Roque Santa Cruz

At 42 years old, Roque Santa Cruz has this physical status:

Roque Luis Santa Cruz Cantero (locally [roke santa teo]; born 16 August 1981) is a Paraguayan footballer who plays as a striker for Paraguayan club Club Libertad. He has been the highest goal scorer and has played for more than 100 caps for Paraguay's national team, and is regarded as one of the country's best players.

Santa Cruz began his career with Olimpia, progressing through their youth system to the first-team squad where he made his debut in 1997 at the age of 15. He spent 13 goals in 24 Primera División appearances, where Olimpia won the 1997, 1998, and 1999 Primera División titles. Santa Cruz scored three goals in four appearances for Paraguay at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship before making his Paraguayan national team debut at the 1999 Copa América, where he scored three goals in four appearances. He joined Bayern Munich in August 1999 for a €5 million transfer fee, the highest transfer fee in Paraguayan football until 2019, where he scored five goals in 28 league appearances in his first season. He was hit by a string of injuries and intense rivalry from teammates Giovane Élber, Roy Makaay, and Claudio Pizarro, which reduced his impact and limited his appearances for the team.

Santa Cruz was a member of a successful Bayern team, winning numerous Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and DFB-Ligapokal titles. He also won the 2000–01 UEFA Champions League and the 2001 Intercontinental Cup. He left Bayern Munich in July 2007 to join Blackburn Rovers for a €5 million transfer fee, where he scored 19 goals in the 2007-08 Premier League season. In June 2009, he joined Manchester City for £17.5 million on a four-year contract. Since his move, he was loaned out to Blackburn and Real Betis. Santa Cruz, a holder of a Spanish passport, is eligible for unrestricted recruitment in both EU-based countries.

Santa Cruz is ranked 75th in the list of top international association football goal scorers by region. He represented Paraguay at the 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2010 FIFA World Cup tournaments (where Paraguay finished runners-up) and the 2015 Copa América tournaments. In 2016, he resigned from international football, but in May 2019, he reversed his decision.

Personal life

Giselle Tavarelli, the sister of his former national team and Olimpia teammate Ricardo Tavarelli, married Santa Cruz, a naturalised Spanish citizen, in 2003. They have a son named Tobias (born 17 December 2003), a daughter named Fiorella (born 11 November 2005), and a granddaughter named Alaia (born in Spain in July 2014). Roque Santa Cruz is a devoted Roman Catholic.

Hearsoniano Santa Cruz, his father, is also his agent, and Celina is his mother. Julio, a younger brother who was also a professional football player, and another brother named Oscar who died in 2005, Santa Cruz has two older brothers, Julio who plays for Asunción-based team Nacional, and another brother named Diego, who was also a professional footballer.

Santa Cruz is a great friend with long-time Bayern Munich colleague Owen Hargreaves, who taught him the English language. When Hargreaves and Santa Cruz were playing for Blackburn in 2007, they lived near each other in Manchester, Mexico.

The German band Sportfreunde Stiller's song "Ich, Roque" debating Santa Cruz in 2004.

Santa Cruz was voted the sexiest man to be playing in the tournament in a 2006 World Cup edition of German magazine kicker. He was also rated by German newspaper Die Welt as the best footballer of the 2006 World Cup. He has been on the front page of Pro Evolution Soccer 6, the German version.

Santa Cruz became the 60th player to score a hat-trick in the history of Copa América's 5–0 group stage victory over Colombia at the 2007 Copa América.

Santa Cruz confessed that Lilian Thuram, the former France defender, was the worst defender he had ever faced in July 2021.

Source

Club career

Santa Cruz debuted at the age of nine in Primera División paraguaya, where he was the top scorer for several seasons. Luis Cubilla, the club's first-team coach, welcomed Santa Cruz to train with the team aged 15, and the player made his first-team appearance in the 1997 Primera División Paraguaya against Cerro Porte's 80th minute on July 27th.

