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20 Best Football (Soccer) Players from Peru

Originally published by Kenneth N in October, 2022 and updated by Faith in March 2024

Peru is represented by the Peru national football team in men’s international football. The team is managed and controlled by the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF).

Compared to other South American teams, Peru has not had global megastars like Brazil and Argentina. However, it has managed to compete with the best of them despite this.

Peru has won Copa America two times and qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals five times. That is in 1930, 1970, 1978, and 1982 with their latest appearance being in Russia in 2018. 

Sadly, Peru did not qualify for the 2022 FIFA WC in Qatar. This was after losing out on the penultimate spot to Australia’s men’s national soccer team (Socceroos).

This article will highlight the 10 best football players from the South American underdogs and giant slayers, in Peru.

1. Roberto Palacios

Roberto Palacios by Lamder –

Born Roberto Carlos Palacios Mestas (No, not the Brazilian right back), Palacios played as a midfielder for Peru. He was born on 28^th December 1972 and retired from club football in 2011 and international football in 2012.

Palacios made a total of 128 caps for his country, scoring 19 goals in that period. Nicknamed Chorri, he could beat the best goalkeepers by shooting from far despite his small stature.

To date, Chorri remains the most capped Peruvian player. Palacios is an idol to fans of the Peru national team and Sporting Cristal club. He won 5 local league titles with the Sporting.

2. Paolo Guerrero

Guerrero in a qualification match against Ecuador by Agencia de Noticias ANDES –

Born on1st January, Guerrero’s full name is José Paolo Guerrero Gonzales and he plays as a striker. Other than the Peruvian national team, he currently plays for club Avai in Brazil’s primary league.

Guerrero forged his career at German giants Bayern Munich scoring 10 goals in 27 appearances. He then left for their rivals Hamburger SV and came into his own scoring netting 37 times in 134 appearances.

He left for Brazil in 2012 and has since played for Corinthians, Flamengo, Internacional, and now Avai. His international career began in 2006 and he has made 107 appearances. With 38 goals, he is Peru’s top scorer.

He was banned from playing in the 2018 FIFA WC after testing positive for benzoylecgonine, the primary metabolite of cocaine. The ban was later lifted temporarily after an appeal allowing him to play at the tournament.

3. Claudio Pizarro

Claudio Pizarro, July 2010 by Benjamin Radzun –

A former captain of the Peru international team, Claudio Miguel Pizarro Bosio was born on 3^rd October 1978. He played as a striker in both club and international football.

Pizarro made 85 appearances for his home nation between 1999 and 2016 netting 20 times in that period. He is the fifth highest scorer in his nation but sadly has no accolades to show for all his good work.

However, his club career more than made up for the disappointments of his international one. He is the foreign player with the most titles in the history of Bayern Munich.

Pizarro is also the all-time top scorer for Werder Bremen and one of the top scorers in the history of the Bundesliga. He also had a 2-year stint at Chelsea FC making 21 appearances and scoring twice.

4. Pedro Gallese

Pedro Gallese by Carlos Figueroa Rojas –

As far as Peruvian goalkeepers go, Gallese is up there with the best of them. He is the current captain of the national side making 92 appearances since his international debut in 2014.

He plays for Orlando City in the American League MLS. Gallese ascended into the first-choice goalkeeper position at the 2018 WC where he played every minute of Peru’s short-lived campaign.

He was a major player in Peru’s 2019 Copa America campaign. His most notable moment was saving Luis Suarez’s Penalty to take Peru to the final which they lost to Brazil.

5. Teofilo Cubillas

Teófilo Cubillas, Peruvian player (Alianza Lima) by Gpastor –

He might not be popular with modern fans of the game but Cubillas is probably the best Peruvian Footballer of all time. Hear me out!

Teófilo Juan Cubillas Arizaga was born on 8^th March 1949 and represented his country from 1968 to 1982. He made 81 international appearances and scored 26 times. He is currently the 3^rd highest scorer in his country.

Cubillas played as an attacking midfielder and at his peak, he was considered second only to Johan Cruyff. Yes, he was that good. He was a vital component of Peru’s bid to win the World Cup. Cubillas was also a member of the golden generation that won Copa America in 1975.

He was chosen as the best young player in the 1970 World Cup after obtaining the bronze boot in that contest. In Peru’s 1978 World Cup campaign, he was part of the all-star team and won the silver boot.

6. Yoshimar Yotún

Jonathan Rodríguez and Yoshimar Yotún (Right) in training with Cruz Azul in 2020 – Unknown Author –

Born on 7^th April 1990, Víctor Yoshimar Yotún Flores is the definition of a utility player. He can competently play three different positions; left back, left winger, and defensive midfielder.

