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{{Short description|Paraguayan footballer (born 1960)}}
{{other uses}}
{{Family name hatnote|Romero|Insfrán|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Romerito
| image = Romerito Barcelona.gif
| caption = Romerito in 1989
| fullname = Julio César Romero Insfrán
| height = 1.73 m
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1960|8|28}}
| birth_place = [[Luque]], Paraguay
| currentclub =
| position = [[Attacking midfielder]]
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1977–1979
| clubs1 = [[Sportivo Luqueño]]
| caps1 = 113
| goals1 = 33
| years2 = 1980–1983
| clubs2 = [[New York Cosmos (1971–1985)|New York Cosmos]]
| caps2 = 104
| goals2 = 37
| years3 = 1983–1988
| clubs3 = [[Fluminense FC|Fluminense]]
| caps3 = 211
| goals3 = 59
| years4 = 1989
| clubs4 = [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
| caps4 = 7
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 1989–1990
| clubs5 = [[Puebla F.C.|Puebla]]
| caps5 = 81
| goals5 = 16
| years6 = 1990–1991
| clubs6 = [[Sportivo Luqueño]]
| caps6 = 35
| goals6 = 11
| years7 = 1992
| clubs7 = [[Olimpia Asunción]]
| caps7 = 24
| goals7 = 9
| years8 = 1993–1994
| clubs8 = [[Sportivo Luqueño]]
| caps8 = 43
| goals8 = 13
| years9 = 1995
| clubs9 = [[Deportes La Serena]]
| caps9 = 3
| goals9 = 1
| years10 = 1995
| clubs10 = [[Club Cerro Corá]]
| caps10 = 1
| goals10 = 0
| years11 = 1996–1998
| clubs11 = [[Sportivo Luqueño]]
| caps11 = 66
| goals11 = 33
| totalcaps = 688
| totalgoals = 213
| nationalyears1 = 1979–1990
| nationalteam1 = [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]]
| nationalcaps1 = 64
| nationalgoals1 = 26
}}

'''Julio César Romero Insfrán''' (born 28 August 1960), also known as '''Romerito''', is a Paraguayan former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[midfielder]], considered among the greatest players in Paraguayan football history. He is the only Paraguayan named by [[Pelé]] as one of the [[FIFA 100]] in March 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20140330/hemeroteca/25-anos-del-fichaje-poco-exitoso-de-romerito-por-el-barca_54405273089.html|title = 25 años del fichaje poco exitoso de Romerito por el Barça|date = 30 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://futbol.as.com/futbol/2015/03/21/primera/1426909310_951901.html|title = "Yendo al Barcelona sabía que me metía en la boca del lobo"|date = 21 March 2015}}</ref>

==Career==
Born in [[Luque]], Paraguay, Romero started his career at local club [[Sportivo Luqueño]] in 1977, by 1979 Romero's consistent performances had earned him a place in the [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay national team]] that played in the [[FIFA World Youth Championship]] and was considered one of the best players of the tournament along with [[Diego Maradona]]. In the same year, Romero played a key role in Paraguay's win in the [[Copa América 1979|Copa América]], scoring three goals.

In 1980, he joined now defunct [[New York Cosmos (1971–1985)|New York Cosmos]] where he played alongside such greats as the Brazilian and German World Cup winning captains of 1970 and 1974 [[Carlos Alberto Torres|Carlos Alberto]] and [[Franz Beckenbauer]]. In the [[Soccer Bowl '80|1980 Soccer Bowl]] he scored the game-winning goal of a 3–0 victory over [[Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1977–83)|Ft. Lauderdale]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1123797/1/index.htm |title=The Cosmos soared in Washington's steamy Soccer Bowl as - 09.29.80 - SI Vault |website=sportsillustrated.cnn.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025165651/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1123797/1/index.htm |archive-date=2012-10-25}} </ref>

Romero moved to Brazil to play for [[Fluminense FC|Fluminense]] where he was selected as the South American Footballer of the Year in 1985. He became a fan favorite after leading the team to a [[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|Campeonato Brasileiro]].