Santa Cruz scored his first goal of the competition in the 11th minute of Olimpia Asunción's 4–2 away victory against Argentine side Racing Club on October 14, 1998. With ten points, the club finished in second place in their division and qualified to the quarter-finals against José Luz's Vélez Sársfield. Santa Cruz scored in the 65th minute of Olimpia's 4–3 away victory during the first leg of the quarter-final match on October 27th. Santa Cruz defeated Olimpia 2–1 in the second leg on November 4, 1998, just one week later. In the 24th and the 40th minutes of the first half, he set his goals. All three goals were scored against Chilavert, his international teammate. After scoring his double past José Luz Chilavert, Bayern Munich's eyes gazed at Santa Cruz for the first time. The club was later barred from the tournament by Palmeiras, who would go on to win the tournament. Santa Cruz scored three goals in nine appearances as Olimpia's champions of the season during the 1998 Primera División Paraguaya season. The club had also participated in the knock-out stages of the 1998 Copa Libertadores, where they were disqualified by Argentina's Colón.

Santa Cruz scored ten goals in 14 appearances during the 1999 Primera División Paraguaya championship, defeating Olimpia in the league. Santa Cruz appeared in the 1999 Copa Libertadores, where Olimpia were drawn in Group 3 with Cerro Porte, eventual champions Palmeiras and Corinthians, where Olimpia were drawn in Group 3 with Cerro Porte. Santa Cruz scored a second-half double over Cerro Porteo on February 24th and 89th minutes, beating Aldo Bobadilla in Olimpia's first group stage match against Cerro Porteo on February 24th and 89th minutes as his team lost 4–3. Santa Cruz won by 4:2 home over Palmeiras on March 5th in his team's second group stage match. Santa Cruz appeared in Olimpia's third group stage match, a 1–1 draw against Palmeiras on March 12th. Santa Cruz played in the entire game against Cerro Porteo on March 17th, his team's fourth group stage match in Olimpia's fourth group stage match. Santa Cruz played a full 90 minutes in Olimpia's 2–1 home loss to Corinthians in their fifth Copa Libertadores group stage match. Olimpia had been 1–0 in front since the 31st minute of the game, before Corinthians would score two goals in the second half.

A Bayern Munich delegation made it into the Estadio General Pablo Rojas on May 16, 1999, including Franz Beckenbauer, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Uli Hoene, Serby, and Giovanni Branchinni, bringing a game between 12 de Octubre and Olimpia Asunción, where Santa Cruz scored and was Man of the Match, making Bayern Munich compelled to hurry with the transfer process. "Pay the sum, or Roque remains at Olimpia," the following day as part of a reunion with Olimpia's president, Osvaldo Dominguez Dibb, who wanted the sales to reach US$10 million, said stamping his hand on his desk table. Aproniano, Santa Cruz's father, renounced a 30 percent of the transfer that linked him and Santa Cruz. The transfer was completed without difficulties, but not in a way that unblocks the situation.

Santa Cruz had scored two goals in five Copa Libertadores appearances but would not be able to participate in his club's last group stage match, a 4–0 away loss to Corinthians on April 9, 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship, which was contested at the same time. During the 1999 Apertura, Santa Cruz defeated Cerro Porteo in his last Superclásico victory. Santa Cruz defeated Colegiales 1-0 in their last competitive match for Olimpia Asunción, winning by a 1–0 margin on June 6th. The first contacts with Bayern Munich were made by telephone and the US$20 million that the Olimpia Asunción president wanted for the move was considered by Bayern Munich at a much cheaper price. The striker's time with Paraguay's national team was lauded with the Paraphrasedoutput award in 1999, and Olimpia club president Osvaldo Domnguez Dibb had estimated Santa Cruz to value from US$20 million, but the transfer fee was later sold to Bayern Munich for US$7 million, the highest transfer in Paraguayan football. He later revealed that he had the opportunity to join Real Madrid before he ultimately signed with Bayern in 1999.

