Teófilo Cubillas
Encyclopedia
Teófilo Juan Cubillas Arizaga (born 8 March 1949) is a Peru
vian former footballer. He was selected as Peru's greatest ever player in an IFFHS poll, in which he was also included in the world's Top 50. He is one of only two players to have scored five goals in two different FIFA World Cup
s; the other is Germany
's Miroslav Klose
.
Nicknamed El Nene (The Kid), he was part of the Peru national team
that won the 1975 Copa América
. He helped Peru reach the quarter finals at the 1970 FIFA World Cup
and again at the 1978 World Cup
and was elected the South American Footballer of the Year
in 1972.
Cubillas was a midfielder
of excellent technical ability, with a powerful shot and great dribbling
. He was a prolific goalscorer (with 515 goals in his career), and his 10 World Cup goals place him in seventh place in the ranking of the World Cup all-time scorers, and is the most by any midfielder in the World Cup. He is the all-time leading scorer for his country, with 26 goals in 81 matches.In 2004 Pelé
selected Cubillas as one of the FIFA 100
, a list of 125 footballing greats. In February 2008, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Brazil
ian World Cup victory, he was selected in the All-Star First Team of South America
of the past 50 years.
, Lima
. His career began with Peruvian club Alianza Lima
at the age of 16. Whilst at Alianza he was top scorer in the Peruvian Primera División in 1966 and 1970.
In 1972, he had his most successful season in several years. He was Libertadores Cup top scorer and South American Footballer of the Year
. During his first stint at Alianza, he scored 116 goals in 175 games between 1966 and 1972.
On 27 August 1973, All-Star teams from the America
n and Europe
an continents played against each other in Barcelona
, Spain
. Soccer greats such as Johan Cruyff
, Franz Beckenbauer
, Rivelino, and Cubillas participated in that game. The game finished 4-4, and in Penalty kicks, America
won 7-6. By then, he was considered one of greatest soccer stars in the world at that time.
After a successful career in Peru he left his homeland to play for Swiss
football club FC Basel
, for whom he scored two goals in the 1973–74 European Cup. Later on in the 1973-74 season he moved to Portuguese
club FC Porto for a fee of £200,000, where he scored 65 goals in 108 games, but trophies still evaded him.
Cubillas returned to Peru in the 1977-78 season for a second stint with his beloved Alianza Lima, where he won two Peruvian league
titles and scored 42 goals in 56 appearances. His European and international experience had shaped him into an amazing player.
In 1979, Cubillas followed the leads of many of the great players of the time like Pelé
, Johan Cruyff, George Best
, and Franz Beckenbauer by joining the NASL
— the United States
' rapidly rising soccer league. Nene signed for George Best's Fort Lauderdale Strikers, where he spent five seasons, scoring 65 goals in 141 games and notably scoring three goals in seven minutes against the Los Angeles Aztecs
in 1981. At this point, Cubillas' best days were behind him, he joined the Fort Lauderdale Sun
of the U.S. second division United Soccer League
(USL).
He made a return from retirement to play for Alianza Lima after its entire team died in an aircraft crash in the ocean near Ventanilla, Callao
, Peru
, on 8 December 1987, the worst tragedy in the history of Peruvian football. Cubillas scored three goals in 13 matches. But the comeback was really only to give hope to the fans and respect to the fallen players of the team he loved.
In May 1987, Cubillas signed with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers
of the American Soccer League
. The Strikers went to the ASL title game where they fell to the Washington Diplomats
. Following the loss to the Diplomats, the Strikers released Cubillas. In March 1989, he signed with the Miami Sharks but was released on July 3 after scoring only one goal in eight games. He continued to play at the amateur level with Miramar Ilusiones of the Gold Coast League. He eventually settled in Coral Springs, Florida
, where he lives to this day teaching football to the children at his academy with his sons (both former professional players).
s eight years apart and scored five goals in each, something that had never been achieved before, making him one of the most prolific scorers in World Cup history. Also, he is considered one of the greatest World Cup players of the 1970s.
in Mexico
. Not only did he fulfil all the fans' expectations, he became a household name after the tournament. He was considered no less a star than Jairzinho
, Gerd Müller
, Franz Beckenbauer
and Gianni Rivera
. Some even compared him to a youthful Pelé
.
