Roque Santa Cruz
| Date of birth | 16 August 1981 |
| Place of birth | Asuncion |
| Nationality | Paraguayan |
| Weight | 80 kg |
| Height | 1.89 m |
| Position | Forward |
One of the stars of Paraguay, Roque began his career at Olimpia De Asuncion where he made his debut aged just fifteen.
He shot to prominence in the Under-20 World Cup in 1999 and was immediately called to lead his countries attack in the Copa America aged just seventeen.
Roque's performances at that competition earned him a move to German club Bayern Munich in 1999 for £4million.
Roque is a tall striker with excellent pace and touch.
He joined Blackburn Rovers in July 2007 with a four-year contract that was extended to June 2012 in August 2008.
Roque is the elder brother of fellow Rovers forward, Julio Santa Cruz.
He joined Manchester City in June 2009 with a four-year contract.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Club Olimpia | 01 Jul 1998 | 01 Jul 1999 | |
| Bayern Munchen | 01 Jul 1999 | 28 Aug 2007 | |
| Blackburn Rovers | 28 Aug 2007 | 22 Jun 2009 | |
| Manchester City | 22 Jun 2009 | 30 Jun 2013 | |
| Blackburn Rovers | 14 Jan 2011 | 31 May 2011 | L |
| Real Betis | 29 Aug 2011 | 31 May 2012 | L |
| Malaga | 31 Aug 2012 | 31 May 2013 | L |
| Malaga | 11 Jul 2013 |
Club stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-00 | Bayern Munchen | UEFA Champions League | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2000-01 | Bayern Munchen | Bundesliga | 11 | 8 |
5 |
1
|
|
| 2000-01 | Bayern Munchen | UEFA Champions League | 2 | 4 |
|||
| 2001-02 | Bayern Munchen | Bundesliga | 15 | 7 |
5 |
||
| 2001-02 | Bayern Munchen | UEFA Champions League | 8 | 3 |
3 |
||
| 2001-02 | Bayern Munchen | UEFA Super Cup | 1 |
||||
| 2002-03 | Bayern Munchen | Bundesliga | 8 | 6 |
5 |
||
| 2002-03 | Bayern Munchen | UEFA Champions League | 2 |
1 |
1
|
||
| 2003-04 | Bayern Munchen | Bundesliga | 21 | 8 |
5 |
||
| 2003-04 | Bayern Munchen | UEFA Champions League | 3 | 5 |
1 |
1
|
|
| 2004-05 | Bayern Munchen | Bundesliga | 2 | 2 |
|||
| 2004-05 | Bayern Munchen | LigaPokal | 1 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Bayern Munchen | Bundesliga | 10 | 3 |
4 |
1
|
|
| 2006-07 | Bayern Munchen | Bundesliga | 13 | 13 |
2 |
2
|
|
| 2007-08 | Blackburn Rovers | League Cup | 2 | 1 |
3 |
||
| 2007-08 | Blackburn Rovers | Premier League | 36 | 1 |
19 |
3
|
|
| 2007-08 | Blackburn Rovers | UEFA Cup | 3 | 1 |
|||
| 2008-09 | Blackburn Rovers | FA Cup | 3 | 1 |
1 |
||
| 2008-09 | Blackburn Rovers | League Cup | 1 | 2 |
1 |
||
| 2008-09 | Blackburn Rovers | Premier League | 17 | 3 |
4 |
||
| 2009-10 | Manchester City | FA Cup | 2 |
||||
| 2009-10 | Manchester City | League Cup | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2009-10 | Manchester City | Premier League | 6 | 13 |
3 |
1
|
|
| 2010-11 | Blackburn Rovers | Premier League | 7 | 2 |
|||
| 2010-11 | Manchester City | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2010-11 | Manchester City | Premier League | 1 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
Club matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Sep 2009 | Manchester City v West Ham United | W | 3-1 | Premier League | |
| 05 Oct 2009 | Aston Villa v Manchester City | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 18 Oct 2009 | Wigan Athletic v Manchester City | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 28 Oct 2009 | Manchester City v Scunthorpe United | W | 5-1 | League Cup | 4th round |
| 01 Nov 2009 | Birmingham City v Manchester City | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 28 Nov 2009 | Manchester City v Hull City | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 12 Dec 2009 | Bolton Wanderers v Manchester City | D | 3-3 | Premier League | |
| 16 Dec 2009 | Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City | L | 3-0 | Premier League | |
| 19 Dec 2009 | Manchester City v Sunderland | W | 4-3 | Premier League | |
| 11 Jan 2010 | Manchester City v Blackburn Rovers | W | 4-1 | Premier League | |
| 16 Jan 2010 | Everton v Manchester City | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 13 Feb 2010 | Manchester City v Stoke City | D | 1-1 | FA Cup | 5th round |
| 16 Feb 2010 | Stoke City v Manchester City | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 24 Feb 2010 | Stoke City v Manchester City | L | 3-1 | FA Cup | 5th round replay |
| 27 Feb 2010 | Chelsea v Manchester City | W | 2-4 | Premier League | |
| 14 Mar 2010 | Sunderland v Manchester City | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 21 Mar 2010 | Fulham v Manchester City | W | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 24 Mar 2010 | Manchester City v Everton | L | 0-2 | Premier League | |
| 03 Apr 2010 | Burnley v Manchester City | W | 1-6 | Premier League | |
| 11 Apr 2010 | Manchester City v Birmingham City | W | 5-1 | Premier League | |
| 05 May 2010 | Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur | L | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 09 May 2010 | West Ham United v Manchester City | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 22 Sep 2010 | West Bromwich Albion v Manchester City | L | 2-1 | League Cup | 3rd round |
| 13 Nov 2010 | Manchester City v Birmingham City | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-99 | Paraguay | Copa America | 4 | 3 |
|||
| 1998-99 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 3 | 1 |
|||
| 1998-99 | Paraguay | World Youth Cup | 11 | 1 |
6 |
2
|
|
| 1999-00 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 2 | ||||
| 1999-00 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 1999-00 | Paraguay | Olympics | 3 | 1 |
2 |
||
| 2000-01 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 7 | 2 |
|||
| 2001-02 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 7 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 2001-02 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 3 | 1 |
|||
| 2002-03 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 1 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 7 | 1 |
|||
| 2004-05 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 3 | 2 |
|||
| 2004-05 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 1 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 5 | 1 |
|||
| 2006-07 | Paraguay | Copa America | 3 | 1 |
3 |
||
| 2006-07 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 5 | 1 |
|||
| 2007-08 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 3 | 2 |
3 |
||
| 2007-08 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 2 | ||||
| 2009-10 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 3 | 2 |
1
|
||
| 2009-10 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 3 | 2 |
1 |
||
| 2010-11 | Paraguay | Copa America | 3 | 1 |
1 |
||
| 2010-11 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2011-12 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2012-13 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 1 | 1 |
1 |
||
| 2013-14 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 4 | 2 |
|||
| 2014-15 | Paraguay | Copa America | 4 | 1 |
|||
| 2014-15 | Paraguay | International Friendly | 6 | 3 |
1
|
||
| 2015-16 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 1 |
||||
| 2016-17 | Paraguay | FIFA World Cup | 1 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08 Jan 1999 | Paraguay v Bolivia | W | 2-1 | World Youth Cup | CONMEBOL Under 20 qualifying |
| 10 Jan 1999 | Paraguay v Brazil | D | 1-1 | World Youth Cup | CONMEBOL Under 20 qualifying |
| 12 Jan 1999 | Uruguay v Paraguay | W | 0-2 | World Youth Cup | CONMEBOL Under 20 qualifying |
| 14 Jan 1999 | Colombia v Paraguay | W | 1-2 | World Youth Cup | CONMEBOL Under 20 qualifying |
| 17 Jan 1999 | Peru v Paraguay | L | 2-1 | World Youth Cup | CONMEBOL Under 20 qualifying |