In 1986, he was a key player in helping the Paraguay national team return to the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|FIFA World Cup]] finals after a 28-year hiatus.<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/86qual.html World Cup 1986 qualifications by Karel Stokkermans, Sergio Henrique Jarreta and Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]</ref><ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/86full.html World Cup 1986 finals by Karel Stokkermans, Sergio Henrique Jarreta and Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]</ref> At the finals in Mexico, he scored against Iraq and the host nation in the first round.

After a short spell with [[FC Barcelona]] in Spain<ref>{{Cite web | title=Hemeroteca - El Mundo Deportivo - Home | url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/edition.html?bd=31&bm=03&by=1989&x=22&y=18 | access-date=2025-02-27 | website=hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com}}</ref> and a stint in Mexico with [[Puebla F.C.]] Romero returned to South America where he played out his career with [[Olimpia Asunción|Olimpia]], [[Club Cerro Corá]] and [[Sportivo Luqueño]] in Paraguay and [[Deportes La Serena]] in Chile.

During his career, he scored a little more than 400 goals.

==International goals==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1. || 31 October 1979 || [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Brazil]] || {{fb|BRA}} || align=center|'''2'''–2 || align=center| 2–2 || rowspan=3| [[1979 Copa América]]
|-
| 2. || rowspan=2| 28 November 1979 || rowspan=3| [[Asunción]], [[Paraguay]] || rowspan=2| {{fb|CHI}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 3–0
|-
| 3. || align=center|'''3'''–0
|-
| 4. || 31 May 1981 || {{fb|ECU}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || align=center| 3–1 || [[1982 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|1982 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| 5. || 5 October 1983 || [[Lima]], [[Peru]] || {{fb|PER}} || align=center|'''?'''–0 || align=center| 2–0 || rowspan=3| [[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
| 6. || rowspan=2| 7 October 1983 || rowspan=2| Asunción, Paraguay || rowspan=2| {{fb|PER}} || align=center|'''?'''–? || rowspan=2 align=center| 4–1
|-
| 7. || align=center|'''?'''–?
|-
| 8. || 9 June 1985 || Asunción, Paraguay || {{fb|BOL}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || align=center| 3–0 || rowspan=4| [[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|1986 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| 9. || 23 June 1985 || Rio de Janeiro, Brazil || {{fb|BRA}} || align=center|'''1'''–1 || align=center| 1–1
|-
| 10. || 27 October 1985 || Asunción, Paraguay || {{fb|COL}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 3–0
|-
| 11. || 17 November 1985 || [[Santiago]], [[Chile]] || {{fb|CHI}} || align=center|'''2'''–1 || align=center| 2–2
|-
| 12. || 4 June 1986 || [[Toluca]], Mexico || {{fb|IRQ}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–0 || rowspan=2| [[1986 FIFA World Cup]]
|-
| 13. || 7 June 1986 || [[Mexico City]], Mexico || {{fb|MEX}} || align=center|'''1'''–1 || align=center| 1–1
|-
|}

==Honours==
'''New York Cosmos'''
*[[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|NASL]]: [[1980 North American Soccer League season|1980]], [[1982 North American Soccer League season|1982]]

'''Fluminense'''
*[[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|Série A]]: [[1984 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1984]]
*[[Campeonato Carioca]]: 1984, 1985

'''Barcelona'''
*[[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1988–89 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1988–89]]<ref>{{BDFutbol|2916}}</ref>

'''Puebla'''
*[[Mexican Primera División|Primera División]]: [[1989–90 Mexican Primera División season|1989–90]]
*[[Copa Mexico]]: [[1989–90 Copa Mexico|1989–90]]

'''Olimpia Asunción'''
*[[Torneo República]]: 1992

'''Paraguay'''
*[[Copa América]]: [[1979 Copa América|1979]]