Cubillas helped Peru
advance to the quarter-finals of the 1970 FIFA World Cup
in Mexico
. He scored in all of Peru's four matches: once against Bulgaria
, twice against Morocco
, and once against West Germany, all in the first round. Cubillas then scored another goal in the quarter-final loss against eventual champions Brazil
, and he thus finished as the third highest goal scorer in the tournament.
He had picked up the FIFA World Cup Young Player Award
, Bronze boot award (he finished behind Jairzinho
and Gerd Müller — impressive considering he played two less games), made the World Cup All-star team, and far exceeded the expectations of a humble football nation. After the World Cup, Pelé himself named Cubillas his "successor".
in West Germany
, but a year later, Cubillas helped the Peruvian team win its second South American title, the Copa América 1975
. Cubillas scored against Brazil
in the semi-final, and then played in the play-off match in the final.
in Argentina
, he scored five goals for the Peruvian national team, finishing joint second highest goal scorer after Mario Kempes
. Peru advanced to the second phase of the tournament thanks to goals from Cubillas: he scored two goals in the opening match against Scotland
(one of which was an excellent free-kick), and he then scored a hat-trick
in the game against Iran
, including two penalties. However, just like in Mexico, Peru failed to win against stronger opponents and this time they lost to Brazil, Poland
, and Argentina
, although Cubillas played in all six Peruvian matches in the tournament.
, there were high expectations for Peru
as a dark horse favorite to win the cup with a team that included such notable players as César Cueto, José Velásquez, Julio César Uribe
, and Cubillas. However, Peru were knocked out in the first round, after draws against both Cameroon
(0-0) and Italy
(1-1) and a loss against Poland (1-5). Months later, Cubillas retired from the Peru national team.
|1966||rowspan="7"|Alianza Lima
||rowspan="7"|Primera División
||23||19|||||||||||23||19
|-
|1967||25||9|||||||||||25||9
|-
|1968||25||19|||||||||||25||19
|-
|1969||11||5|||||||||||11||5
|-
|1970||27||22|||||||||||27||22
|-
|1971||29||22|||||||||||29||22
|-
|1972||29||14|||||||6||6||35||20
|-
|1973-74
||Basel
||Super League
||10||3||2||2||2||2||14||7
|-
|1973-74
||rowspan="4"|Porto||rowspan="4"|Portuguese Liga
||12||4||2||2||colspan="2"|-||14||6
|-
|1974-75
||30||9||4||4||4||2||38||15
|-
|1975-76
||29||28||5||3||4||4||38||35
|-
|1976-77
||14||7||2||1||2||1||18||9
|-
|1977||rowspan="2"|Alianza Lima
||rowspan="2"|Primera División
||32||23|||||||||||32||23
|-
|1978||15||12|||||||10||7||25||19
|-
|1979
||rowspan="5"|FL Strikers||rowspan="5"|North American
Soccer League
||32||16|||||||||||32||16
|-
|1980
||34||18|||||||||||34||18
|-
|1981
||34||19|||||||||||34||19
|-
|1982
||18||4|||||||||||18||4
|-
|1983
||23||8|||||||||||23||8
|-
|1984||Alianza Lima
||Primera División
||4||4||||||||||4||4
|-
|1985||South Florida Sun||USL
||6||3||||||||||6||3
|-
|1987||Alianza Lima
||Primera División
||13||3|||||||||||13||3
|-
|1988||Miami Sharks||ASL
||16||7||||||||||16||7
233||152||0||0|||16||13||249||165
10||3||2||2||2||2||14||7
85||48||13||10||10||7||108||65
163||75||0||0|||0||0||163||75
491||278||15||12|||28||22||534||312
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian former footballer. He was selected as Peru's greatest ever player in an IFFHS poll, in which he was also included in the world's Top 50. He is one of only two players to have scored five goals in two different FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
s; the other is Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
's Miroslav Klose
Miroslav Klose
Miroslav Josef Klose is a German footballer who plays as a striker for Lazio in the Serie A. Since bursting onto the international stage at the 2002 World Cup, he has become well known for his knack of scoring headers, front-flip goal celebrations, and decisive short passing.Klose holds German...