After poor results from the first team's finances were not deposited into their bank accounts in order for the players to personally receive it from the president, Santa Cruz confessed that Osvaldo Domnny and himself were mistreated by Osvaldo Domnb. "I recall that we once lost a crucial regional derby." The president opened fire in the ceiling and ushered his pistol into the room where we all spent the night before games. That wasn't all, though. When a player had a bad show, he walked up to their car and urinated inside, even though they were standing right next to them. The president has always wanted us to come up to him to pick up our monthly paychecks. If you hadn't played well this month, he stood up and asked, 'What is it you want?' On his desk, he was tapping a machine gun. Players were compelled to wait for their money until they had put in some better results once more."

In a 2–0 loss against Bayer Leverkusen on August 22, 1999, Santa Cruz made his Bayern debut in the 1999–00 Bundesliga season. In the 40th minute of a 1–0 victory over Spvgg Unterhaching on August 28, he scored his first league goal in the 40th minute. He made his first appearance in the 1999-2000 UEFA Champions League on September 15 in a 2–1 win over PSV. Bayern lost 21-0 against PSV on 26 minutes, scoring with a right-footed shot on 51 minutes, his first goal in the Champions League in his fifth appearance in the tournament. Bayern were crowned champions of the 1999–2000 Bundesliga season, with five goals in 28 league appearances. Santa Cruz had previously appeared in successive Champions League appearances before being disqualified by Real Madrid in the semi-finals. Bayern Munich defeated Werder Bremen 3–0 on May 6, 2000, when Carsten Jancker was brought into the field on 73 minutes for the 73 minutes. Santa Cruz scored nine goals in 48 matches on the season.

Santa Cruz won by 1 1 point in the 2000–01 Bundesliga season prior to the 2000-01 season. On July 30, FC Kaiserslautern was participating in the 2000 DFB-Ligapokal tournament. When Bayern Munich defeated Hertha BSC 5–1 in the final, he was called off the field for Carsten Jancker after just 46 minutes. In a 3–0 away victory to VfL Bochum on 19 August, Santa Cruz scored his first goal of the season, eight minutes after being substituted on for Alexander Zickler on the 11th minute. In his first appearance of the 2000-01 Champions League, he was recalled after 46 minutes and then switched off the field after 73 minutes on September 19th. He scored the winning goal in a 2–1 away victory over 1. FC Köln was founded on September 23rd. After suffering from an injury, he returned to action on December 17th, scoring the first goal of the game after 15 minutes in a 3–1 victory over Hertha BSC. He played 89 minutes of the game before being recalled off. He then missed the following nine games, scoring Bayern Munich's first goal after six minutes of the game in a 1-1 draw to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. He missed a significant portion of the Champions League but came back for Giovane Élber on 65 minutes against Manchester United on 18 April in the second leg quarter-final 2–1 win over Manchester United. Since being an unemployed replacement in the final on May 23, Bayern Munich claimed both the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League titles, with him limited to only 19 league appearances for the season after scoring five goals. Santa Cruz scored six goals in 28 games on the season.

Claudio Pizarro's move to replace Pizarro or Élber was already being ruled out by Bayern for striker Giovane Élber, so his appearances would likely be limited, but Santa Cruz would often be recalled to replace Pizarro or Élber. In round five, he scored his first goal of the 2001–02 season, his second goal in a 2–0 away victory to Borussia Dortmund on September 8th. Before being suspended, he played 79 minutes of the game. He scored a brace against Feyenoord on Sunday in a 3-1 home victory over Feyenoord as Bayern reached the top of Group H after 42 minutes due to an injury in the second match. Bayern Munich defeated Boca Juniors 1–0 in the 2001 Intercontinental Cup on November 27, although he was not included in the squad. In a 5–1 away loss against Schalke 04 on Jan. 26, where he played the full 90 minutes, he returned to the first team. He scored in the 81st minute from a Bixente Lizarazu cross in a 1–0 victory over Boavista on February 26. Bayern Munich was knocked out in the quarter-finals to Real Madrid, while Santa Cruz made ten appearances in the competition. Santa Cruz scored nine goals in 38 games on the season.