'''Individual'''
*[[South American Footballer of the Year]]: 1985;<ref>{{Cite web|title=South American Player of the Year 1985|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/sampoy85.html|access-date=2021-12-19|website=[[RSSSF]]}}</ref> Silver Award: 1979<ref>{{Cite web|title=South American Player of the Year 1979|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/sampoy79.html|access-date=2021-12-19|website=[[RSSSF]]}}</ref>
*South American Team of the Year: 1986<ref>{{cite news |date=16 January 2009 |title=South American Team of the Year |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/sam-toy.html |access-date=10 December 2015}}</ref>
*[[Primera División de Paraguay topscorers|Paraguayan First Division top scorer]]: 1990
*[[FIFA 100|FIFA top 125 greatest living footballers]]: 2004

==Facts==
*Romero is the equal 3rd highest goalscorer in the history of the Paraguay national team with 13 goals.
*Romero is a politician for the [[Colorado Party (Paraguay)|Colorado Party]] in his native city of Luque and works as a city counselor.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.infoluque.com.py/deportes/04romerito.htm |title=Infoluque article |access-date=25 July 2008 |archive-date=4 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704043416/http://www.infoluque.com.py/deportes/04romerito.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*In September 2006 Romero made his debut as a rock singer in the Paraguayan music festival called "Pilsen Rock". He took the stage as a guest of the popular local band [[Revolber]] and sang the opening words of the song "Siete hermanos, 1 misil" in front of a crowd of 40,000.<ref>[http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/barcelona/es/desarrollo/689651.html Marca article]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{BDFutbol|2916}}
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928094045/http://futbolfactory.futbolweb.net/index.php?ff=historicos&f2=00001&idjugador=570 |date=28 September 2007 |title=Futbol Factory profile (futbolfactory.futbolweb.net)}} {{in lang|es}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofoI7dAqtjQ Romero's debut as a rock singer (video)]
* [http://www.midfielddynamo.com/cups/ca/10_heroes.htm#SectionRomero Midfield Dynamo's 10 Heroes of the Copa América] Romero listed in the top 10
* [http://nasljerseys.com/Players/R/Romero.JulioCesar.htm New York Cosmos stats]
* {{FIFA player|57097}}

{{Navboxes
|bg=gold
|fg=navy
|title= Awards
|list1=
{{1986 South American Team of the year}}
{{1984 Bola de Prata}}
{{1980 NASL All-Stars}}
{{South American Footballer of the Year}}
{{FIFA 100}}
{{Fluminense FC Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Paraguay squads
| bg = #ff0000
| fg = White
|list1=
{{Paraguay squad 1979 Copa América}}
{{Paraguay squad 1983 Copa América}}
{{Paraguay squad 1986 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Paraguay squad 1987 Copa América}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Romerito}}
[[Category:Paraguayan men's footballers]]
[[Category:Paraguayan expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Paraguay men's under-20 international footballers]]
[[Category:Paraguay men's international footballers]]
[[Category:FIFA 100]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Sportivo Luqueño players]]
[[Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players]]
[[Category:Fluminense FC players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:FC Barcelona players]]
[[Category:Paraguayan Primera División players]]
[[Category:Club Olimpia footballers]]
[[Category:Club Cerro Corá footballers]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players]]
[[Category:New York Cosmos (1970–1985) players]]
[[Category:Liga MX players]]
[[Category:Club Puebla players]]
[[Category:1986 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Deportes La Serena footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Brazil]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Chile]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Mexico]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]]
[[Category:Paraguayan expatriate sportspeople in Brazil]]
[[Category:Paraguayan expatriate sportspeople in Chile]]
[[Category:Paraguayan expatriate sportspeople in Mexico]]
[[Category:Paraguayan expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Paraguayan expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Luque]]
[[Category:1979 Copa América players]]
[[Category:1987 Copa América players]]
[[Category:South American Footballer of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Copa América–winning players]]
[[Category:20th-century Paraguayan sportsmen]]