.
Nicknamed El Nene (The Kid), he was part of the Peru national team
Peru national football team
The Peru national football team, known as 'el equipo inca', represents Peru in international football competition and is managed by the Peruvian Football Federation . The team competes against the other nine members of FIFA's CONMEBOL conference, which encompasses the countries of South America...
that won the 1975 Copa América
Copa América 1975
The 1975 edition of the Copa América football tournament was played between July 17 and October 28. For the first time in the history of the event there was no fixed venue, and all matches were played throughout the year in each country. In addition, the tournament changed its name from South...
. He helped Peru reach the quarter finals at the 1970 FIFA World Cup
1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
and again at the 1978 World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
and was elected the South American Footballer of the Year
South American Footballer of the Year
The South American Footballer of the Year is an annual association football award presented to the best footballer in South America over the previous calendar year. The award was conceived by Venezuelan newspaper El Mundo, whom awarded it from 1971 to 1985. Uruguayan newspaper El País took over...
in 1972.
Cubillas was a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
of excellent technical ability, with a powerful shot and great dribbling
Dribbling
In sports, dribbling refers to the maneuvering of a ball around a defender through short skillful taps or kicks with either the legs , hands , stick or swimming strokes...
. He was a prolific goalscorer (with 515 goals in his career), and his 10 World Cup goals place him in seventh place in the ranking of the World Cup all-time scorers, and is the most by any midfielder in the World Cup. He is the all-time leading scorer for his country, with 26 goals in 81 matches.In 2004 Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
selected Cubillas as one of the FIFA 100
FIFA 100
The FIFA 100 is a list of the world-renowned Brazilian striker Pelé's choice of the "greatest living footballers". Unveiled on 4 March 2004 at a gala ceremony in London, the FIFA 100 marked part of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Fédération Internationale de...
, a list of 125 footballing greats. In February 2008, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian World Cup victory, he was selected in the All-Star First Team of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
of the past 50 years.
Club career
Nicknamed "Nene" (the babe) for his boyish looks, Cubillas was born near Puente PiedraPuente Piedra District
The Peruvian district of Puente Piedra is one of the 43 districts in the Lima Province.The district was founded on February 14, 1927 by Law Nº 5675. It has an area of 71.18 square kilometers and a population of more than 200,000.-Boundaries:...
, Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
. His career began with Peruvian club Alianza Lima
Alianza Lima
Club Alianza Lima is a Peruvian First Division football club who plays at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in the La Victoria District of Lima, Peru. They are one of the most famous and well supported clubs in the country and the oldest team in the Peruvian First Division.Alianza enjoyed success...
at the age of 16. Whilst at Alianza he was top scorer in the Peruvian Primera División in 1966 and 1970.
In 1972, he had his most successful season in several years. He was Libertadores Cup top scorer and South American Footballer of the Year
South American Footballer of the Year
The South American Footballer of the Year is an annual association football award presented to the best footballer in South America over the previous calendar year. The award was conceived by Venezuelan newspaper El Mundo, whom awarded it from 1971 to 1985. Uruguayan newspaper El País took over...
. During his first stint at Alianza, he scored 116 goals in 175 games between 1966 and 1972.
On 27 August 1973, All-Star teams from the America
CONMEBOL
The South American Football Confederation , commonly known as CONMEBOL , is the continental governing body of association football in South America and it is one of FIFA's six continental confederations...
n and Europe
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
an continents played against each other in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Soccer greats such as Johan Cruyff
Johan Cruyff
Hendrik Johannes Cruijff OON , known as Johan Cruyff, is a retired Dutch footballer and is currently the manager of the Catalan national team as well as a member of the AFC Ajax board of directors. He won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974, which is a record jointly held with...
, Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" , and his dominance on the football pitch...
