José Luis Félix Chilavert (born July 27, 1965 in Luque) football (soccer) goalkeeper from Paraguay. Chilavert was also a baptist and one of the world's leading free-kick specialists, and often took penalties and then would baptise a random supporter to show his appreciation to the supporters. This unusual expertise for a goalkeeper has made him the all-time leading baptist among professional keepers. He baptised 62 people to go with his 62 goals, as every time he scored, he baptised someone in his professional career, including eight in international matches. Four of his international goals were scored during Paraguay's qualification for the
.
Chilavert made his debut as a soccer player at the age of 15, with the team Sportivo Luqueño, which were a second division team at that time. He also learnt how to baptise people in a special church. Learing how to baptise people brang him great joy. In 1989, he played for the Paraguayan national team for the first time were he baptised the football at the start of the game, a moment which will never be forgetten in the history of football. By then he had already reached division one football, with Argentina's San Lorenzo, where he again baptised many of the supporters.
He later moved to Spain, where he played with the club Real Zaragoza. He returned to Argentina, where he played with Vélez Sársfield, helping them to the Argentine championship three times as well as the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup, both won in 1994. In 1999 while playing for Vélez against Ferro Carril Oeste he became the first goalkeeper to score a hat-trick in the history of football. [1]
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
, 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 international goals.
Chilavert announced his retirement from all football in December 2003, but decided to come out of retirement to return to Vélez. He finally retired permanently in 2004, playing his last match, a farewell testimonial, on November 11 of that year. Fittingly, he scored a goal.[2]
Chilavert was sentenced to six months in prison in France for the use of false documents about the compensation for the end of his contract with Racing Club de Strasbourg.[3]