libertad 2024 Copa América
DF Omar Alderete (1996-12-26) 26 December 1996 (age 28) 25 2 Spain Getafe v.  Bolivia, 19 November 2024 SUS
DF Daniel Rivas (2001-12-06) 6 December 2001 (age 23) 0 0 Paraguay Nacional v.  Venezuela, 15 October 2024
DF Blas Riveros (1998-02-03) 3 February 1998 (age 27) 14 0 Argentina Talleres v.  Brazil, 10 September 2024
DF Mateo Gamarra (2000-10-20) 20 October 2000 (age 24) 3 0 Brazil Athletico Paranaense v.  Brazil, 10 September 2024
DF Matías Espinoza (1997-09-19) 19 September 1997 (age 27) 8 0 Paraguay Libertad 2024 Copa América
DF Iván Ramírez (1994-12-08) 8 December 1994 (age 30) 7 0 Paraguay Libertad 2024 Copa América
DF Néstor Giménez (1997-07-24) 24 July 1997 (age 27) 4 0 Paraguay Libertad 2024 Copa América
DF Robert Rojas (1996-04-30) 30 April 1996 (age 29) 26 1 Brazil Vasco da Gama v.  Russia, 25 March 2024
DF Roberto Fernández (2000-06-07) 7 June 2000 (age 25) 0 0 Russia Dynamo Moscow v.  Russia, 25 March 2024
MF Andrés Cubas (1996-05-22) 22 May 1996 (age 29) 26 0 Canada Vancouver Whitecaps v.  Bolivia, 19 November 2024 SUS
MF Hugo Cuenca (2005-01-08) 8 January 2005 (age 20) 1 0 Italy Milan v.  Venezuela, 15 October 2024
MF Álvaro Campuzano (1995-06-12) 12 June 1995 (age 30) 4 0 Paraguay Libertad v.  Brazil, 10 September 2024
MF Wilder Viera (2002-03-04) 4 March 2002 (age 23) 1 0 Paraguay Cerro Porteño v.  Brazil, 10 September 2024
MF Richard Sánchez (1996-03-29) 29 March 1996 (age 29) 34 1 Mexico América 2024 Copa América
MF Matías Rojas (1995-11-03) 3 November 1995 (age 29) 21 1 United States Inter Miami 2024 Copa América
MF Hernesto Caballero (1991-04-09) 9 April 1991 (age 34) 6 0 Paraguay Libertad 2024 Copa América
MF Fabrizio Peralta (2002-08-02) 2 August 2002 (age 22) 1 0 Brazil Cruzeiro 2024 Copa América
MF Jesús Medina (1997-04-30) 30 April 1997 (age 28) 9 0 Russia Spartak Moscow v.  Russia, 25 March 2024
FW Adam Bareiro (1996-07-26) 26 July 1996 (age 28) 9 0 Argentina River Plate v.  Brazil, 10 September 2024
FW Derlis González (1994-03-20) 20 March 1994 (age 31) 52 9 Paraguay Olimpia 2024 Copa América
FW Gabriel Aguayo (2005-02-10) 10 February 2005 (age 20) 0 0 Paraguay Cerro Porteño v.  Chile, 11 June 2024

COV Withdrew due to COVID-19
INJ Withdrew due to injury
PRE Preliminary squad
RET Retired from the national team
SUS Suspended
WD Withdrew from the squad

Player Records

Players in bold are still playing for the national team.

Most Games Played (Caps)

Paulo Da Silva
Paulo da Silva has played the most games for Paraguay, with 148 international appearances.
Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Paulo da Silva 148 3 2000–2017
2 Justo Villar 120 0 1999–2018
3 Roque Santa Cruz 112 32 1999–2016
4 Carlos Gamarra 110 12 1993–2006
5 Cristian Riveros 101 16 2005–2018
6 Roberto Acuña 100 5 1993–2011
Denis Caniza 100 1 1996–2010
8 Celso Ayala 85 6 1993–2003
9 José Saturnino Cardozo 82 25 1991–2006
10 Carlos Bonet 80 1 2002–2013

Most Goals Scored

R. Santa Cruz Blackburn
Roque Santa Cruz is Paraguay's all-time top scorer with 32 goals.
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Roque Santa Cruz 32 112 0.29 1999–2016
2 José Saturnino Cardozo 25 82 0.3 1991–2006
3 Cristian Riveros 16 101 0.16 2005–2018
4 Saturnino Arrúa 13 26 0.5 1969–1980
Julio César Romero 13 32 0.41 1979–1986
Nelson Haedo Valdez 13 77 0.17 2004–2017
7 Óscar Cardozo 12 58 0.21 2006–2023
Carlos Gamarra 12 110 0.11 1993–2006
9 Roberto Cabañas 11 28 0.39 1981–1993
Miguel Ángel Benítez 11 29 0.38 1996–1999

Team Achievements

Major Competitions

Continental Titles

Friendly Tournament Wins

  • Copa Chevallier Boutell (vs  Argentina)
    • Champions (2): 1925 (shared), 1945 (II)
  • Copa Félix Bogado (vs  Argentina)
    • Champions (2): 1977, 1983
  • Copa Trompowski (vs  Uruguay)
    • Champions (1): 1950
  • Copa Artigas (vs  Uruguay)
    • Champions (1): 1975 (shared)
  • Copa Paz del Chaco (vs  Bolivia)
    • Champions (6): 1963, 1977, 1980, 1991, 1995, 2003
  • Copa Boquerón
    • Champions (1): 1988
  • Lunar New Year Cup
    • Champions (1): 1968

Summary of Major Titles

Senior competition 1 2 3 Total
Copa América 2 6 7 15
Total 2 6 7 15

Images for kids

  • Paraguay 1929

    Paraguay's team at the 1929 South American Championship.

  • Chilavert sanlorenzo

    José Luis Chilavert was a key player as Paraguay qualified for the 2002 World Cup.

  • Nelson Valdez

    Nelson Valdez played for Paraguay in the 2004 Copa América.

  • Jose cardozo

    José Saturnino Cardozo scored seven goals during the 2006 World Cup qualifiers.

  • On the pitch

    Paraguay (right, in blue) playing against England (left, in white) at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

  • Gerardo Martino (marzo de 2014)

    Gerardo Martino became the new coach in January 2007.

  • Salvador Cabañas

    Coach Gerardo Martino considered Salvador Cabañas to be Paraguay's best player.

  • FIFA World Cup 2010 Italy Paraguay3

    La Albirroja playing against Italy on June 14, 2010.

  • Justo Villar en acción 3

    Paraguay's Justo Villar (center, in yellow) was named best goalkeeper of the 2011 Copa América.

  • Chiqui Arce

    Francisco Arce coached La Albirroja in 2011 after Gerardo Martino left.

  • Roque Luis Santa Cruz

    Roque Santa Cruz scored his 26th goal, becoming Paraguay's all-time leading scorer.

  • Paulo Da Silva

    Paulo da Silva has played the most games for Paraguay, with 148 international appearances.

  • R. Santa Cruz Blackburn

    Roque Santa Cruz is Paraguay's all-time top scorer with 32 goals.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Paraguay para niños

  • Paraguay national under-23 football team
  • Paraguay national under-20 football team
  • Paraguay national under-17 football team
  • Paraguay national futsal team
  • Football in Paraguay
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Paraguay national football team Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.