Norberto Méndez (footballer)
Norberto Doroteo Méndez (January 5, 1923 – June 22, 1998), nicknamed Tucho, was an Argentine footballer who played as a midfielder. Internationally, he played 33 games for the Argentina national team and won 3 Copa América titles. He is most famous for being the all-time top scorer in the history of the tournament with 17 goals.
| Méndez with the Argentina national team in 1947 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Norberto Doroteo Méndez | ||
| Date of birth | January 5, 1923 | ||
| Place of birth | Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||
| Date of death | June 22, 1998 (aged 75) | ||
| Position(s) | Inside-forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1941–1947 | Huracán | 177 | (67) |
| 1947–1954 | Racing Club | 128 | (47) |
| 1954–1956 | Tigre | 46 | (7) |
| 1956–1958 | Huracán | 38 | (11) |
| International career | |||
| 1945–1956 | Argentina | 31 | (19) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
In domestic football, Méndez's most notable tenures were on Huracán (where he won three National cups) and Racing, winning three Primera División championships.
Club career edit
He was born on January 5, 1923, in the city of Buenos Aires. Méndez started his playing career with Huracán in 1941. In 1947 he moved to Racing Club where he helped the team win three consecutive Primera División titles in 1949, 1950 and 1951. In 1954 Méndez moved to Tigre, he returned to Huracán in 1956 and he retired from football in 1958 at the age of 35.
Méndez once said that he had three great loves in his life: Huracán was his girlfriend, Racing his wife and the Argentina national team his passion.[citation needed]
International career edit
Méndez played for the Argentina national team between 1945 and 1956, he played 31 games and scored 19 goals. He is the equal 10th highest scoring player in the history of Argentine football.
Méndez helped Argentina to win three Copa América titles, he scored 17 goals in the competition, making him the highest scoring player in the history of the tournament.
Honours edit
Club edit
- Copa Adrián C. Escobar (2): 1942, 1943
- Copa de Competencia Británica (1): 1944
- Primera División (3): 1949, 1950, 1951
International edit
- Copa América (3): 1945, 1946, 1947
- Copa Lipton (1): 1945
- Copa Newton (1): 1945
Individual edit
- Copa América all-time top scorer: 17 goals
- Copa América Golden Boot: 1945[1]
- Copa América Silver Boot: 1946, 1947
References edit
- ^ Scorer's list on RSSSF.com
External links edit
- (in Spanish) Clarín Tucho Méndez obituary
- (in Spanish) at the Wayback Machine (archived October 20, 2007)