With his frizzy mop of hair, sparkling jewellery and colourful personality, Carlos Alberto Valderrama Palacio is unquestionably one of the most recognisable footballers to have graced the World Cup.
The Colombian No.10 was instantly taken into the hearts of millions of football fans for his huge blonde perm, but Valderrama also had the skills to ensure that his contribution to the sport would not be overshadowed by his hairstyle as he went on to become one of the few stars of the game who captained their country to three World Cups.
The Colombian No.10 was instantly taken into the hearts of millions of football fans for his huge blonde perm, but Valderrama also had the skills to ensure that his contribution to the sport would not be overshadowed by his hairstyle as he went on to become one of the few stars of the game who captained their country to three World Cups.
Given his debut for Colombia in October 1985, he was certainly not a Wunderkind even though he carried the nickname "El Pibe" [The Kid], but instead made his bow in the 3-0 defeat to Paraguay aged 24. That said, Valderrama did not need a lot of time to make his mark on the national team setup and was not made to wait long before he was given the honour of wearing the captain's armband at the Copa America tournament in 1987 when he led his side to third place.
A gifted passer of the ball with an artistic nature that lends itself to the position, he was employed in the centre of the pitch as the team's playmaker for the 1990 World Cup in Italy and impressed on his first step on the world stage. A team that consisted of the likes of Rene Higuita and Freddy Rincon were given little chance as the country had not qualified for a World Cup since 1962 - when they had gone out in the first round - although the addition of the United Arab Emirates in a group that also contained West Germany and Yugoslavia gave them a chance of making it through.
Indeed, with Valderrama in commanding form as captain, Colombia claimed a place in the knockout stages as they finished third in their group. Beginning with a 2-0 win over the UAE, with goals from Redin and a 20-yard drive from Valderrama himself, Colombia lost to Yugoslavia but then claimed a creditable (and surprising) 1-1 draw against the eventual winners West Germany to seal their place in the next stage.
The South Americans had looked likely to miss out once Pierre Littbarski had netted in the 89th minute, but Valderrama produced a moment of magic when he turned well, waltzed past several players with a few delicate touches and delivered a pinpoint pass to team-mate Rincon who equalised through the legs of Bodo Illgner three minutes into injury time.
It was emblematic of his style: languid occasionally, but incisive when it mattered.
Against Cameroon in the second round, Valderrama's class in the centre of the pitch shone through again but, in a goalless game forced into extra-time, his input (albeit a year earlier) would see his side knocked out when Roger Milla dispossessed erractic goalkeeper Rene Higuita in one of the most memorable goals in World Cup history.
The Colombian No.10 was instantly taken into the hearts of millions of football fans for his huge blonde perm, but Valderrama also had the skills to ensure that his contribution to the sport would not be overshadowed by his hairstyle as he went on to become one of the few stars of the game who captained their country to three World Cups.
The Colombian No.10 was instantly taken into the hearts of millions of football fans for his huge blonde perm, but Valderrama also had the skills to ensure that his contribution to the sport would not be overshadowed by his hairstyle as he went on to become one of the few stars of the game who captained their country to three World Cups.
Given his debut for Colombia in October 1985, he was certainly not a Wunderkind even though he carried the nickname "El Pibe" [The Kid], but instead made his bow in the 3-0 defeat to Paraguay aged 24. That said, Valderrama did not need a lot of time to make his mark on the national team setup and was not made to wait long before he was given the honour of wearing the captain's armband at the Copa America tournament in 1987 when he led his side to third place.
A gifted passer of the ball with an artistic nature that lends itself to the position, he was employed in the centre of the pitch as the team's playmaker for the 1990 World Cup in Italy and impressed on his first step on the world stage. A team that consisted of the likes of Rene Higuita and Freddy Rincon were given little chance as the country had not qualified for a World Cup since 1962 - when they had gone out in the first round - although the addition of the United Arab Emirates in a group that also contained West Germany and Yugoslavia gave them a chance of making it through.
Indeed, with Valderrama in commanding form as captain, Colombia claimed a place in the knockout stages as they finished third in their group. Beginning with a 2-0 win over the UAE, with goals from Redin and a 20-yard drive from Valderrama himself, Colombia lost to Yugoslavia but then claimed a creditable (and surprising) 1-1 draw against the eventual winners West Germany to seal their place in the next stage.
The South Americans had looked likely to miss out once Pierre Littbarski had netted in the 89th minute, but Valderrama produced a moment of magic when he turned well, waltzed past several players with a few delicate touches and delivered a pinpoint pass to team-mate Rincon who equalised through the legs of Bodo Illgner three minutes into injury time.
It was emblematic of his style: languid occasionally, but incisive when it mattered.
Against Cameroon in the second round, Valderrama's class in the centre of the pitch shone through again but, in a goalless game forced into extra-time, his input (albeit a year earlier) would see his side knocked out when Roger Milla dispossessed erractic goalkeeper Rene Higuita in one of the most memorable goals in World Cup history.
