Roque Santa Cruz

Roque Santa Cruz (born August 16, 1981 in Asuncion, Paraguay) is a Paraguayan football striker, who currently plays for Bayern Munich of the German Bundesliga.

Santa Cruz made a name for himself at the 1999 U-20 FIFA World Youth Championship, where he scored three goals for a surprising Paraguay team. His performance there led to a call-up to the full Paraguay national team for the Copa América at the age of 17.

His international exploits, combined with his club performance leading Olimpia Asuncion to a Paraguayan championship, attracted the interest of European suitors, among them Bayern Munich, who signed him for 5 million Euros for the 1999/2000 season.

Santa Cruz has been unexceptional at Bayern Munich – although he scored five goals in his first season with the club, a series of injuries and heavy competition at forward for the German giants has limited his impact.

Nevertheless, he remains an important player for his national team, and appeared with them in the 2002 World Cup, where he scored one goal while helping the team advance to the elimination rounds.