Francisco Varallo, the only Survivor

Francisco Varallo, the only Survivor

All but one players pioneering the first ever FIFA World Cup has died. The only remaining person left from the monumental event goes to Francisco Varallo, an Argentine forward. He played Uruguay at the Centenario Stadium, July 30th, 1930, when the Argentine was beaten by the home team.


Varallo, born in La Plata, February 5th, 1910, has already turned 100 years old this year. The "Canoncito" (the little cannon) started his senior career with Gimnasia La Plata (1928-1930) and then moved to Boca Juniors, where he spent nine years of competition. His total professional career is 210 appearances scoring 181 goals.

Varallo's young talent was built in some youth clubs like 12 de Octobre, Estudiantes, and Gimnasia La Plata. He had two times of opportunities to play for the Argentine national team, 1930 and 1933-1937. Varallo had 16 caps and 7 goals.


Titles and honors:
FIFA World Cup runners-up (1930), Primera Division Argentina (1929, 1931, 1934, and 1935), Argentina and South American seasonal top scorrer with 34 goals (1933), FIFA Order of Merit (1994), and the 3rd all time goal scorrers for Boca Juniors.