| 19 Jan 1999 | Paraguay v Brazil | L | 1-3 | World Youth Cup | CONMEBOL Under 20 qualifying |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Chile v Paraguay | W | 2-3 | World Youth Cup | CONMEBOL Under 20 qualifying |
| 23 Jan 1999 | Paraguay v Uruguay | W | 1-0 | World Youth Cup | CONMEBOL Under 20 qualifying |
| 04 Apr 1999 | Germany v Paraguay | L | 4-0 | World Youth Cup | Finals Group A |
| 07 Apr 1999 | Paraguay v Costa Rica | W | 3-1 | World Youth Cup | Finals Group A |
| 10 Apr 1999 | Nigeria v Paraguay | W | 1-2 | World Youth Cup | Finals Group A |
| 14 Apr 1999 | Uruguay v Paraguay | L | 2-2 (9-10) | World Youth Cup | 2nd round |
| 28 Apr 1999 | Paraguay v Mexico | W | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 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 |
| 05 Jul 1999 | Paraguay v Peru | W | 1-0 | Copa America | Group A |
| 10 Jul 1999 | Paraguay v Uruguay | L | 1-1 (3-5) | Copa America | Quarter-final |
| 17 Nov 1999 | Uruguay v Paraguay | W | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
| 18 Jan 2000 | Argentina v Paraguay | L | 3-1 | Olympics | South America group B |
| 20 Jan 2000 | Paraguay v Bolivia | W | 3-1 | Olympics | South America group B |
| 22 Jan 2000 | Paraguay v Peru | L | 3-4 | Olympics | South America group B |
| 25 Jan 2000 | Uruguay v Paraguay | L | 1-0 | Olympics | South America group B |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 02 Jun 2001 | Paraguay v Chile | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | CONMEBOL South American qualifier |
| 16 Aug 2001 | Brazil v Paraguay | L | 2-0 | 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 |
| 26 Mar 2002 | Nigeria v Paraguay | D | 1-1 | 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 |
| 26 Mar 2003 | Mexico v Paraguay | D | 1-1 | International Friendly | |
| 06 Sep 2003 | Peru v Paraguay | L | 4-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 10 Sep 2003 | Paraguay v Uruguay | W | 4-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 15 Nov 2003 | Paraguay v Ecuador | W | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 18 Nov 2003 | Chile v Paraguay | W | 0-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 31 Mar 2004 | Paraguay v Brazil | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 01 Jun 2004 | Bolivia v Paraguay | L | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 06 Jun 2004 | Argentina v Paraguay | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 05 Sep 2004 | Paraguay v Venezuela | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 04 May 2005 | Ecuador v Paraguay | L | 1-0 | International Friendly | |
| 05 Jun 2005 | Brazil v Paraguay | L | 4-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 08 Jun 2005 | Paraguay v Bolivia | W | 4-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 03 Sep 2005 | Paraguay v Argentina | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 08 Oct 2005 | Venezuela v Paraguay | W | 0-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 10 Jun 2006 | England v Paraguay | L | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group B |
| 15 Jun 2006 | Sweden v Paraguay | L | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group B |
| 20 Jun 2006 | Paraguay v Trinidad and Tobago | W | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group B |
| 25 Mar 2007 | Mexico v Paraguay | L | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 28 Mar 2007 | Colombia v Paraguay | L | 2-0 | International Friendly | |
| 02 Jun 2007 | Austria v Paraguay | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 06 Jun 2007 | Mexico v Paraguay | W | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
| 20 Jun 2007 | Bolivia v Paraguay | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 28 Jun 2007 | Paraguay v Colombia | W | 5-0 | Copa America | Group C |
| 02 Jul 2007 | USA v Paraguay | W | 1-3 | Copa America | Group C |
| 05 Jul 2007 | Argentina v Paraguay | L | 1-0 | Copa America | Group C |
| 08 Jul 2007 | Mexico v Paraguay | L | 6-0 | Copa America | Quarter-final |
