Peruvian footballers are once again gaining prominence on the global stage after many years of being overshadowed by failures and poor results. Peru participated in the last World Cup, held in 2018 in Russia, and returned to the spotlight of international football.
Here, we share our list of the 10 greatest Peruvian soccer players of all time. Who else would you include?
ALBERTO “TOTO” TERRY
He was a very complete, talented, and clever attacking midfielder who spent almost his entire career with Universitario de Deportes during the 1940s and 1950s. “Toto” Terry scored 115 goals in 210 official matches in Peru’s First Division and 11 goals with the Peruvian national team. In the 1957 Copa América, Terry was named the best player in his position, surpassing Brazil’s Didi and Argentina’s Sívori. He received offers from Boca Juniors, Fluminense, and even Italy’s Lazio, but he never wanted to leave Lima.
PEDRO PABLO “PERICO” LEÓN
“Perico” is one of the best center-forwards the Peruvian national team has ever had. During the 1960s and 70s, that position was reserved exclusively for him. A powerful and skillful player, he possessed a rare talent for heading the ball. He debuted with Alianza Lima, a team with which he won three national championships. He scored the goal that eliminated Argentina from the 1970 Mexico World Cup qualifiers, securing Peru’s place in the tournament, where they reached the quarterfinals. With the Peruvian team, he scored 15 goals in 49 matches.
JULIO MELÉNDEZ
One of the greatest Peruvian footballers of all time. He played as a center-back, showcasing his exceptional composure by neutralizing opponents without resorting to rough play. He won the 1975 Copa América, forming a defensive duo with Chumpitaz. He spent four years at Boca Juniors, where he became a club idol to the extent that he is considered part of the team’s all-time best XI.
HÉCTOR CHUMPITAZ
Nicknamed the “Captain of America,” Chumpitaz is considered by many the greatest Peruvian defender of all time. For nearly twenty years, he was the captain and defensive pillar of the Peruvian national football team, with which he won the 1975 Copa América. He also participated in the 1970 and 1978 World Cups. He is ranked among the 100 greatest players in World Cup history, according to The Guardian.
HUGO “EL CHOLO” SOTIL
Sotil was a skillful forward with excellent dribbling abilities and the ability to play effectively with both feet. He is one of the greatest representatives of Peru’s remarkable generation of top footballers from the 1970s. He was part of the Peruvian national team that won the 1975 Copa América and reached the quarterfinals in the 1970 Mexico and 1978 Argentina World Cups. Additionally, he scored 15 goals in 49 matches for the national team. Sotil played for Barcelona alongside the legendary Johan Cruyff, forming a lethal offensive duo.
TEÓFILO “EL NENE” CUBILLAS
The ultimate icon of Peruvian football worldwide. Cubillas was an attacking midfielder with exquisite technique, power, acceleration, and exceptional dribbling skills. Thanks to his remarkable goal-scoring ability, “El Nene” Cubillas ranks as the ninth-highest scorer in FIFA World Cup history (10 goals) and is the top-scoring midfielder in World Cup history. He is regarded by the IFFHS as the best Peruvian footballer of the 20th century and one of the greatest South American players of that era.
CÉSAR CUETO
For many, he is the most skillful and technically gifted player to have ever represented the Peruvian national team, earning him the nickname “The Left-Footed Poet.” Overall, Cueto was an attacking midfielder with exceptional ball control, game vision, and unmatched ability to assist his teammates. He stood out for the Peruvian national team in the 1978 and 1982 World Cups. He is considered a legend at Atlético Nacional in Medellín.
JOSÉ “EL PATRÓN” VELÁSQUEZ
He was a defensive midfielder known for his technical skills and elegance on the field. Additionally, he played with courage and always made his presence felt. He was part of the Peruvian national team that won the 1975 Copa América and participated in the 1978 Argentina and 1982 Spain World Cups. In the latter, he was named to the ideal team of the first round. Despite his defensive role, he scored 12 goals for his national team.
JULIO CÉSAR URIBE
He was a playmaking midfielder endowed with exceptional dribbling and technique, as well as an astounding elegance on the field. In 1981, Uribe was ranked the third-best player in the Americas, behind Maradona and Zico. With the Peruvian national team, he scored nine goals and played in the 1982 World Cup, where he was considered the team’s star player. In the 1980s, he popularized the move known as “the elastico.”
PAOLO GUERRERO
Guerrero has been the leader of the Peruvian national team and its all-time top scorer with 39 goals. He achieved third place in the Copa América in 2011 and 2015. Additionally, he was the tournament’s top scorer in both editions, with five and four goals respectively.
