Blas Perez: The Panamanian Football Legend

Early Life and Career

Blas Antonio Pérez Ortega, born September 13, 1981, in Panama City, Panama, is a retired professional footballer who represented Panama internationally from 2001 to 2018. He began his career with local club Arabe Unido in 1999 and quickly established himself as a promising striker.

In 2002, Pérez moved to Colombian club Once Caldas, where he played for two seasons before joining Cucuta Deportivo in 2004. His performances in Colombia caught the attention of Mexican club Pachuca, who signed him in 2007.

International Career

Pérez made his international debut for Panama in 2001 and quickly became a key player. He represented his country in several major tournaments, including the CONCACAF Gold Cup (2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) and the FIFA World Cup (2018).

In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Pérez became the oldest player to score a goal in the tournament's history at 36 years and 320 days old.

Club Career

Pérez had a successful club career, playing for several clubs in Mexico, Colombia, Spain, the United States, and Paraguay.

He won league titles in Mexico (Clausura 2007 and Apertura 2007 with Pachuca) and Paraguay (Apertura 2015 with Cerro Porteño). He also won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2007 with Pachuca.

Legacy

Blas Pérez is regarded as one of the greatest Panamanian footballers of all time. He is Panama's all-time leading goalscorer with 43 goals in 129 appearances.

Pérez's impact on Panamanian football is significant. His success on the international stage inspired a generation of Panamanian footballers and helped raise the profile of Panama's football program.