The Paraguay national football team has reached the second round of the World Cup on three occasions (in 1986, 1998 and 2002) but has never advanced beyond that stage. Paraguay's only major tournament victories have come in the Copa América, in which they triumphed in 1953 and 1979 . They also won a silver medal in the football tournament at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, being defeated 1-0 by Argentina in the final.
Paraguay's current squad is more well-known for its defensive skill than its ability to score goals, with players such as Denis Caniza and captain Carlos Gamarra being amongst its most prominent members. However, the future of this strategy looks questionable due to the recent international retirement of defenders Francisco Arce and Celso Ayala , and that of world-famous goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert. Several key players are now in the latter stages of their career, so Paraguay will be looking to harness talent amongst the younger generation if they are to maintain the increase in status they have achieved over the past decade.
World Cup record
Copa América record
- 1916 to 1920 - Did not enter
- 1921 - Fourth place
- 1922 - Runners-up
- 1923 - Third place
- 1924 - Third place
- 1925 - Third place
- 1926 - Fourth place
- 1927 - Withdrew
- 1929 - Runners-up
- 1935 - Withdrew
- 1937 - Fourth place
- 1939 - Third place
- 1941 - Withdrew
- 1942 - Fourth place
- 1945 - Withdrew
- 1946 - Third place
- 1947 - Runners-up
- 1949 - Runners-up
- 1953 - Winners
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- 1955 - Fifth place
- 1956 - Fifth place
- 1957 - Withdrew
- 1959 - Third place
- 1959 - Fifth place
- 1963 - Runners-up
- 1967 - Fourth place
- 1975 - Round 1
- 1979 - Winners
- 1983 - Semifinals
- 1987 - Round 1
- 1989 - Fourth place
- 1991 - Round 1
- 1993 - Quarterfinals
- 1995 - Quarterfinals
- 1997 - Quarterfinals
- 1999 - Quarterfinals
- 2001 - Round 1
- 2004 - Quarterfinals
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Most Paraguay caps
| Player
| Paraguay career
| Caps (Goals)
|
| Carlos Gamarra
| 1993-present
| 99 (10)
|
| Celso Ayala
| 1993-2003
| 85 (6)
|
| Roberto Acuña
| 1993-2002
| 84 (5)
|
| Roberto Fernández
| 1976-1989
| 78 (0)
|
| José Saturnino Cardozo
| 1991-present
| 77 (24)
|
| Juan Bautista Torales
| 1979-1989
| 77 (1)
|
| José Luis Chilavert
| 1989-2003
| 74 (8)
|
| Estanislao Struway
| 1991-2002
| 74 (4)
|
| Julio César Enciso
| 1995-2004
| 70 (2)
|
| Denis Ramón Caniza
| 1996-present
| 65 (1)
|
Top Paraguay goalscorers
| Player
| Paraguay career
| Goals (Caps)
|
| José Saturnino Cardozo
| 1991-present
| 24 (77)
|
| Saturnino Arrúa
| 1969-1980
| 13 (26)
|
| Julio César Romero
| 1979-1986
| 13 (32)
|
| Gerardo Rivas
| 1921-1926
| 12 (32)
|
| Miguel Angel Benítez
| 1996-1999
| 11 (29)
|
| Juan Bautista Villalba
| 1945-1947
| 10 (22)
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| Aurelio González
| 1924-1937
| 10 (23)
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| Roque Santa Cruz
| 1999-present
| 10 (37)
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| Carlos Humberto Paredes
| 1993-present
| 10 (61)
|
| Carlos Gamarra
| 1993-present
| 10 (99)
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Famous Players
External links
