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Top 20 Most Famous People from Paraguay

Originally published by Roseline in October 2022. Updated by Vanessa R in September 2023 and Updated by Ruth in May 2024. 

Paraguay is a melting pot of cultures and races, with amazing individuals who have made a difference through their extraordinary achievements. The famous Paraguayans include artists, leaders, musicians, politicians, and athletes. However, this article details some of the top 20 most famous people from Paraguay. They include the following;

1. Roque Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz training with Malaga in 2012-By 袙褟褔械褋谢邪胁 袝胁写芯泻懈屑芯胁 –

Roque Luis Santa Cruz Cantero is a Paraguayan football striker who currently plays for Club Libertad. Santa Cruz is a naturalized Spanish citizen who married Giselle Tavarelli in 2003, the sister of his former national team and Olimpia teammate Ricardo Tavarelli. Roque Santa Cruz is a devoted Roman Catholic. 

Santa Cruz scored his 26th international goal on June 7, 2013, in a 2014 World Cup qualification match against Chile, becoming Paraguay’s all-time leading goalscorer. He, however,  holds the record for most goals scored and has earned over 100 caps for the Paraguay national team, making him one of the best players in the country’s history. 

2. Alfredo Stroessner

Stroessner visit Brasilia with Juscelino Kubitschek. By Arquivo Nacional, Public Domain,

Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda was Paraguay’s long-serving president. Alfredo, who was born into the upper ranks of his country’s social class, was very proud of his elite status. He joined in a prestigious military academy at a young age and graduated with an active commission. He was promoted multiple times after serving honorably in several fights. Stroessner seized the presidency after effectively negotiating various shifting political alliances. He had practically unrivaled power for the next couple of decades after imposing martial law. 

3. Horacio Cartes

Cartes met with President of Argentina Mauricio Macri in Casa Rosada in September 2016. By Casa Rosada-

Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara is a controversial Paraguayan businessman and politician who served as the country’s president between 2013 and 2018. He belongs to the Colorado Party. 

Cartes’ Grupo Carte’s conglomerate owns over two dozen enterprises, including tobacco, soft beverages, livestock production, and banking. From 2001 to 2012, he was the president of the Club Libertad football club, and he was the president of the Paraguayan Football Association’s national team department during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying.  He has been recognized as “seriously corrupt” by the United States due to his involvement in international crime and terrorist organizations. 

4.Silvana L贸pez Moreira

L贸pez Moreira alongside her husband Mario Abdo Ben铆tez during his inauguration, By Casa Rosada-

Silvana L贸pez Moreira B贸 has served as Paraguay’s First Lady since 15 August 2018, following her marriage to President Mario Abdo Bentez. The role of First Lady in Paraguay was reestablished with L贸pez Moreira after a vacancy caused by the former President, Horacio Cartes, who ordered its closure due to being divorced. She was born on January 31, 1974, in a wealthy family, to N茅stor L贸pez Moreira and Rossana B贸.

During her husband’s inauguration, L贸pez Moreira was praised for her fashion sense, wearing a garment made of and (a traditional handmade fabric of Paraguay), embroidered by weavers from Itaugu谩, a place famed for its manufacturing of the fabric.  According to the Spanish magazine Hola!, this was reported in Paraguayan publications.

5. Larissa Riquelme

Fotografia de Larissa Riquelme, By Agencia Puntopy-

Larissa Mabel Riquelme Frutos, born 22 February 1985, is a Paraguayan model and actress. She is one of Paraguay’s highest-paid models.  Riquelme is a well-known model and actress in Paraguay, and gained international popularity during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. 

She was named the “World Cup’s Girlfriend” by Marca, Spain’s largest sports newspaper, after being one of the most searched individuals on the internet. She was also considered “the most renowned World Cup fan.”

6.Ana Lucrecia Taglioretti

Photograph of the violinist Ana Lucrecia Taglioretti, By 970 AM – Original publication:

Ana Lucrecia Taglioretti was a Paraguayan violin prodigy. Taglioretti, who was born blind, began studying music at the age of five, beginning with the piano, subsequently singing, and finally focusing on the violin. She joined the Paraguayan National Symphonic Orchestra in April 2014, and she has been invited to perform in Telet贸n Paraguay [es] telethons, as well as United Nations Paraguay and Global Infancia events. Taglioretti has also played with artists such as Carlos Vives, Rolando Chaparro, and Lizza Bogado in national and international music festivals. 