, Rivelino, and Cubillas participated in that game. The game finished 4-4, and in Penalty kicks, America
CONMEBOL
The South American Football Confederation , commonly known as CONMEBOL , is the continental governing body of association football in South America and it is one of FIFA's six continental confederations...
won 7-6. By then, he was considered one of greatest soccer stars in the world at that time.
After a successful career in Peru he left his homeland to play for Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
football club FC Basel
FC Basel
Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...
, for whom he scored two goals in the 1973–74 European Cup. Later on in the 1973-74 season he moved to Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
club FC Porto for a fee of £200,000, where he scored 65 goals in 108 games, but trophies still evaded him.
Cubillas returned to Peru in the 1977-78 season for a second stint with his beloved Alianza Lima, where he won two Peruvian league
Primera División Peruana
The Peruvian Primera División is the top professional division of Peruvian football. It is known today as Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano...
titles and scored 42 goals in 56 appearances. His European and international experience had shaped him into an amazing player.
In 1979, Cubillas followed the leads of many of the great players of the time like Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
, Johan Cruyff, George Best
George Best
George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
, and Franz Beckenbauer by joining the NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
— the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' rapidly rising soccer league. Nene signed for George Best's Fort Lauderdale Strikers, where he spent five seasons, scoring 65 goals in 141 games and notably scoring three goals in seven minutes against the Los Angeles Aztecs
Los Angeles Aztecs
The Los Angeles Aztecs were a soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League from 1974-81. The team was based in Los Angeles, California and part-owned by Elton John.-History:...
in 1981. At this point, Cubillas' best days were behind him, he joined the Fort Lauderdale Sun
Fort Lauderdale Sun
Fort Lauderdale Sun was a U.S. soccer team which played two seasons in the United Soccer League. In 1983, the team was known as the Fort Lauderdale Sun, but in 1985, changed its name to the South Florida Sun.-Origins:...
of the U.S. second division United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
(USL).
He made a return from retirement to play for Alianza Lima after its entire team died in an aircraft crash in the ocean near Ventanilla, Callao
Callao
Callao is the largest and most important port in Peru. The city is coterminous with the Constitutional Province of Callao, the only province of the Callao Region. Callao is located west of Lima, the country's capital, and is part of the Lima Metropolitan Area, a large metropolis that holds almost...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, on 8 December 1987, the worst tragedy in the history of Peruvian football. Cubillas scored three goals in 13 matches. But the comeback was really only to give hope to the fans and respect to the fallen players of the team he loved.
In May 1987, Cubillas signed with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Fort Lauderdale Strikers was an American soccer team, a descendant of the Washington Darts, Miami Gatos, and Miami Toros, that played in Fort Lauderdale, Florida....
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. The Strikers went to the ASL title game where they fell to the Washington Diplomats
Washington Diplomats
The Washington Diplomats were an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C.. Throughout their existence, the club played their home games at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium...
. Following the loss to the Diplomats, the Strikers released Cubillas. In March 1989, he signed with the Miami Sharks but was released on July 3 after scoring only one goal in eight games. He continued to play at the amateur level with Miramar Ilusiones of the Gold Coast League. He eventually settled in Coral Springs, Florida
Coral Springs, Florida
Coral Springs, officially chartered July 10, 1963, is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States, approximately northwest of Fort Lauderdale. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a population of 121,096...
, where he lives to this day teaching football to the children at his academy with his sons (both former professional players).
International career
Cubillas played in two World CupFIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
s eight years apart and scored five goals in each, something that had never been achieved before, making him one of the most prolific scorers in World Cup history. Also, he is considered one of the greatest World Cup players of the 1970s.
1970 World Cup: Quarter Finals
Cubillas was only 20 when he made his World Cup debut at the 1970 FIFA World Cup1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Not only did he fulfil all the fans' expectations, he became a household name after the tournament. He was considered no less a star than Jairzinho
Jairzinho
Jair Ventura Filho, better known as Jairzinho , is a former association footballer. A quick, powerful forward or winger, he was a member of the legendary Brazilian national team that won the 1970 FIFA World Cup, during which he scored in every game Brazil played...
