003. Teofilo Cubillas
My Football Facts ⇒ World Football ⇒ Legendary Players
Teofilo Cubillas played in two World Cups eight years apart and scored five goals in each, making him one of the most prolific scorers in World Cup history. A virtually unknown 20 year old in 1970, he was soon acknowledged after helping Peru to the quarter- finals. “El Nene” (the kid) Cubillas was born at Lima in March 1949 and began with local team, Alianza.
He was renowned for his technique, shooting ability and free kick ability. Cubillas was South American Footballer Of The Year in 1972, the following year he joined FC Basle for £97,000. Six months later he signed for FC Porto, for £200.000, and settled into a midfield role.
Cubillas represented Peru in three FIFA World Cup tournaments (1970, 1978, and 1982) and played a crucial role in leading the team to the quarterfinals in 1970, which remains Peru’s best World Cup performance to date. Peru did not qualify for the 1974 World Cup, but 12 months later they were South American champions, Cubillas scoring twice in their 3-1 first leg semifinal win over Brazil. When he helped Peru reach the second phase of the 1978 World Cup, he was an Alianza player again. At the club level, he is the second highest historical scorer for Club Alianza Lima (167 goals).
Among his main achievements are the FIFA awards for the best young player and the bronze boot in Mexico 1970, as well as the silver boot and member of the ideal team of Argentina 1978, he was also champion and best player of the 1975 Copa América. He is regarded one of the best attacking midfielders in the history of football (https://kids.kiddle.co/).
In 1979, Cubillas joined George Best at Fort Lauderdale and in five seasons in the NASL scored 65 goals, including three in seven minutes against Los Angeles Aztecs in 1981. The 1982 World Cup failed to produce any more goals for him and he bowed out after 81 caps and 26 goals for Peru. After retiring as a player, Cubillas went on to have a career in coaching.