7. Fernando Lugo

Fernando Lugo, the Paraguayan president-elect, By Ant么nio Cruz –

Fernando Armindo Lugo M茅ndez is a politician and baptized Catholic bishop from Paraguay who served as President from 2008 to 2012. He previously served as Bishop of the Diocese of San Pedro from 1994 to 2005 as a Roman Catholic priest and bishop. He was elected president in 2008, bringing the Colorado Party’s 61-year reign to an end. 

He was removed from office in 2012 after an impeachment procedure that neighboring countries called a coup. In the 2013 general election, he was, however, elected to the Paraguayan Senate. 

8.Ver贸nica Cepede Royg

Cepede Royg RGQ22 (42),By si.robi –

Ver贸nica Cepede Royg, born 21 January 1992, is a professional tennis player from Paraguay. She got her greatest WTA singles ranking of No. 73 on August 7, 2017, and her best doubles ranking of No. 85 on September 19, 2016.  Cepede Royg has won one WTA Tour doubles title, one WTA 125 doubles championship, 14 ITF singles titles, and 20 doubles titles.

9. Wanda Seux

 Wanda Seux was a Paraguayan-Mexican vedette, dancer, and actress who worked in film, television, and theater in Mexico for many years. She was dubbed “The Golden Bomb,” and her blonde hair and stylish physique made her the Barbie of the vedettes. Her concerts featured knife throwers and fireballs, among other things. Seux was the headliner of Mexico City’s El Capri cabaret at the Regis Hotel. She subsequently moved on to the Folies Berg猫re and, for four years, she was the star of Televisa’s Marrakesh. 

10. V铆ctor Esp铆nola

Victor is a world-renowned virtuoso who has performed as a featured artist on many tours with legendary musician and composer Yanni for over fifteen years.

Victor’s brilliance is not limited to the harp; he is equally captivating on guitar and voice. His impressive work as a composer and recording artist, creating original music and scores, has made him a sought-after collaborator with artists, ensembles, and symphony orchestras all over the world. 

11. Jos茅 Luis Chilavert

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Former Paraguayan goalkeeper Jos茅 Luis F茅lix Chilavert Gonz谩lez played football. He received the IFFHS World’s Best Keeper honour three times. In addition to playing goalkeeper, Chilavert became known for his skills with free kicks and was a regular penalty shooter. In his professional career, he scored 62 goals, eight of which were in games against other countries, many of which were essential. He scored four goals for his country while Paraguay was advancing to the FIFA World Cup in 2002. 

12. Jos茅 Gaspar Rodr铆guez de Francia

One of the country’s first leaders after Paraguay’s independence from Spain was the Paraguayan lawyer and politician Dr. Jos茅 Gaspar Rodrguez de Francia y Velasco. He was first a philosophy professor, but after becoming a lawyer, he joined the Asunci贸n cabildo and progressed to the position of cabildo head. After the Paraguayan Republic’s declaration, he rose to prominence as a political figure in South America.

He finally assumed the position of supreme leader before being named a lifelong dictator. Francia attempted to create a utopian state based on Rosseau’s Social Contract, inspired by the ideas of the French Revolution. Francia, despite his desire for social equality, brutally suppressed any dissent and established a police state, imprisoning anybody he deemed seditious. 

13. Salvador Caba帽as

Salvador Cabaas Ortega is a striker for General Caballero in the Paraguayan Divisi贸n Intermedia. He is a prolific and natural goal scorer who is known for his wide range of on-field abilities, including great heading, precise shooting with either foot, receptions in confined places, and a combination of technique, power, and positional knowledge. In January 2010, he was shot in the head, but he pulled through. He resumed playing football 16 months after the assault and took part in a commemorative game between Club Am茅rica and Paraguay’s national squad.

14. Augusto Roa Bastos

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Novelist and short story writer Augusto Roa Bastos comes from Paraguay. He participated in the Chaco War between Paraguay and Bolivia as a young man, and went on to work as a scriptwriter, educator, and journalist. His complex work Yo el Supremo and his 1989 Premio Miguel de Cervantes victory, the highest honour in Spanish literature, are what made him most famous.

Yo el Supremo examines the dictations and inner thoughts of Dr. Jos茅 Gaspar Rodrguez de Francia, who ruled Paraguay from 1814 until his death in 1840 with an iron hand and not a little eccentricity. Experiences with tyrannical military governments had their imprint on Roa Bastos’ life and work. He was pushed into exile in Argentina in 1947, and in 1976, he fled to France from Buenos Aires.

