17 GIFs That Prove There’s Only One Cuauhtémoc Blanco
Mexican soccer icon Cuauhtémoc Blanco is hanging up his cleats. Blanco, who made it out of Tepito — one of Mexico City’s roughest neighborhoods — to become a legend for Club América and the Mexican national team, is retiring after more than 20 years. The 42-year-old, who delighted fans with clutch goals, creative goal celebrations and a quick temper, is retiring to run for mayor of Cuernavaca in the state of Morelos. Cuauhtémoc, we’ll miss you. Here’s why:
He made us gasp, when he did the “Cuauhteminha”
Credit: vlahell/YouTube
Who had the balls to try this at a World Cup? Cuau did.
And scored this crazy goal at the 1998 World Cup
Credit: Elpitu891 / YouTube
He took the América-Chivas rivalry very seriously
Credit: La Jugada / YouTube
His celebrations became as entertaining as his goals
Credit: Angel Cabrera / YouTube
Like when he pretended to be a matador
Credit: La Jugada / YouTube
Or peed like a dog after scoring against Felix Fernandez
Credit: La Jugada / YouTube
He also posed in front of his former coach, Ricardo Lavolpe, to piss him off
Credit: La Jugada / YouTube
He showed his Mexican pride with a Zapateado
Credit: 96SoccerFreak / YouTube
His celebrations became as entertaining as his goals
Credit: Angel Cabrera / YouTube
Like when he pretended to be a matador
Credit: La Jugada / YouTube
Or peed like a dog after scoring against Felix Fernandez
Credit: La Jugada / YouTube
He also posed in front of his former coach, Ricardo Lavolpe, to piss him off
Credit: La Jugada / YouTube
He showed his Mexican pride with a Zapateado
Credit: 96SoccerFreak / YouTube
Or peed like a dog after scoring against Felix Fernandez
Credit: La Jugada / YouTube
He also posed in front of his former coach, Ricardo Lavolpe, to piss him off
Credit: La Jugada / YouTube
He showed his Mexican pride with a Zapateado
Credit: 96SoccerFreak / YouTube
He showed his Mexican pride with a Zapateado
Credit: 96SoccerFreak / YouTube
After scoring a goal against Brazil to win the 1999 Confederations Cup.
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His long running starts when shooting penalties
Credit: RichterMexT / YouTube
It took him a while to get there, but he usually scored.
He was a master at “drawing” fouls
Credit: vlahell / YouTube
No contact didn’t always mean no foul.
But if you ask him, he never committed a foul
Credit: Univision Deportes / YouTube
He had no problems showing his frustration
Credit: La Jugada / YouTube
For officials AND opponents
Credit: La Jugada / YouTube
And even when he took things too far
Credit: LEGENDARYARCHIVES / YouTube
You forgave him because he could do things like this
Credit: LEGENDARYARCHIVES / YouTube
And this
Credit: vlahell / YouTube
For officials AND opponents
Credit: La Jugada / YouTube
And even when he took things too far
Credit: LEGENDARYARCHIVES / YouTube
You forgave him because he could do things like this
Credit: LEGENDARYARCHIVES / YouTube
And this
Credit: vlahell / YouTube
You forgave him because he could do things like this
Credit: LEGENDARYARCHIVES / YouTube
And this
Credit: vlahell / YouTube
Ah, the rare but effective butt pass.
Best of all, he always knew how to quiet the haters
Credit: LEGENDARYARCHIVES / YouTube
Shhhh.
And he even earned comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo
Credit: Miguel Miquioreno / YouTube
El Cuau, who is currently playing with Puebla, will say his final good-bye in a Copa MX match against his longtime rival, Chivas of Guadalajara.
READ: How Chicharito Quieted His Haters
What was your favorite Cuauhtémoc Blanco moment?
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