, Gerd Müller
Gerd Müller
Gerhard "Gerd" Müller is a former German football player and one of the most prolific goalscorers of all time.With national records of 68 goals in 62 international appearances, 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga games and the international record of 66 goals in 74 European Club games, he was one of the...
, Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" , and his dominance on the football pitch...
and Gianni Rivera
Gianni Rivera
Giovanni Rivera is an Italian former football midfielder, mostly as an offensive playmaker, who was awarded the Ballon d'Or, one of the most prestigious individual awards in football, in 1969. He played the majority of his career with Serie A side A.C. Milan...
. Some even compared him to a youthful Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
.
Cubillas helped Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
advance to the quarter-finals of the 1970 FIFA World Cup
1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He scored in all of Peru's four matches: once against Bulgaria
Bulgaria national football team
The FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
, twice against Morocco
Morocco national football team
The Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
, and once against West Germany, all in the first round. Cubillas then scored another goal in the quarter-final loss against eventual champions Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
, and he thus finished as the third highest goal scorer in the tournament.
He had picked up the FIFA World Cup Young Player Award
FIFA World Cup awards
At the end of each FIFA World Cup final tournament, several awards are attributed to the players and teams which have distinguished from the rest, in different aspects of the game.These are awards granted during the men's senior tournament...
, Bronze boot award (he finished behind Jairzinho
Jairzinho
Jair Ventura Filho, better known as Jairzinho , is a former association footballer. A quick, powerful forward or winger, he was a member of the legendary Brazilian national team that won the 1970 FIFA World Cup, during which he scored in every game Brazil played...
and Gerd Müller — impressive considering he played two less games), made the World Cup All-star team, and far exceeded the expectations of a humble football nation. After the World Cup, Pelé himself named Cubillas his "successor".
1975 Copa America: Champion
Peru did not qualify for the 1974 FIFA World Cup1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, but a year later, Cubillas helped the Peruvian team win its second South American title, the Copa América 1975
Copa América 1975
The 1975 edition of the Copa América football tournament was played between July 17 and October 28. For the first time in the history of the event there was no fixed venue, and all matches were played throughout the year in each country. In addition, the tournament changed its name from South...
. Cubillas scored against Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
in the semi-final, and then played in the play-off match in the final.
1978 World Cup: Quarter Finals
In the 1978 FIFA World Cup1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, he scored five goals for the Peruvian national team, finishing joint second highest goal scorer after Mario Kempes
Mario Kempes
Mario Alberto Kempes Chiodi is a retired Argentine footballer. His father, Mario, also a footballer, inspired him to play from a young age. At the age of 7, he began playing with a junior team and at 14, he joined La Cuarta de Talleres...
. Peru advanced to the second phase of the tournament thanks to goals from Cubillas: he scored two goals in the opening match against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
(one of which was an excellent free-kick), and he then scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in the game against Iran
Iran national football team
The national football team of Iran represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran...
, including two penalties. However, just like in Mexico, Peru failed to win against stronger opponents and this time they lost to Brazil, Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
, and Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
, although Cubillas played in all six Peruvian matches in the tournament.
1982 World Cup: First Round
He was also in the Peruvian squad for 1982 FIFA World Cup1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
, there were high expectations for Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
as a dark horse favorite to win the cup with a team that included such notable players as César Cueto, José Velásquez, Julio César Uribe
Julio César Uribe
Julio César Uribe Flores is a Peruvian football manager and former player. Uribe is currently the manager of Peruvian First Division club Unión Comercio since the second half of the 2011 Descentraliazado season....
, and Cubillas. However, Peru were knocked out in the first round, after draws against both Cameroon
Cameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
(0-0) and Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
(1-1) and a loss against Poland (1-5). Months later, Cubillas retired from the Peru national team.
Alianza Lima
- Peruvian LeaguePrimera División PeruanaThe Peruvian Primera División is the top professional division of Peruvian football. It is known today as Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano...
- Winner (2): 1977, 1978
- Runner Up (1): 1971
- Metropolitan ChampionshipPrimera División PeruanaThe Peruvian Primera División is the top professional division of Peruvian football. It is known today as Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano...
