Carlos Valderrama

Profile Overview

Carlos Alberto Valderrama Palacio (Colombian Spanish: [ˈkaɾlos alˈβeɾto βaldeˈrama paˈlasjo]; born 2 September 1961), also known as "El Pibe" ("The Kid"), is a Colombian former professional footballer and commentator for Fútbol de Primera. An attacking midfielder, Valderrama is considered by many to be one of the greatest South American players in history and was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.
A creative playmaker, he is regarded as one of the best Colombian footballers of all time, and by some, as Colombia's greatest player ever. His distinctive hairstyle, as well as his precise passing and technical skills made him one of South America's most recognisable footballers in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He won the South American Footballer of the Year award in 1987 and 1993, He is the fifth highest assister in the history of national teams and the twelfth overall, including clubs, and in 1999, he was also named one of the top 100 players of the 20th century by World Soccer.
Valderrama was a member of the Colombia national team from 1985 until 1998, representing his country in 111 full internationals and scoring 11 times. This makes him the fourth-most capped player in the national team’s history, behind James Rodriguez, David Ospina and Juan Cuadrado. He played a major role during the golden era of Colombian football in the 1990s, representing his national side in three FIFA World Cups and five Copa América tournaments.
After spending most of his career playing club football in South America and Europe, towards the end of his career Valderrama played in Major League Soccer, joining the league in its first season. One of the most recognisable players in the league at the time of its inception, he helped popularise the league during the second half of the 1990s. He remained an icon, and is one of the most decorated MLS players; in 2005, he was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI.