Photos of the 23 Spanish players when they were kids.
Click on the source for the bigger resolution. :)
"It would be great to beat Spanish. My spell at Real Madrid didn’t exactly go well. They called me fat and didn’t appreciate me."
— Antonio Cassano
FIFA: “Barça’s Filipino forward, 100 years on”
Paulino Alcantara
An amazing haul of 357 goals from as many appearances established this Filipino phenomenon among the club’s earliest icons, and the first of those goals came 100 years ago today – on a truly remarkable debut. Indeed, Alcantara features in Barça’s annals not only as its record goalscorer, but also as its youngest-ever debutant, as he took to the field against Catala SC aged just 15 years, four months and 18 days. And he didn’t just play either; he scored – three times! A legend had been born.
Born in the Philippines to a Spanish military officer father and a Filipino mother, this teenage sensation proved a pioneering figure in more respects than one. No Asian player had ever represented a European club before he moved to Spain, and few since have come close to matching his extraordinary achievements.
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By the time he retired in 1927 to become a doctor, the 31-year-old had won 17 major titles, and had represented Spain, Catalonia and the Phillipines at international level. Indeed, it was while on duty with La Roja that Alcantara earned his nickname, ‘El Romperedes’ (The Netbreaker), thanks to a 30-yard thunderbolt against France that smashed through the netting.
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Philippines should have been a footballing nation if Spain is the only country to conquered it but Americans came and Basketball emerged. I am pretty sad that it is when Azkals get the glory in the Philippines when Alcantara’s name was mentioned. He’s a legend and we didn’t know about it.
Hoping a documentary about his life and roots will soon be made. Something they did with Rizal. I would love to watch it!
