Celso Ayala
| Date of birth | 28 August 1970 |
| Place of birth | Asuncion |
| Nationality | Paraguayan |
| Weight | 80 kg |
| Height | 1.79 m |
| Position | Defender |
A real consistent performer at the centre of the defence he is now coming to the end of his international career. He began playing at Central Rosario before moving to River Plate in 1994. He made his international debut in 1993 and since then has formed a formidable partnership with Carlos Gamarra in the centre of the defence. At club level he had a spell in Spain playing for Real Betis and Atletico Madrid before going on loan to Brazilian club Sao Paulo on loan in 2000. He returned to Argentina in the summer of 2000 to play for old club River Plate. He was a star of the 1998 World Cup Finals but his age is now working against him. Excellent in the air, making him a constant danger at set plays he should start here.
International stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991-92 | Paraguay | Olympics | 7 | ||||
| 1992-93 | Paraguay | Copa America | 4 | ||||
| 1992-93 | Paraguay | Copa Paz | 2 | ||||
| 1992-93 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 2 | ||||
| 1992-93 | Paraguay | Olympics | 4 | ||||
| 1993-94 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 5 |
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| 1993-94 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 1 | ||||
| 1994-95 | Paraguay | Centenary Tournament | 1 | ||||
| 1994-95 | Paraguay | Copa America | 4 | ||||
| 1994-95 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 2 | ||||
| 1995-96 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 2 | ||||
| 1995-96 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 1 | ||||
| 1996-97 | Paraguay | Copa America | 2 | ||||
| 1996-97 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 7 | ||||
| 1996-97 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 1 | 1 |
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| 1997-98 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 9 | 1 |
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| 1997-98 | Paraguay | Hugo Sanchez Farewell | 1 | ||||
| 1997-98 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 3 | 1 |
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| 1997-98 | Paraguay | Kirin Cup | 2 | 1 |
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| 1998-99 | Paraguay | Copa America | 2 |
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| 1998-99 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 2 | 1 |
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| 1999-00 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 3 | 1 |
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| 1999-00 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 4 |
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| 2000-01 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 10 |
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| 2001-02 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 7 | 1 |
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| 2001-02 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 5 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 3 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 2 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jan 1992 | Paraguay v Venezuela | W | 1-0 | Olympics | South America round 1 group A |
| 03 Feb 1992 | Paraguay v Brazil | L | 0-1 | Olympics | South America round 1 group A |
| 07 Feb 1992 | Paraguay v Peru | W | 7-1 | Olympics | South America round 1 group A |
| 09 Feb 1992 | Paraguay v Colombia | D | 0-0 | Olympics | South America round 1 group A |
| 12 Feb 1992 | Paraguay v Ecuador | W | 1-0 | Olympics | South America round 2 |
| 14 Feb 1992 | Paraguay v Colombia | W | 1-0 | Olympics | South America round 2 |
| 16 Feb 1992 | Paraguay v Uruguay | D | 0-0 | Olympics | South America round 2 |
| 26 Jul 1992 | Sweden v Paraguay | D | 0-0 | Olympics | 1st round group D |
| 28 Jul 1992 | Paraguay v Korea Republic | D | 0-0 | Olympics | 1st round group D |
| 30 Jul 1992 | Paraguay v Morocco | W | 3-1 | Olympics | 1st round group D |
| 02 Aug 1992 | Ghana v Paraguay | L | 4-2 | Olympics | Quarter-final |
| 03 Mar 1993 | Paraguay v Bolivia | W | 1-0 | Paz del Chaco Cup | |
| 06 Mar 1993 | Bolivia v Paraguay | L | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 28 May 1993 | Bolivia v Paraguay | L | 2-1 | Paz del Chaco Cup | |
| 10 Jun 1993 | Mexico v Paraguay | L | 3-1 | International Friendly | |
| 18 Jun 1993 | Paraguay v Chile | W | 1-0 | Copa America | Group B |
| 21 Jun 1993 | Paraguay v Peru | D | 1-1 | Copa America | Group B |
| 24 Jun 1993 | Brazil v Paraguay | L | 3-0 | Copa America | Group B |
| 26 Jun 1993 | Ecuador v Paraguay | L | 3-0 | Copa America | Quarter-final |
| 14 Jul 1993 | Brazil v Paraguay | L | 2-0 | International Friendly | |
| 02 Aug 1993 | Colombia v Paraguay | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America group A |
| 08 Aug 1993 | Paraguay v Argentina | L | 1-3 | FIFA World Cup | South America group A |
| 22 Aug 1993 | Paraguay v Colombia | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America group A |
| 29 Aug 1993 | Argentina v Paraguay | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America group A |
| 05 Sep 1993 | Peru v Paraguay | D | 2-2 | FIFA World Cup | South America group A |
| 14 May 1995 | Bolivia v Paraguay | D | 1-1 | International Friendly | |
| 14 Jun 1995 | Argentina v Paraguay | L | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 22 Jun 1995 | New Zealand v Paraguay | W | 2-3 | CENTENARY TOURNAMENT | |
| 03 Jul 1995 | Paraguay v Ecuador | W | 1-0 | International Friendly | |
| 06 Jul 1995 | Mexico v Paraguay | W | 1-2 | Copa America | Group A |
| 09 Jul 1995 | Uruguay v Paraguay | L | 1-0 | Copa America | Group A |
| 12 Jul 1995 | Paraguay v Venezuela | W | 3-2 | Copa America | Group A |