On matchday 9 in a 1–0 away victory over Hansa Rostock in the 76th minute, Santa Cruz made his first appearance of the 2002–03 season. In a 2–1 loss against Deportivo La Coruna on October 29, the striker scored his first goal of the 2002–03 Champions League in the 46th minute; he was brought to the field for Hasan Salihamidi in the 77th minute. Bayern, on the other hand, came in last place in their division, winning by just two points. In a 2–1 home victory over Borussia Dortmund on November 9, he scored his first goal of the 2002–03 season. In a 1–0 victory over VfL Wolfsburg on Friday, he scored his only goal in a 1–0 win. In the following match, he scored Bayern Munich's second goal in a 2–0 victory over 1. On November 23, FC Kaiserslautern opened on a new one. It was the first time he had scored a goal in three consecutive games for Bayern Munich. In a 3–0 away win over VfB Stuttgart on December 7, he scored a brace. The Paraguayan was limited to 14 league appearances for the 2002–03 season as Bayern Munich finished ranked 74th in the 2002–03 Bundesliga table with 75 points. Bayern Munich defeated 1. FC Kaiserslautern 3-1 to win the 2002–03 DFB-Pokal, although Santa Cruz was not included in the team. Santa Cruz had eight goals in 19 games on the season.

Giovane Élber left Lyon for Lyon, but Bayern Munich signed Dutch striker Roy Makaay, giving Santa Cruz and Claudio Pizarro more competition for the 2003–04 Bundesliga season. In a 3–2 loss to VfL Wolfsburg on September 13, 2003, he made his first appearance of the 2003-04 season. In a 3–3 draw against Bayer Leverkusen on September 20, 2003, he scored his first goal of the season. In a 1–1 draw against Anderlecht on September 30, Santa Cruz scored his first goal of the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League. Bayern Munich was eliminated from the knock-out stages against Real Madrid, which were defeated. He had made 29 appearances in the league since his first season in which he appeared on the number of appearances before being forced to miss out. Bayern Munich eventually placed second in the Bundesliga table, six points behind Werder Bremen. Santa Cruz scored nine goals in 41 games on the season.

Santa Cruz played a full 90 minutes in Bayern Munich's 3–2 2004 DFB-Ligapokal final victory over Werder Bremen on August 2nd, the 2004-05 season. In round 1, he was defeated by Mehmet Scholl in the 60th minute in his first appearance of the 2004–05 season. He appeared in the following two games, but he missed his fourth and final league appearance for the 2004–05 season due to an injury sustained on matchday 34 in a 3–1 victory over VfB Stuttgart on May 21, 2005; he was called to the field for Bastian Schweinsteiger in the 77th minute. He did not participate in the 2004–05 Champions League, where Bayern Munich was disqualified by Chelsea in the quarter-finals.

Bayern won the 2004-05 Bundesliga season with 77 points, qualifying for the 2005–06 Champions League. In a 2–1 victory over Schalke 04 on May 28, 2005, the club also won the DFB-Pokal, although Santa Cruz did not participate in the match, where striker Paolo Guerrero was absent in his absence. He played the full 90 minutes of Bayern's 2–1 2005 DFL-Ligapokal semi-final loss against VfB Stuttgart on July 26. Santa Cruz scored five goals in seven games for the first team and two goals in five matches for the reserve team.

