Hector Castro was a legendary figure in Uruguay. Sadly, at the age of 13 he accidentally amputated his right arm while using an electric saw, hence the nickname. At the 1930 World Cup, Hector was brought into the squad to replace the ill-stricken Peregrino Anselmo in the opening game of the first ever World Cup tournament, and what a tournament he had! Castro scored Uruguay's first World Cup goal, and indeed the first goal ever scored in World Cup history, in an opening game 1-0 victory against Peru. In fact the two goals Castro scored in the tournament proved to be of vital importance to his country and, if the stories are true, he also snubbed a bride before the final which little did he know would secure his and Uruguay's place in football folklore. The Argentineans had gone ahead at half-time leading by two goals to one, while Uruguay went in pursuit of an equalising goal. Jose Pedro Cea stepped up to score the leveller in the 57th minute. It was 2-2 in the capital. 68,000 people look on inside the stadium while armed guards outside prepared for a domestic siege between the rival fans. The clock read 89 minutes; the home side lead Argentina by 3 goals to 2 through a Santos Iriarte goal. Suddenly Uruguay break away and Hector Castro fires the ball into the roof of the net to score the decisive fourth goal. Castro's second goal in the competition clinched the first ever World Cup final victory in Montevideo. El Manco Divino also won an Olympic gold medal in 1928 and would lift eight league titles for Nacional as a player and coach. Sadly, Hector never played in another World Cup tournament, Uruguay snubbed the 1934 finals in Italy and by the time the 1950 finals came around Hector had retired from international football*. El Divino Manco played 25 times for Uruguay and scored 20 goals. Not bad for a guy with one arm whom many might suggest doesn't have a place on a football field. Disability never stood in his way and nor should it. So there you have it, the World Cup final match winner with a disability. *Uruguay also snubbed the World Cup finals in France 1938 but they won the tournament once more in Brazil in 1950.
3 Comments
7/16/2019 12:45:05 pm
It is inspiring to see a professional athlete succeed despite this. Well, I have always thought that athleticism is about talent, but I have been proven wrong. Seeing someone strive in a league where people are always talented, despite his lack of one arm, it just really sends chills down my spine. I want to break my mold, I want to try to have a career in sports. I am pretty far behind, but at least I know what I want to do.
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4/9/2024 11:42:23 am
I wanted to express my gratitude for your insightful and engaging article. Your writing is clear and easy to follow, and I appreciated the way you presented your ideas in a thoughtful and organized manner. Your analysis was both thought-provoking and well-researched, and I enjoyed the real-life examples you used to illustrate your points. Your article has provided me with a fresh perspective on the subject matter and has inspired me to think more deeply about this topic.
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RIP Kick off at 3This series offers tales from a time before the end of the 3pm kick off. When crowds were enormous, money wasn't a thing and loyalty was at the heart of the sport. ArchivesCategories
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