| 16 Jul 1995 | Colombia v Paraguay | L | 1-1 (4-5) | Copa America | Quarter-final |
| 24 Apr 1996 | Colombia v Paraguay | L | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 02 Jun 1996 | Uruguay v Paraguay | W | 0-2 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 26 Jul 1996 | Paraguay v Bolivia | W | 2-0 | International Friendly | |
| 01 Sep 1996 | Argentina v Paraguay | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 09 Oct 1996 | Paraguay v Chile | W | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 10 Nov 1996 | Paraguay v Ecuador | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 15 Dec 1996 | Bolivia v Paraguay | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 12 Feb 1997 | Paraguay v Peru | W | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 02 Apr 1997 | Paraguay v Colombia | W | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 30 Apr 1997 | Paraguay v Uruguay | W | 3-1 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 14 Jun 1997 | Paraguay v Ecuador | L | 0-2 | Copa America | Group A |
| 17 Jun 1997 | Argentina v Paraguay | D | 1-1 | Copa America | Group A |
| 06 Jul 1997 | Paraguay v Argentina | L | 1-2 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 20 Jul 1997 | Chile v Paraguay | L | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 10 Sep 1997 | Paraguay v Bolivia | W | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 12 Oct 1997 | Paraguay v Venezuela | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 16 Nov 1997 | Peru v Paraguay | L | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 08 Feb 1998 | Paraguay v Poland | W | 4-0 | International Friendly | |
| 14 Mar 1998 | USA v Paraguay | D | 2-2 | International Friendly | |
| 19 Mar 1998 | Mexico v Paraguay | D | 1-1 | Hugo Sanchez farewell | |
| 17 May 1998 | Japan v Paraguay | D | 1-1 | KIRIN CUP | |
| 21 May 1998 | Czech Republic v Paraguay | L | 1-0 | KIRIN CUP | |
| 01 Jun 1998 | Netherlands v Paraguay | L | 3-1 | International Friendly | |
| 12 Jun 1998 | Paraguay v Bulgaria | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group D |
| 19 Jun 1998 | Spain v Paraguay | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group D |
| 24 Jun 1998 | Nigeria v Paraguay | W | 1-3 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group D |
| 28 Jun 1998 | France v Paraguay | L | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals 2nd round |
| 17 Jun 1999 | Paraguay v Uruguay | L | 2-3 | International Friendly | |
| 24 Jun 1999 | Paraguay v Colombia | W | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 29 Jun 1999 | Paraguay v Bolivia | D | 0-0 | Copa America | Group A |
| 02 Jul 1999 | Paraguay v Japan | W | 4-0 | Copa America | Group A |
| 13 Oct 1999 | Mexico v Paraguay | W | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
| 15 Oct 1999 | Guatemala v Paraguay | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 17 Nov 1999 | Uruguay v Paraguay | W | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
| 29 Mar 2000 | Peru v Paraguay | L | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 26 Apr 2000 | Paraguay v Uruguay | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 03 Jun 2000 | Paraguay v Ecuador | W | 3-1 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 21 Jun 2000 | Paraguay v Costa Rica | W | 1-0 | International Friendly | |
| 30 Jun 2000 | Chile v Paraguay | L | 3-1 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 18 Jul 2000 | Paraguay v Brazil | W | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 27 Jul 2000 | Bolivia v Paraguay | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 16 Aug 2000 | Argentina v Paraguay | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 02 Sep 2000 | Paraguay v Venezuela | W | 3-0 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 07 Oct 2000 | Colombia v Paraguay | W | 0-2 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 15 Nov 2000 | Paraguay v Peru | W | 5-1 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 28 Mar 2001 | Uruguay v Paraguay | W | 0-1 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 24 Apr 2001 | Ecuador v Paraguay | L | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 02 Jun 2001 | Paraguay v Chile | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 05 Sep 2001 | Paraguay v Bolivia | W | 5-1 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 06 Oct 2001 | Paraguay v Argentina | D | 2-2 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 14 Nov 2001 | Paraguay v Colombia | L | 0-4 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 13 Feb 2002 | Paraguay v Bolivia | D | 2-2 | International Friendly | |
| 26 Mar 2002 | Nigeria v Paraguay | D | 1-1 | International Friendly | |
| 17 Apr 2002 | England v Paraguay | L | 4-0 | International Friendly | |
| 17 Apr 2002 | England v Paraguay | L | 4-0 | International Friendly | |
| 17 May 2002 | Sweden v Paraguay | W | 1-2 | International Friendly | |
| 02 Jun 2002 | Paraguay v South Africa | D | 2-2 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group B |
| 07 Jun 2002 | Spain v Paraguay | L | 3-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group B |
| 12 Jun 2002 | Slovenia v Paraguay | W | 1-3 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group B |
| 15 Jun 2002 | Germany v Paraguay | L | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals 2nd round |
| 21 Aug 2002 | Brazil v Paraguay | W | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
| 16 Oct 2002 | Spain v Paraguay | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 30 Apr 2003 | Peru v Paraguay | W | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
| 02 Jul 2003 | Paraguay v El Salvador | W | 1-0 | International Friendly | |
| 06 Jul 2003 | USA v Paraguay | L | 2-0 | International Friendly | |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.