Salvador Cabañas, Paraguay footballer: Profile, Career, News & Videos

Salvador Cabañas is a Paraguayan former professional footballer who played as a striker internationally for the senior Paraguay national team, and earlier for the national U17 and U20 teams.

Cabañas played for Club 12 de Octubre, Guaraní, Audax Italiano, Chiapas, Club América, General Caballero, Tanabi and Independiente F.B.C. His football career saw him play in Paraguay, Chile, Mexico and Brazil.

Cabañas was also a member of the Paraguay national football team from 2004 to 2010, scoring 10 goals in 44 appearances and participating in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and the 2007 Copa América. Cabañas was the leading goal scorer in the 2007 and 2008 Copa Libertadores competitions. In 2007, he was awarded both Paraguayan Footballer of the Year and South American Footballer of the Year. Cabañas had also been a top scorer in Chile and Mexico. He was known for his array of skills on the field such as excellent heading, accurate shooting with either foot, receptions in tight spaces, and a combination of technique, power, and positional sense.

Cabañas was shot in the head at a nightclub in January 2010, but survived the attack. Sixteen months after the assault he returned to football and participated in a tribute match for him between Paraguay's national team and Club América.