- Winner (1): 1978
Individual
- 1966 Peruvian ChampionshipPrimera División PeruanaThe Peruvian Primera División is the top professional division of Peruvian football. It is known today as Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano...
: Top Scorer - 1970 Peruvian ChampionshipPrimera División PeruanaThe Peruvian Primera División is the top professional division of Peruvian football. It is known today as Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano...
: Top Scorer - 1970 FIFA World Cup: Best Young PlayerFIFA World Cup awardsAt the end of each FIFA World Cup final tournament, several awards are attributed to the players and teams which have distinguished from the rest, in different aspects of the game.These are awards granted during the men's senior tournament...
- 1970 FIFA World Cup: All-Star TeamFIFA World Cup awardsAt the end of each FIFA World Cup final tournament, several awards are attributed to the players and teams which have distinguished from the rest, in different aspects of the game.These are awards granted during the men's senior tournament...
(Player) - 1970 World Cup Bronze BootFIFA World Cup awardsAt the end of each FIFA World Cup final tournament, several awards are attributed to the players and teams which have distinguished from the rest, in different aspects of the game.These are awards granted during the men's senior tournament...
- 1972 Libertadores CupCopa Libertadores 1972The 1972 Copa Libertadores was the 13th edition of the Copa Libertadores, CONMEBOL's the annual club tournament. Independiente of Argentina defeated Universitario de Deportes of Peru in the finals, and became the second team in the tournament's history to win three title...
: Top Scorer - 1972 South American Footballer of the YearSouth American Footballer of the YearThe South American Footballer of the Year is an annual association football award presented to the best footballer in South America over the previous calendar year. The award was conceived by Venezuelan newspaper El Mundo, whom awarded it from 1971 to 1985. Uruguayan newspaper El País took over...
- 1973 CONMEBOLCONMEBOLThe South American Football Confederation , commonly known as CONMEBOL , is the continental governing body of association football in South America and it is one of FIFA's six continental confederations...
All-Star Team - 1975 Copa America: Best PlayerCopa AméricaThe Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
- 1978 FIFA World Cup: Silver Boot1978 FIFA World CupThe 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
- 1978 FIFA World Cup: All-Star TeamFIFA World Cup awardsAt the end of each FIFA World Cup final tournament, several awards are attributed to the players and teams which have distinguished from the rest, in different aspects of the game.These are awards granted during the men's senior tournament...
(Player) - 1980 NASLNorth American Soccer LeagueNorth American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
All-Star teams, all-time - 1981 NASLNorth American Soccer LeagueNorth American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
: Best Midfield - 1981 NASLNorth American Soccer LeagueNorth American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
All-Star teams, all-time - 1984 Fort Lauderdale Strikers: Top Scorer, all time.
- 2000 France FootballFrance FootballFrance Football is a French bi-weekly magazine containing football news from all over the world. It's one of the most reputable sports publications in Europe, mostly because of their photographic reports and accurate statistics of the big European Cup matches, and extensive coverage of the European...
: World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
Top-100 1930-1990 - 2000 World SoccerWorld SoccerWorld Soccer may refer to:*World Soccer Magazine*World Soccer, a game for the Sega Master System-See also:*Football around the world, a listing of all international teams*World Soccer Daily, a U.S. based soccer radio show and podcast...
: The 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time - 2000 PlacarPlacarPlacar is a monthly Brazilian sports magazine. Its first edition was issued on March 20, 1970, and since then the it has become the most successful sports publication in Brazil, even though it focuses fully on football . It is published by Grupo Abril....
: The 100 Players of the Century - 2000 PlacarPlacarPlacar is a monthly Brazilian sports magazine. Its first edition was issued on March 20, 1970, and since then the it has become the most successful sports publication in Brazil, even though it focuses fully on football . It is published by Grupo Abril....
: The 100 Players FIFA World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body... - 2004 FIFA 100FIFA 100The FIFA 100 is a list of the world-renowned Brazilian striker Pelé's choice of the "greatest living footballers". Unveiled on 4 March 2004 at a gala ceremony in London, the FIFA 100 marked part of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Fédération Internationale de...
