After Paolo Guerrero's announcement to end his tenure with the Peruvian national soccer team, La Blanquirroja (the Red-White Squad) paid tribute to its legendary striker with a heartfelt video showcasing moments from his 20-year career representing the national jersey and scoring 40 goals.
The Peruvian team used its social media platforms on Wednesday afternoon to bid farewell to the emblematic player, whose crucial goals helped secure the long-awaited qualification to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia after a 36-year drought.
A video posted on the team's X account compiled the 41-year-old forward's most iconic goals, accompanied by his own motivational words from previous years.
"We should envy no one, and we can compete equally with anyone. The key is to give everything on the field for the team and our jersey. That must always be clear," Guerrero had stated.
The most emphatic message in the tribute video read: "No matter what you decide, La Bicolor will always be your home, captain."
A Legendary Career
Paolo Guerrero debuted for the Peruvian national team in October 2004, competing in tournaments such as the Copa America, World Cup qualifiers, and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he scored against Australia.
He was the top scorer of the Copa America in 2011 (5 goals), 2015 (4 goals, tied with Chile’s Eduardo Vargas), and 2019 (3 goals, tied with Brazil’s Everton Souza).
This achievement allowed him to become one the few players to win three Copa America Golden Boots, alongside Uruguay’s Pedro Petrone, who earned his awards in 1923, 1924, and 1927.
In total, Guerrero scored 40 goals for Peru's senior team, making him the all-time top scorer for La Blanquirroja. His record surpasses that of other renowned Peruvian strikers such as Jefferson Farfan, Teofilo Cubillas, Teodoro 'Lolo' Fernandez, and Claudio Pizarro.
(END) JSO/JMP/MVB