Francisco Varallo
The last surviving player from the very first World Cup final, a speedy striker whose career was defined by one legendary, agonizing miss.
1910–2010 (age 100)·Argentine footballer·Birthday: February 5·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Francisco Varallo's story is forever tied to football's first global moment. A blisteringly fast forward known as 'Canoncito' (Little Cannon), he was a star for Boca Juniors and a natural pick for Argentina's squad at the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Uruguay. At just 20, he played through injury in the final against the hosts, a match Argentina lost 4-2. His legacy, however, is cemented by a singular, haunting moment: a point-blank miss in that final that would have leveled the score. He carried the weight of that miss for 80 years, becoming a living monument to the tournament's origins. Varallo lived to be 100, the last surviving participant of that first final, a direct human link to the birth of the World Cup. His long life turned a personal sporting regret into a unique historical privilege, making him the embodied memory of football's coming of age.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Francisco was born in 1910, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Francisco Was Born
The biggest hits of 1910
Francisco's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1910Born
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1915Started school
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Became a teenager
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1926Could drive
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1928Could vote
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1931Turned 21
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1940Turned 30
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1950Turned 40
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 50
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 60
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 70
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 80
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2010Died at 100
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
Key Achievements
- Was the last surviving player from the first-ever FIFA World Cup final (1930) before his death in 2010.
- Scored 181 goals for Boca Juniors, ranking him among the club's all-time top scorers.
- Won multiple Argentine league championships with Boca Juniors in the early 1930s.
- Represented Argentina at the inaugural World Cup, playing in the final despite a knee injury.
Did You Know?
He lived to be 100 years old, dying in 2010.
Varallo claimed for decades that he did not miss the famous chance in the 1930 final, insisting the goalkeeper saved it, though film evidence is inconclusive.
He was known for his exceptional pace and powerful shot, earning his nickname 'Canoncito'.
After retiring as a player, he had a brief and unsuccessful stint as a manager.
“I played the final on one leg, but we had to win that first final.”