15. Federico Franco

Politician Luis Federico Franco G贸mez ruled over Paraguay from June 2012 to August 2013. He was chosen as Fernando Lugo’s running partner in the 2008 presidential election and was a member of the Authentic Radical Liberal Party. He assumed office in August 2008. He took over as president after Lugo was removed from office by the Senate on June 22, 2012, and served in that capacity until August 15, 2013. Federico works as a surgeon. He is the brother of Julio C茅sar Franco, a former vice president and senator from the Authentic Radical Liberal Party. Federico served from 2003 to 2008 as the Governor of the Central Department and as the former Chairman of the PLRA.

16. Rossana de los R铆os

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Paraguayan tennis player Rossana de los Roses is now retired. She was raised in Miami, Florida, with her daughter Ana Paula Neffa de los Rios and husband Gustavo Neffa, a former Boca Juniors football player from Paraguay. She was born in the Paraguayan city of Asunci贸n. In September 2001, Rossana peaked at No. 51 in the singles and No. 52 in the doubles rankings on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

De los Rojos participated in doubles matches alongside Grand Slam winners like Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Arantxa S谩nchez Vicario, Jelena Jankovi, and Dinara Safina. Rossana, who won the 1992 Roland Garros Juniors competition, was formerly ranked first in the world among junior players. She was the lone female tennis competitor.

17. Gustavo Neffa

A football player from Paraguay named Gustavo Alfredo Neffa Rodriguez is now retired. At the age of 18, after being seen by Juventus, Neffa moved on loan to Serie A club U.S. Cremonese, where he failed to break through. His career began with Olimpia Asunci贸n. Before quitting football and marrying tennis player Rossana de los Ros, who had a child with him, he returned to South America in 1992 and played for Uni贸n de Santa Fe, Boca Juniors, and Estudiantes.

In 2000, he also made a brief comeback as a player/coach for Dallas Burn, taking part in just one preseason game. He also participated in the Paraguayan football team’s single-game against Ghana at the 1992 Summer Olympics. 

18. Carlos Franco

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Golf pro-Carlos Daniel Franco comes from Paraguay. He is Angel Franco’s brother, a golfer. Asunci贸n, Paraguay is where Franco was born. He is from a low-income family and was raised in a one-room house with a dirt floor. He has five brothers, all of whom went on to become professional golfers, and his father worked as a caddy and greenkeeper.

Carlos began his career as a pro in 1986 and has travelled widely. More than twenty tournaments in Latin America have been won by him, and from 1994 to 1999, he claimed five victories on the Japan Golf Tour. He won the Asian Tour’s 1994 Philippine Open as well. 

19. Luis Alberto Del Parana虂

Born in 1926, the Paraguayan musician Luis Alberto del Paran谩 is recognized as one of the nation’s greatest talents. He created the Los Paraguayos group, which gained international fame, and his music has appeared in several motion pictures and television programmes.

Del Paran谩 helped promote Paraguayan music by fusing it with popular Latin American rhythms. He also worked as a composer, penning many of Los Paraguayos’ compositions. Del Paran谩 was a musician, but he was also politically active, backing the in-power Colorado Party. He was even asked to play at Horacio Cartes’ 2013 inauguration as president of Paraguay.

20. Celso Ayala

Celso Football defender Rafael Ayala Gavil谩n played for Paraguay in the past. He is one of the Paraguayan national team’s most recognised players with 85 appearances and 6 goals. Along with fellow defenders Francisco Arce and Carlos Gamarra, Ayala rose to fame in the 1990s as a crucial member of Paraguay’s elite defensive line.

His strengths included field leadership, excellent placement, and exceptional tackling and heading abilities. On March 3, 1993, Ayala made an appearance for the Paraguayan national football team against Bolivia in a Copa Paz de Chico game as a substitute.

Top 10 Facts about Paraguayan People

1. The Guarani people are one of Paraguay’s indigenous groups

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The Guarani people have a rich cultural heritage that predates the arrival of European colonizers in Paraguay. They have inhabited the region for centuries, living off the land and developing sophisticated agricultural and cultural practices. 

Today, the Guarani people continue to maintain their traditions, language, and customs, contributing to the diverse tapestry of Paraguayan society. Their language, Guarani, is widely spoken across the country and is recognized as an official language alongside Spanish, reflecting the enduring influence of Guarani culture on national identity.

2. The majority of Paraguayans are known as mestizos

Mestizos, individuals of mixed European and indigenous ancestry, form the largest ethnic group in Paraguay. This blending of cultures has shaped Paraguay’s unique cultural identity, blending indigenous traditions with Spanish colonial influences. 