Yoshimar has 118 caps and scored 7 goals for his country since his 2011 debut. Selected for his impressive club performances, he is always present for Peru and always gives his best.

His club career started at Sporting Cristal in Peru where he made 147 appearances between 2008 and 2014. He netted 8 times for the club. He has since represented other famous clubs such as Malmo in Switzerland and Orlando City in the MLS.

7. Luis Advíncula

Luis Advíncula greeting President of the Republic, Jair Bolsonaro, and the President of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), Alejandro Domínguez, during the award ceremony of the Copa América 2019 by Planalto Palace –

Known as Luis Jan Piers Advíncula Castrillón, he is a fast-paced offensive right-back who is also deployed as a right winger sometimes. Born on 2^nd March 1990, Luis plays for club side Boca Juniors in Argentina.

He made his international debut on 4^th September 2010 against Canada. Since then, Luis has made 108 caps and scored twice for his home country.

Luis missed the decisive penalty in the World Cup playoff qualification match against Australia seeing his country miss out. He proceeded o announce his retirement from international football after this game at 32 years of age.

8. Christian Ramos

Christian Ramos tackling an Ecuador player – by Agencia de Noticias ANDES –

Full name: Christian Guillermo Martín Ramos Garagay, he was born in Lima Peru on 4^th November 1988. He plays as a Centre back for Peruvian club Cesar Vallejo and the Peru National team.

He made his debut in 2010 during the unsuccessful 2010 World Cup qualifiers. Before his debut, he captained the Peru national under-17 football team in 2005. This shows he had leadership skills since he was a young man.

Ramos’ international career hasn’t been a smooth ride. He only managed to cement a starting position in the 2018 WC qualifiers. He appeared in all three group stage games of Peru’s unsuccessful campaign in Russia 2018.

9. Christian Cueva

Here is Christian Cueva training by Anton Zaitsev –

Christian Alberto Cueva Bravo is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder. He plays for the Saudi Arabian club Al-Fateh and the Peru National team.

Cueva made his debut in 2011 and has made 94 appearances for Peru scoring 16 times in this period. Cueva competed for Peru in both the 2015 and 2019 Copa Américas, where they finished third and second, respectively.

He also participated in the Copa América Centenario, the FIFA World Cup of 2018, and the Copa América of 2021. At the club level, Cueva has represented Rayo Vallecano, Sao Paulo, Krasnodar, and Malatyaspor among others.

10. Edison Flores

Edison Flores in action for Peru by Agencia de Noticias ANDES –

Born on 14^th May 1994, 28-year-old Edison Michael Flores Peralta plays as a right winger. He represents the Peru National team and currently plays for club Atlas in the Mexican Liga MX.

Before his first international cap, he played for Peru U17 and Peru U20 netting 5 times in 16 appearances for the two. He got his first cap in 2013 and has since made 64 appearances scoring 15 times since.

Of all active Peruvian players, he is the third-highest scorer. He participated in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and has already played in three Copa América tournaments

11 Jefferson Farfán

A picure of Jefferson Farfan. , CC BY-SA 3.0 GFDL, via Wikimedia Commons

The famous Peruvian footballer popularly known as Foquita played as a winger and he was famed for his speed and technical assists which have carved him a legendary career on the pitch. Farfán has been hounding defenders with his left foot for years, from his early days of magic-wielding with Alianza Lima to his thundering strikes for PSV Eindhoven and Schalke 04. Acclaimed for his outstanding agility, accurate passes, and ability to score pivotal goals, he has consistently posed a threat to his team and nation. Unquestionably, Farfán is a leader on the global scene after leading Peru to their first Copa América final in many years in 2019.

12 Renato Tapia

Renato Tapia in the field. , , via Wikimedia Commons

The professional footballer hails from Peru and plays as a defensive midfielder and centre-back for the La Liga Club. The player also plays for the Peru National team. Tapia started his football career at an early age when he joined Sporting Cristal’s youth team when he was 12 years old. He then proceeded to Esther Grande Academy where he helped them win the Copa Federación in 1995. From then the player moved to Europe in 2013 and signed a four-year contract with Twente where he made 14 appearances and scored once in all the competitions. Before his contract with the team ended he was sold to Feyenoord because the team was going through financial difficulties. The player was later signed by Celta de Vigo in 2020 in a four-year contract. The player has also represented Peru in international games like FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and the Copa America showcasing his tactics and tenacity that make him a great player.

