Meet the Pinoy Legend Who Changed the World of Football Forever

Long before the likes of Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo wowed the disciples of the beautiful game; even prior to the years when the name Diego Maradona became synonymous to football, there was someone every football fan in the world look up to. And get this: he’s a Pinoy.

As one of the very first football legends in the history of the sport, Paulino Alcantara accomplished feats that are unlikely to be surpassed by anyone in the near future. During his halcyon days wearing an FC Barcelona shirt from 1912 to the late 20’s, the Filipino-Spanish superstar scored an astonishing 357 goals in as many games! Now that’s what you call a friggin’ football god.

Born in Iloilo (which is coincidentally one of the football hotbeds in the country) to a Spanish military officer and a beautiful Ilongga, Alcantara, together with the whole family, left for Spain during his puberty years (assuming that he’s not a late bloomer). There, he chased the ball through the pitch for the very first time in an FC Galeno jersey. In 1912, at a not-so-ripe age of 15, a little-known and not so renowned club by the name of FC Barcelona signed him. Alcantara, in his debut match against Catala SC, made many jaws drop as he propelled his team to a modest 9-0 win. He topscored for Barca with a not so promising three goals (or what we call today a ‘hat trick’). Oh, did I mention that he did that in his debut? I guess I did.

Scoring goals was not really his thing. In fact, in a crazy moment during a game against France, he kicked the ball from outside the box; the doomed ball went in between the posts and THROUGH the net! Whew! Is he human? Well, maybe that was just a stroke of luck.

Fast forward to 1917, Alcantara came back to the Philippines to play in the Far Eastern Championship Games. His debut for the national team brought us our biggest win in the international stage–a stunning 15-2 thumping of Japan!

The Spaniards then selected him to represent their country in the 1920 Olympics. Alcantara however, chose to stay in Manila to take his final medical exams. (Also, maybe as a revenge to the hooliganism the Spaniards did during their brief 300-year stay in the country.)

But Alcantara finally made his debut for Espanya (the country, not the swampy road in Manila) in 1921 against Belgium. Spain wins, 2-0. Alcantara scored both goals.

He made 5 more appearances and scored 6 more goals between 1921 and 1923 for the Spanish NT.

In 1927, in an age when most football players are on their prime, Alcantara retired, 31 years old and still smokin’, to add an “M.D. ” at the end of his name.

After his playing days though, he still did not stray away from football. He became Barcelona’s director in 1931 and 1934. And in 1951, became the manager of the Spanish National Team.

All in all in the 15 years of his career, Alcantara helped Barcelona win Copa del Rey five times; Campionat de Catalunya 10 times; and brought home a silver for the Philippines in the Far Eastern Games.

Needless to say, he is not only Barca’s first superstar renown for his deadly shot and prowess in front of the goal–a reputation that went well beyond Barcelona’s borders. He is one of the greatest in the history of the game in the whole face of the planet. But most of all: he is a Filipino, and proud to be one. MM