José Luis Félix Chilavert (born July 27, 1965 in Luque) is an football (soccer) goalkeeper from Paraguay. He is considered by many to be the greatest soccer player to come out of that South American nation. Chilavert is also one of the world's leading free-kick specialists, and often takes penalties. This unusual expertise for a goalkeeper has made him the all-time leading scorer among professional keepers. He has scored 62 goals in his professional career, including eight in international matches. Four of his international goals were scored during Paraguay's qualification for the 2002 World Cup.
Chilavert made his debut as a soccer player at the age of 15, with the team Sportivo Luqueno, which were a second division team at that time. In 1989, he played for the Paraguayan national team for the first time. By then he had already reached division one football, with Argentina's San Lorenzo.
He later moved to Spain, where he played with the club Real Zaragoza. He returned to Argentina, where he played with Vélez Sarsfield, helping them to the Argentine championship three times as well as the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup, both won in 1994.
He was voted World Goalkeeper of the Year in 1995 and 1997. In 1998, he participated in the World Cup, helping take Paraguay to the second round, where the team lost against France. Chilavert made boasts about being the Cup's best goalkeeper before this tournament.
During a qualifying game for the 2002 World Cup, he spat on Brazil's player Roberto Carlos, an action which caused FIFA to give him a three-match suspension and forced him to watch the first two games of the tournament from the stands. He recently announced his retirement from international football. Furthermore he has been charactised as a spoiled player thanks to his attitude towards fellow team mates, players and managers.
He has 74 international caps for Paraguay and an impressive 8 goals.