13 Andre Carrillo

Andre Carrillo. , CC BY-SA 3.0 GFDL, via Wikimedia Comm

He is a Peruvian footballer who is also known as The Snake and plays as a winger for Al-Qadsiah, a Saudi First Division League club. He is also part of the Peru national team when the team is playing international games. He started his youth career in Esther Grande before transitioning to Alianza Lima where his senior career kicked off. He then moved to Portugal to join Sporting CP two years later. Carrillo Benfica in 2016 and helped the team win the league, cup as well as the super cup in his first season. Carrillo then played for Reading and Watford in England for several seasons. In 2017–18, while on loan at Benfica, he scored eight goals, which was his greatest scoring season. Carillo is a great winger who has proved to be an asset to every team that he has been on.

14 Raul Ruidiaz

A picture of Raul Ruidiaz. , , via Wikimedia Commons

The player plays for the Seattle Sounders C as a striker in Major League Soccer. Ruidiaz started his career as a footballer in 2008 playing for Universitario and he went on to play for several clubs in Mexico before signing a contract with Seattle Sounders FC in 2018. His finishing skills, poaching skills and speed make him a great player who is recognised for his scoring ability. Over the course of his career, he has been able to score more than 20 goals for the Peruvian national team in the 54 league appearances that he has had. He continues to be a top scorer in the Seattle-based team with 64 goals scored in 116 appearances.

15 Christopher Gonzales

Christopher Gonzales. , , via Wikimedia Commons

The footballer plays as a left wing-back for Universitario de Deportes and Peru National Team. he started out his career as a football at Universitario de Deportes in 2012 before he moved to Colo-Colo in 2015 where he stayed till 2019 and was given to Cesar Vallejo, Sport Rosario and Melgar on loan from 2019. Christopher has also played for Sporting Cristal from 2019 to 2022 and Al-Adalah from 2022 to 2024. He has then gone back to Universitario de Deportes in 2024 and has made 7 appearances but is yet to score any goal. In the Peruvian National Team, the player has made 33 appearances and has scored three goals with his first goal being a game against Trinidad and Tobago in 2013.

16 Miguel Trauco

Mguel Trauco. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Trauco plays as a left midfielder for the Peruvian National Team and Criciuma, a club in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. He is famed for his impeccable dribbling skills and precise passing when attacking during a match. His pace and stamina also allow him to easily get forward and provide width in the field thus making him an asset for the team. His consistent performance is impressive and continues to make him a first-choice left midfielder for his Brazilian team as well as the Peruvian national team.

17 Carlos Zambrano

Footballer Carlos Zambrano. , , via Wikimedia Commons

The player who is famed for his defensive capabilities and strong tackling plays as a defender for Alianza Lima, a club in the Peruvian Liga 1. He started his youth career in AD Cantolao in 2000 and transitioned to a senior career by joining Schalke 04 II in 2000. He then went on to play for several teams before joining Alianza Lima in 2023. Some of the teams he was part of include Schalke 04, FC. St. Pauli, Eintracht Frankfurt and Boca Juniors. He displayed his rough tackling abilities and aerial abilities and contributed immensely to the success of the team.

18 Anderson Santamaria

Santamaria plays Centre-back for Atlas, a club in the Liga MX and he also plays for the Peru National Team. He began his football career in Ayacucho in 2010. After that, he played for a number of Peruvian teams, including Sporting Cristal, before moving to Mexico in 2016 to join Puebla. Santamaría became well-known for his formidable aerial skills, tactical understanding, and hard tackling as a Liga MX defender. He moved to Atlas in 2018, where he has established himself as a consistent starter. Since 2016, Santamaría has represented Peru internationally, winning more than 30 caps to date. Furthermore, he played for Peru at the 2018 World Cup in Russia cementing his status as a phenomenal player.

19 Andy Polo

A picture of Andy Polo. , , via Wikimedia Commons

He is a winger who currently plays for Universitario de Deportes which was also the club that he started his football career in. Andy went on to play in several clubs including Inter Milan, Morelia, Portland Timbers and Portland Timber II before returning to Universitario de Deportes in March 2022. Even though the move back to his debut club was marred with allegations of domestic violence against his wife, Andy Polo is a great addition to the team that brings his tactical skills and speed to the team.

20 Beto Da Silva

The Peruvian footballer has played as a Forward for FBC Melgar club since 2023. The talented footballer started his career as a youth in Internacional and played for several other clubs before transitioning to senior football. He started this chapter by joining Sporting Cristal in 2013 and played for the club until 2016. He went on to play for other clubs including Jong PSV, PSV, Gremio, Tigres UANL, Alianza Lima, UCV and currently at FBC Melgar. He has also played for Peru national team in a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago in May 2016. His success in the field has been attributed to his ability to dictate play from deep areas and impressive passing range.