| 08 Sep 2007 | Venezuela v Paraguay | L | 3-2 | International Friendly | |
| 17 Nov 2007 | Paraguay v Ecuador | W | 5-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America qualifying |
| 21 Nov 2007 | Chile v Paraguay | W | 0-3 | FIFA World Cup | South America qualifying |
| 31 May 2008 | France v Paraguay | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 15 Jun 2008 | Paraguay v Brazil | W | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America qualifying |
| 18 Jun 2008 | Bolivia v Paraguay | L | 4-2 | FIFA World Cup | South America qualifying |
| 09 Sep 2008 | Paraguay v Venezuela | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America qualifying |
| 18 Nov 2009 | Netherlands v Paraguay | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 15 May 2010 | Korea DPR v Paraguay | W | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
| 25 May 2010 | Republic of Ireland v Paraguay | L | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 30 May 2010 | Paraguay v Ivory Coast | D | 2-2 | International Friendly | |
| 02 Jun 2010 | Greece v Paraguay | W | 0-2 | International Friendly | |
| 14 Jun 2010 | Italy v Paraguay | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group F |
| 20 Jun 2010 | Slovakia v Paraguay | W | 0-2 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group F |
| 24 Jun 2010 | Paraguay v New Zealand | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group F |
| 29 Jun 2010 | Paraguay v Japan | W | 0-0 (5-3) | FIFA World Cup | Finals - Round of 16 |
| 03 Jul 2010 | Paraguay v Spain | L | 0-1 | FIFA World Cup | Quarter-final |
| 11 Jun 2011 | Paraguay v Romania | W | 2-0 | International Friendly | |
| 03 Jul 2011 | Paraguay v Ecuador | D | 0-0 | Copa America | Group B |
| 09 Jul 2011 | Brazil v Paraguay | D | 2-2 | Copa America | Group B |
| 13 Jul 2011 | Paraguay v Venezuela | D | 3-3 | Copa America | Group B |
| 20 Jul 2011 | Paraguay v Venezuela | W | 0-0 (5-3) | Copa America | Semi-final |
| 07 Oct 2011 | Peru v Paraguay | L | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America qualifying |
| 11 Oct 2011 | Paraguay v Uruguay | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America qualifying |
| 07 Sep 2012 | Argentina v Paraguay | L | 3-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America qualifying |
| 07 Jun 2013 | Paraguay v Chile | L | 1-2 | FIFA World Cup | South America qualifying |
| 06 Sep 2013 | Paraguay v Bolivia | W | 4-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America qualifying |
| 10 Sep 2013 | Paraguay v Argentina | L | 2-5 | FIFA World Cup | South America qualifying |
| 11 Oct 2013 | Venezuela v Paraguay | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America qualifying |
| 15 Oct 2013 | Paraguay v Colombia | L | 1-2 | FIFA World Cup | South America qualifying |
| 07 Sep 2014 | Paraguay v United Arab Emirates | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 10 Oct 2014 | Korea Republic v Paraguay | L | 2-0 | International Friendly | |
| 14 Oct 2014 | China PR v Paraguay | L | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 14 Nov 2014 | Paraguay v Peru | W | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 18 Nov 2014 | Peru v Paraguay | L | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 06 Jun 2015 | Paraguay v Honduras | D | 2-2 | International Friendly | |
| 13 Jun 2015 | Argentina v Paraguay | D | 2-2 | Copa America | Group B |
| 16 Jun 2015 | Paraguay v Jamaica | W | 1-0 | Copa America | Group B |
| 20 Jun 2015 | Uruguay v Paraguay | D | 1-1 | Copa America | Group B |
| 27 Jun 2015 | Brazil v Paraguay | W | 1-1 (4-3) | Copa America | Quarter-final |
| 30 Jun 2015 | Argentina v Paraguay | L | 6-1 | Copa America | Semi-final |
| 29 Mar 2016 | Paraguay v Brazil | D | 2-2 | FIFA World Cup | South America final group |
| 10 Nov 2016 | Paraguay v Peru | L | 1-4 | FIFA World Cup | South America final group |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.