#2022世界杯 #
Eighteenth: "Golden Retriever Lion King" Balderama
Carlos Valderrama (born 2 September 1961 in Santa Marta, Colombia) is a retired former Colombian footballer who plays as a midfielder. Valderrama was a central player in the Colombian midfielder in South America in the 1990s, making his debut for the national team in October 1985, losing 3–0 against Paraguay, but he quickly established himself in the national team. Colombia defeated Argentina 5–0 in the subsequent World Cup match, but was eliminated from the group in the following World Cup main match. He spent his career at Montpellier in the French Primera División and Sporting Cali in Colombia, where he won the 1989–90 Coupe de France with Blanco, Cantona and other teammates as a midfielder. Balderrama is a classic midfielder, his style is free, with his golden retriever, he is quite flowing on the field.
Carlos Balderrama was dubbed the Golden Retriever Lion King for his blonde "explosive head" hairstyle. He also captained the national team to the 1990, 1994 and 1998 World Cups. He made his debut for the Colombian national team on 27 October 1985, playing 110 games and scoring 10 goals for the national team.
In 2002, he last played in the World Cup as a member of the national team, and Campos was 36 years old that year, but he was still an absolute workhorse and core player in the team, and his teammates were at ease with him on the field. After the end of this World Cup journey, Campos has also become a beautiful business card of Mexican football, and participating in 3 consecutive World Cups is a recognition of his strength.
February 1, 2004 is a commemorative day in the history of Colombian football, Colombian stars who have been in football for 22 years, nicknamed the "Golden Retriever Lion King", Balderrama played his farewell football match at the Metropolitan Soccer Stadium in Barranquilla, accompanied by the Colombian Friends and World Friends team composed of many Latin American stars, and the Argentine king Maradona also arrived from Havana, and more than 56,000 fans came to watch this luxurious farewell match for the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Old teammates from the 1994 World Cup in the United States, the 1998 World Cup in France and some of the players who participated in this year's Copa America formed the "Colombian Friends" team with Balderrama, and during the 90 minutes of the game, the fans did not hesitate to give applause to the protagonist, the former Colombian No. 10, and finally the two sides shook hands 3-3. After the game, the "Golden Retriever Lion King" said a tearful farewell to the more than 50,000 fans present, and his new role will be football coach, saying: "I never wanted to do anything other than football. I think it's time to say goodbye. I thank everyone who has helped me in my career; Now is the time for me to say goodbye and leave, and I will calmly accept this reality. However, Balderrama revealed that he may continue his football career, possibly as a coach.