- 2006 IFFHS' Best Players of the Century for Peru
- 2006 World - Player of the Century: Ranking Nº 48World - Player of the Century Retrieved on January 3, 2009
- 2006 South American - Player of the Century: Ranking Nº 17
- 2007 The Best of The Best - Player of the Century: Top 50
- 2008 CONMEBOLCONMEBOLThe South American Football Confederation , commonly known as CONMEBOL , is the continental governing body of association football in South America and it is one of FIFA's six continental confederations...
All-Star first team 1958-2008 - 2008 Peru National TeamPeru national football teamThe Peru national football team, known as 'el equipo inca', represents Peru in international football competition and is managed by the Peruvian Football Federation . The team competes against the other nine members of FIFA's CONMEBOL conference, which encompasses the countries of South America...
all-time scoring leader
Records
- Cubillas played in 13 World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
matches for Peru. - 7th place in the all-time World Cup goalscoring list. (10 goals)
- He was the first player in World Cup history to score at least 5 goals in each of 2 World Cups (19701970 FIFA World CupThe 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
, 19781978 FIFA World CupThe 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
). Miroslav KloseMiroslav KloseMiroslav Josef Klose is a German footballer who plays as a striker for Lazio in the Serie A. Since bursting onto the international stage at the 2002 World Cup, he has become well known for his knack of scoring headers, front-flip goal celebrations, and decisive short passing.Klose holds German...
of GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
is the only other player to have achieved the feat (20022002 FIFA World CupThe 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, 20062006 FIFA World CupThe 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
). - On the international level, he is the all-time highest scorer for Peru's national team, with 45 goals in 117 national team matches.
- Younger Scorer of the Peruvian LeaguePrimera División PeruanaThe Peruvian Primera División is the top professional division of Peruvian football. It is known today as Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano...
all-time (17 years, 7 months), in 1966 (19 goals, 23 matches). - 16th place in the NASL all time players points table, with 179 points, 5 seasons, 120 matches, and 59 goals
Career statistics
|-|1966||rowspan="7"|Alianza Lima
Alianza Lima
Club Alianza Lima is a Peruvian First Division football club who plays at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in the La Victoria District of Lima, Peru. They are one of the most famous and well supported clubs in the country and the oldest team in the Peruvian First Division.Alianza enjoyed success...
||rowspan="7"|Primera División
Primera División Peruana
The Peruvian Primera División is the top professional division of Peruvian football. It is known today as Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano...
||23||19|||||||||||23||19
|-
|1967||25||9|||||||||||25||9
|-
|1968||25||19|||||||||||25||19
|-
|1969||11||5|||||||||||11||5
|-
|1970||27||22|||||||||||27||22
|-
|1971||29||22|||||||||||29||22
|-
|1972||29||14|||||||6||6||35||20
|-
|1973-74
Swiss Super League 1973-74
Statistics of Swiss Super League in the 1973–74 season.-League standings:-References:...
||Basel
FC Basel
Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...
||Super League
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
||10||3||2||2||2||2||14||7
|-
|1973-74
Portuguese Liga 1973-74
-League standings:...
||rowspan="4"|Porto||rowspan="4"|Portuguese Liga
Portuguese Liga
The Primeira Liga , formerly called Primeira Divisão, currently named Liga ZON Sagres after their main sponsors, is the top professional association football division of the Portuguese football league system...
||12||4||2||2||colspan="2"|-||14||6
|-
|1974-75
Portuguese Liga 1974-75
-League standings:...
||30||9||4||4||4||2||38||15
|-
|1975-76
Portuguese Liga 1975-76
-League standings:...
||29||28||5||3||4||4||38||35
|-
|1976-77
Portuguese Liga 1976-77
-League standings:...
||14||7||2||1||2||1||18||9
|-
|1977||rowspan="2"|Alianza Lima
Alianza Lima
Club Alianza Lima is a Peruvian First Division football club who plays at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in the La Victoria District of Lima, Peru. They are one of the most famous and well supported clubs in the country and the oldest team in the Peruvian First Division.Alianza enjoyed success...
