Last surviver from 1930 WC dies

Former Argentine footballer Francisco ‘Pancho’ Varallo, the last surviving player from the inaugural 1930 World Cup, died on Monday aged 100 years, his family confirmed.

Varallo, nicknamed ‘Canoncito’ (Little Cannon), was on the Argentine team that fell 4-2 to hosts Uruguay in the final at the Estadio Centenario on July 30, 1930.

Varallo started his career in 1928 at Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, his home town 60km south of Buenos Aires, where he was born on February 5, 1910 and where he passed away on Monday.

In 1994 he was awarded the FIFA Order of Merit for his contribution to football.

BUENOS AIRES, AFP