Position: Defender
Born: 17.02.71
Club: Palmeiras

The vastly-experienced Carlos Gamarra is the most capped player in Paraguayan history and is considered a legend in his homeland.

With over a century of international appearances, the 35-year-old is quite simply a rock at the back and this summer will be his third World Cup finals having played in every game of the previous two campaigns.

Gamarra has played for many clubs across South America and Europe since he first made his name at Paraguayan club side Cerro Porteno in the early 90s.

After an impressive spell for Internacional of Brazil where his performances earned him the accolade of Paraguay's Player of the Year in 1997, the commanding centre-back tried his luck in Portugal for Benfica but only lasted one season in the build-up to France 1998.

It was at that showpiece tournament where Gamarra truly shone and his impeccable displays did not go unnoticed by FIFA, who named him in the All-Star team of the World Cup.

He spent the following club season with Corinthians but in 1999 Atletico Madrid snapped him up. The Spanish giants suffered a shock relegation, though, and Gamarra returned to Brazil, this time with Flamengo.

The old head of Gamarra just does not seem able to stay in one place for very long and in 2001 the powerful yet precise defender switched to AEK Athens and won the Greek Cup.

After the World Cup in Japan/Korea, where he played every minute of his nation's games, he sealed a richly-deserved glamour move to Serie A's Inter Milan but chances at the San Siro were rare as age began to catch up with him and after two seasons he unsurprisingly jumped ship.

It seems as if Gamarra has played at the heart of Paraguay's defence for an eternity but this will certainly be his last chance for the captain to achieve ultimate glory.

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