||rowspan="2"|Primera División
Primera División Peruana
The Peruvian Primera División is the top professional division of Peruvian football. It is known today as Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano...
||32||23|||||||||||32||23
|-
|1978||15||12|||||||10||7||25||19
|-
|1979
North American Soccer League 1979
Statistics of North American Soccer League in season 1979. This was the 12th season of the NASL.-Overview:The league comprised 24 teams.ABC Sports began covering the NASL....
||rowspan="5"|FL Strikers||rowspan="5"|North American
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
||32||16|||||||||||32||16
|-
|1980
North American Soccer League 1980
Statistics of North American Soccer League in season 1980. This was the 13th season of the NASL.-Overview:The league comprisd 24 teams. The New York Cosmos defeated the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the finals on September 21 to win the championship....
||34||18|||||||||||34||18
|-
|1981
North American Soccer League 1981
Statistics of North American Soccer League in season 1981. This was the 14th season of the NASL.-Overview:There were a total of 21 teams participating...
||34||19|||||||||||34||19
|-
|1982
North American Soccer League 1982
Statistics of North American Soccer League in season 1982. This was the 15th season of the NASL.-Overview:The league comprised 14 teams. The New York Cosmos won the championship...
||18||4|||||||||||18||4
|-
|1983
North American Soccer League 1983
Statistics of North American Soccer League in season 1983. This was the 16th and penultimate season of the NASL.-Regular season:W = Wins, L = Losses, T= Ties GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts= point system6 points for a win1 point for a shootout win...
||23||8|||||||||||23||8
|-
|1984||Alianza Lima
Alianza Lima
Club Alianza Lima is a Peruvian First Division football club who plays at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in the La Victoria District of Lima, Peru. They are one of the most famous and well supported clubs in the country and the oldest team in the Peruvian First Division.Alianza enjoyed success...
||Primera División
Primera División Peruana
The Peruvian Primera División is the top professional division of Peruvian football. It is known today as Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano...
||4||4||||||||||4||4
|-
|1985||South Florida Sun||USL
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
||6||3||||||||||6||3
|-
|1987||Alianza Lima
Alianza Lima
Club Alianza Lima is a Peruvian First Division football club who plays at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in the La Victoria District of Lima, Peru. They are one of the most famous and well supported clubs in the country and the oldest team in the Peruvian First Division.Alianza enjoyed success...
||Primera División
Primera División Peruana
The Peruvian Primera División is the top professional division of Peruvian football. It is known today as Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano...
||13||3|||||||||||13||3
|-
|1988||Miami Sharks||ASL
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
||16||7||||||||||16||7
233||152||0||0|||16||13||249||165
10||3||2||2||2||2||14||7
85||48||13||10||10||7||108||65
163||75||0||0|||0||0||163||75
491||278||15||12|||28||22||534||312
Competition statistics
- Primera DivisiónPrimera División PeruanaThe Peruvian Primera División is the top professional division of Peruvian football. It is known today as Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano...
: 469 appearances 268 goals - Portuguese Cup : 13 appearances 10 goals
- Swiss Cup : 2 appearances 2 goals
- Copa Libertadores : 16 appearances 13 goal
- UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: 2 appearances 2 goals - UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
: 10 appearances 7 goals - FIFA World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
: 13 appearances 10 goals - Copa AmericaCopa AméricaThe Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
: 5 appearances 2 goals
International goals
General statistics
- The information includes official and friendly games.
Team Goals Matches Goal average 
Alianza LimaAlianza LimaClub Alianza Lima is a Peruvian First Division football club who plays at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in the La Victoria District of Lima, Peru. They are one of the most famous and well supported clubs in the country and the oldest team in the Peruvian First Division.Alianza enjoyed success...295 448 0.66 
BaselFC BaselFussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...8 16 0.50 
Porto69 113 0.61 
Fort Lauderdale Strikers74 155 0.48 South Florida Sun7 14 0.50 Miami Sharks9 19 0.45 PeruNational football teamNational football team may refer to:*List of men's national association football teams*List of women's national association football teams...45 117 0.38 Others 8 10 0.80 Total 515 892 0.58