Mestizos have played a pivotal role in Paraguay’s history, contributing to its cultural, social, and economic development. Despite the diverse backgrounds of its people, Paraguayans share a strong sense of national identity and pride in their heritage.

3. Paraguayans are known for their warm and hospitable nature

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Hospitality is a fundamental aspect of Paraguayan culture, with locals known for their welcoming and friendly demeanour towards visitors. Whether in urban centres or rural villages, Paraguayans are quick to offer a warm greeting, share a meal, and extend a helping hand to strangers. 

This tradition of hospitality reflects the values of community, generosity, and solidarity that are deeply ingrained in Paraguayan society. Visitors to Paraguay often remark on the genuine warmth and kindness of the people, which contribute to memorable and enriching experiences in the country.

4. Family plays a central role in Paraguayan society

 Family is the cornerstone of Paraguayan culture, with close-knit family structures and multigenerational households being the norm. Respect for elders, strong familial bonds, and collective decision-making are hallmarks of Paraguayan family life. Family gatherings, including large meals and celebrations, provide opportunities for strengthening relationships and passing down traditions from one generation to the next. 

The importance of family extends beyond the nuclear unit to encompass extended relatives and even close friends, who are often considered honorary family members. This emphasis on family unity and support contributes to the cohesion and stability of Paraguayan society.

5. In rural areas in Paraguay, traditional clothing is still worn

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In the rural areas of Paraguay, traditional clothing continues to be an integral part of daily life, preserving cultural heritage and identity. Women often wear colourful embroidered blouses, long skirts, and shawls, while men may don wide-brimmed hats, ponchos, and leather sandals. 

These traditional garments reflect the region’s indigenous and colonial influences, with each garment carrying its own symbolic meaning and craftsmanship. Despite modernization and globalization, many rural Paraguayans take pride in preserving and passing down these centuries-old traditions, showcasing the enduring connection to their cultural roots.

6. Paraguayans have a strong tradition of drinking Mate

Mate, a caffeine-rich herbal tea, holds a revered place in Paraguayan culture and social life. Sharing mate is a daily ritual that fosters camaraderie, friendship, and community bonding. Paraguayans often gather with friends, family, or colleagues to share a gourd (mate) filled with the infused tea leaves, sipping through a metal straw (bombilla). This centuries-old tradition not only provides a source of energy and refreshment but also serves as a symbol of hospitality, generosity, and unity among Paraguayans.

7. Paraguay has a vibrant music and dance scene

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Music and dance are deeply ingrained in Paraguayan culture, reflecting a rich tapestry of indigenous, Spanish, and African influences. Traditional Paraguayan music genres such as polka, guarania, and Paraguayan harp music are celebrated for their lively rhythms, evocative melodies, and poetic lyrics. 

Traditional dances such as the polka, bottle dance (botella), and the bottle dance (bottle) are performed at festivals, celebrations, and social gatherings, providing a colourful and vibrant expression of Paraguayan identity and heritage.

8. Paraguayans celebrate a variety of festivals throughout the year

Paraguayans are known for their festive spirit and love of celebrations, with a diverse calendar of festivals and events held throughout the year. From religious observances such as Semana Santa (Holy Week) and the Feast of the Virgin of Caacup茅 to cultural festivals like Carnaval and Independence Day, Paraguayans take pride in honouring their traditions, customs, and heritage through music, dance, food, and religious ceremonies. These festivals serve as important opportunities for community gathering, socializing, and showcasing the rich cultural diversity of Paraguay.

9. Paraguayans are known for their industriousness and resilience

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Despite facing challenges such as poverty, political instability, and environmental pressures, Paraguayans are renowned for their strong work ethic, resourcefulness, and determination to overcome adversity. Whether in agriculture, commerce, or small businesses, Paraguayans demonstrate a remarkable ability to adapt to changing circumstances and persevere in the face of hardship. This spirit of resilience and determination has enabled Paraguayans to weather numerous challenges throughout history and emerge stronger and more resilient as a nation.

10. Paraguayans demonstrate a strong sense of community solidarity

Paraguayans place a high value on communal bonds and mutual support, fostering a culture of solidarity and cooperation within their communities. Whether in urban neighbourhoods or rural villages, there is a strong sense of interconnectedness and shared responsibility among residents. In times of need, such as natural disasters or personal crises, Paraguayans rally together to provide assistance, comfort, and resources to those affected. This spirit of community solidarity extends beyond immediate family ties to include neighbours, friends, and even strangers, reflecting a collective commitment to the well-being and welfare of all members of society.