TEOFILO CUBILLAS

BORN: MAR. 8, 1949 COUNTRY: Peru WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 3 tournaments ('74, '78, '82) CLUBS: Alianza, Basel, Porto, Alianza, Fort Lauderdale Strikers

INTRODUCTION: One of the greatest World Cup players of the seventies.

CAREER INTERNATIONAL GOALS: 25 goals

Cubillas made his World Cup debut at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, when he was just 20 years old. He lived up to expectations and the world cup projected him into the international limelight, his name becoming familiar with football fans all over the world. He became classed along with football greats like Jairzinho, Muller, Beckenbauer and Rivera and was even compared with Pelé in his youth.

Though Peru failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup, Cubillas returned to play in the Argentinean edition in 1982, where his effervescent form sparkled as it had in Mexico. In the opening match against Scotland he scored two unforgettable goals, one coming off a free kick. The powerful Holland team held Peru in the next encounter, but Peru overcame Iran subsequently and the hat trick by Cubillas, which included two penalties, was the highlight of the game.

But Peru repeated their Mexican performance, giving way to the more formidable opponents, Brazil, Poland and Argentina in the second group phase on this occasion.

Even as a veteran at the age of 32, Cubillas was the first choice in attack. But his form was well below peak and Peru failed to progress into the second round.

GOALS IN THE WORLD CUP - COMPLETE RECORD

1970

• 1st round: 1st match v. Rumania
• 1st round: 2nd match v. Morocco (2)
• 1st round: 3rd match v. West Germany
• Quarter-final v. Brazil

1978

• 1st round: 1st match v. Scotland (2)
• 1st round: 3rd match v. Iran (3)