18 Facts About Francisco Varallo

Francisco Varallo played for the Argentina national team from 1930 to 1937, representing the country at the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930.

Francisco Varallo died in his home-town of La Plata on, aged 100.

Francisco Varallo was the last surviving player from the 1930 World Cup.

Francisco Varallo was born in Los Hornos, a district of La Plata Partido in Buenos Aires Province, on 5 February 1910.

Francisco Varallo made his debut aged 14, and early in his career gained the nickname canoncito for his shooting ability.

Aged 18, Francisco Varallo had a trial with Estudiantes de La Plata, scoring eleven goals in three games for the club.

However, the board of the club where Francisco Varallo was a youth team player were supporters of Estudiantes' town rivals Gimnasia y Esgrima, and therefore denied him the opportunity to join Estudiantes.

Francisco Varallo ultimately joined Gimnasia, making his debut for the club's reserve side, before making his debut for the first team in 1929.

Francisco Varallo moved to Boca Juniors for the start of the 1931 season for a fee of approximately $8000.

Francisco Varallo continued to play for the club for the next nine years during which time he won the Primera Division title three times, in 1931,1934 and 1935, as well as coming runner up in 1933, when he was the top goalscorer in the league and of South America scoring 34 goals.

Francisco Varallo represented Argentina at the inaugural World Cup in 1930, held in Uruguay, where he was the youngest player.

Francisco Varallo played in all three of the team's group games; scoring one goal in the match against Mexico, but missed the semi-final against the United States due to injury.

Francisco Varallo was a member of the Argentine team that won the South American Championship in 1937.

Francisco Varallo retired from football in 1940, due to injury problems.

Francisco Varallo's career was recognised in 1994, when he was awarded with the FIFA Order of Merit for his contributions to football.

Francisco Varallo has received honours from the Argentine Football Association and the South American Football Confederation.

Francisco Varallo marked his 100th birthday in February 2010 in his hometown near Buenos Aires by recalling the 1930 clash between his country and neighbouring Uruguay.

Francisco Varallo died on 30 August 2010, in his hometown of La Plata aged 100.