Roque Santa Cruz

Roque Santa Cruz is 35 years old but despite being at such an elevated age, the Paraguayan attacker keeps on playing a very active role not only inside of the actual pitch but also outside of it as well.

The veteran player is a regular performer for his current club Olimpia Asuncion which he joined back on June of 2016 and has a contract which extends until December of 2017.

Olimpia Asuncion is actually the club where Roque Santa Cruz spent his youth since the age of 9. Making a return to his childhood club is a special thing for the Paraguayan attacker as he left when he was 17 years old and went on to joins Bayern Munich as his career at the European stage initiated.

The former Bayern Munich player is well-aware that his playing days at the top level are reaching their final stages and Roque Santa Cruz has recently hinted out the possibility of becoming a politician with one of the main reasons being that he wants to continue helping out other people.

The Paraguayan performer has an active participation in a company that has recently helped in creating 3 classrooms for a school that is located in an impoverished section of his country, Paraguay.

¨ I believe that the purpose of life is too difficult to know it at an early age and it still is a hard thing to find out even for footballers who are in their mature stages of their life. My objective is to always help however that I can from my position. I do not discard the possibility of entering the world of politics and continue to aid needed people¨ Roque Santa Cruz said.

For a player that is such at an elevated age, Santa Cruz still manages to make impressive performances and he has already hinted out the possibility of introducing himself in a completely different world of Politics.

Everton Manager Ronald Koeman is continuing his effort at rebuilding the team even after a brilliant run in 2016/17.

With the budget and calibre of players the team had, they finished seventh behind Manchester United. Only big clubs were above them so it was a worthy spot.

With the club set to lose star striker Romelu Lukaku soon after he it was revealed that he has agreed terms with another Premier League side, Koeman would have to search for a capable replacement as Lukaku played a big role last term.

Koeman has already seen his £8 million bid for Sunderland keeper Jordan Pickford rejected. The relegated side are hoping a top team would pay as much as £30 million for the rated player. It seems the club needs the fund from the deal to float in the Championship. Everton would likely move on from the deal as the Black Cats remain firm on their valuation.

Manchester City had to part with record £35 million for Benfica keeper Ederson. This is £5 million above the asking price for Pickford even when he is far from the refined product. Ederson is the second signing after City swopped Bernado Silva for £43 million.

City have continued their huge annual spending. From when they spent big to lure Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz, Kolo Toure, Gareth Barry and others, the cycle continues. The money has delivered two Premier League titles aside other titles. Guardiola is expected to reach higher ground in the league this time.

Ahead of the clash between Brazil and Paraguay in the Copa America World Cup qualifying match, we look at some of the biggest and most exciting games between both sides.

Both sides have met 76 times ahead of this game slated for Sao Paulo in the 14th round of the qualifying campaign. Of the 76, the Selecao have lost just 11 times. Of the games, 15 were in World Cup qualifying and Brazil have lost just two times.

1. The Copa America 1949

Brazil hosted the event that year and they were the favourites to lift the title. They had an excellent tournament en route to the final but crashed 2-1 to Paraguay. After finishing joint leaders, there was a need for a playoff. The hosts hit their competition 7-0 with goalkeeper Sinforiano Garcia delivering a sterling performance.

2. 1969 qualifying campaign

Brazilian soccer legend Peledelivered this important victory for the country. Paraguay put up a tough fight initially but they fell horribly later. An own goal from Valentin Mendoza, and goals from Jairzinho and Edu did the job.

3. 1985 comeback

In 1985 Brazil used Paraguay as a comeback after being knocked out in the second round three years earlier by Italy. They maintained their tiki taka style with their team riddled with stars like Zico, Renato Gaucho, Socrates and Cerezo. Edinho, Renato and Casagrande combined for the first before Zico did a flick and volley for the second.

4. 1997 Ronaldo brilliance

Both sides met in 1997. Ronaldo got a brace in the game as they saw off Paraguay in the quarter finals. The legend ended up being selected as the most outstanding player as Brazil sailed to victory.

5. 2008 stain

Dunga led Brazil to the 2010 World Cup on a brilliant note as they demolished their continental rivals in the qualification stage. They were the leaders in the 10-team log but their record was tainted with a loss to Paraguay. RoqueSanta Cruz scored the opener in the game at Asuncion before Salvador Cabanas completed the rout.

This time Brazil are the favourites to win as a victory would almost guarantee their spot in Russia 2018, even with games to spare. Paraguay have not had favourable results that would have kept them in contention for qualification but they would not be a walk over the Selacao side.

At the age of 35, Roque Santa Cruz appears to not have any plans of hanging up his boots anytime soon as the Paraguayan player is currently performing for Olimpia Asuncion and he has recently stated his intentions to keep on playing with the club despite speculation that was surrounding his future of retiring.

The Paraguayan attacker revealed his near-future plans as he talked during a press conference and said: ‘’ I will be making the pre-season with the team in order to be in a better physical form and that it’s going to help me make more appearances in the upcoming campaign. I have a huge desire to continue performing with Olimpia Asuncion and be a champion with them before I hang up my boots’’

Roque Santa Cruz performed with Olimpia Asuncion back in 1999 when he was a youngster but he failed to win any titles with the Paraguayan club and now he is reaching the final stages of his career, Santa Cruz is attempting to do it before deciding to retire.

Even though Santa Cruz is still eager to continue performing with his club for at least 1 more year, the Paraguayan attacker does feel the toll that comes with aging as he retired from performing at the international scene as Cruz only wants to focus the remaining years of his career with OlimpiaAsuncion.

The last performance that Santa Cruz made for Paraguay was on November 10 of 2016 as they faced off with Peru in a 2018 Russia FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and it was a very difficult for him to make, especially taking into consideration the fact that he has made over 100 appearances for Paraguay and he is the all-time leading goal-scorer.

Despite the impact and importance that Santa Cruz has made with the Paraguayan national side, he opted to retire as it was a decision that the veteran player had to take in a point in time.

Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz has retired from international football amidst a poor World Cup qualifying campaign by the national team.

The player earlier said his last game for the country would be the game against Bolivia in La Paz and he acted on his words by resigning at the age of 35.

Santa Cruz starred in his debut at 17 years far back in 1999. The player appreciates the country for still deeming it fit to invite him to international clashes but decided he has had enough of the round leather game.

The player said ahead of the Bolivia game:

“With this call-up, I am bringing to an end my time in the national team. It’s a decision that’s hard to take, but it had to be taken at some point.

“I think it’s time to just dedicate myself to my club. I’m happy to retire at a time when I still feel good enough to play.”

The player, who has over a hundred caps to his name in a Paraguay shirt, is credited with 32 goals since his April 28, 1999 debut. The player started his professional career at Olimpia – a club based in the country’s capital. Santa Cruz has also played for German champions Bayern Munich, English clubs like Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers, and Spanish sides Real Betis and Malaga. His long football career also includes time in Mexican club Cruz Azul before he joined the tradition of returning to boyhood clubs. He agreed to the Olimpia move this season.

He leaves at a crucial time for the national team who are outside the top four teams that are set to get automatic qualification for the World Cup in 2018. A fifth side will play the continental play-off for a chance but Paraguay is one team that would likely sit outside the top five in the dramatic qualifiers so far.