On the first day of the 2005–06 season, Santa Cruz got off in Bayern Munich's 3–0 home victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach. He first appeared in the 2005–06 Champions League in a 1–0 home victory over Club Brugge on September 27, where he was called to the field for Paolo Guerrero in the 72nd minute. Bayern Munich was disqualified by Milan in the round of 16, and he would make just one more appearance in the tournament. On matchday 8, he scored his first goal of the season on matchday 8 against VfL Wolfsburg 2–0 at home. He scored after 19 minutes in a 1-1 away draw against Schalke 04 on October 15th. He scored his team's third goal in Bayern's 4–0 victory over MSV Duisburg one week later on October 22nd minute. He suffered with an injury that limited him to only 13 Bundesliga appearances for the season. He spent some time with Bayern Munich II in the Regionalliga Süd during this period of injury recovery. On matchday 29 in a 3–0 away loss to Werder Bremen on 8 April, where he was recalled to the field for Claudio Pizarro in the 80th minute.

Bayern defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 1–0 at the Olympic Stadium on April 29th, but Santa Cruz did not participate in the match, winning the 2005–06 DFB-Pokal. In a 3–1 home victory over VfB Stuttgart on May 3rd, he scored his fourth and final goal of the 2005-06 season. He appeared in Bayern's 0–0 semi-final draw against Schalke 04 on August 2nd, where he was inserted into the field in the 77th minute for Lukas Podolski in 2006. Bayern converted his team's third spot kick, winning the match 4–1 in a penalty shoot-out. He appeared in full 90 minutes of the final, where Bayern lost 2–0 against Werder Bremen on August 5th. Bayern won the 2005–06 Bundesliga and qualified for the 2006–07 Champions League. Santa Cruz's first team scored three goals in 19 matches on the season. He made an appearance for the reserve team as well.

Santa Cruz won by 4–0 home over Spartak Moscow on September 12, where he scored Bayern's second goal in the 52nd minute. In a 3–0 away victory over Energie Cottbus on May 12, he scored his first goal of the 2006-07 season. With six points, he ended the 2006–07 Bundesliga season with two goals in 26 league appearances, as Bayern finished in fourth place with 60 points. In the third round of the 2006–07 DFB-Pokal, the club had already been disqualified. After eight years with Bayern, Uli Hoeneß, the club's director of football, told him he needed a change of scenery and opted for a transfer to Real Betis. Bayern asked for a good price for him, but the time was too crowded for Real Betis and he eventually signed for Blackburn Rovers in July 2007. Santa Cruz scored four goals in 38 matches to start the season.

On July 28, 2007, Santa Cruz agreed to a four-year contract with Blackburn. The club has agreed to compensate Bayern Munich for the player, who was wearing the number nine shirt on display. In a 2–1 home win over Middlesbrough on August 11th, the striker made his Premier League debut in the 2007–08 season, where he was brought to the field for the injured Benni McCarthy in the 60th minute and scored an equalizer in the 63rd minute. In a 1–1 draw against Everton on August 25, he scored for Blackburn after 16 minutes in a 1–1 draw. In the 2007–08 UEFA Cup qualifying rounds, he scored in his 26th birthday and his first full Rovers debut. In a 5–3 loss to Wigan Athletic on December 15, Blackburn had lost 3–0 before he had brought the teams level with his three goals. He had scored his first hat-trick for the Blackburn. This hat-trick made him the first player in over ten years to score a hat-trick for the losing team, after Dwight Yorke's hat-trick to Aston Villa in their 4–3 away loss to Newcastle United on September 30, 1996.

He scored a brace against Arsenal in a 3–2 loss. In a 2–2 draw against Manchester City on December 27, he scored a brace. He was named Premier League Player of the Month for December 2008 on January 12, 2008. In Blackburn's 3–1 away loss to Liverpool on April 13, the Paraguayan scored his 90th minute consolation goal. He scored in a 1–1 draw against Manchester United on April 19th, just over a week later.

He continued to score in a 1–0 victory over Portsmouth and two goals later in a 3–1 victory over Derby County, which saw five goals in four straight matches. Santa Cruz finished the season with 19 goals in 37 league appearances, finishing as the league's fourth top goal scorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo (31 goals), Fernando Torres (24 goals), and Emmanuel Adebayor (24 goals), as Blackburn claimed third position on the 2007–08 Premier League table with 58 points. He was also named Player of the Season by Blackburn.

Following a fruitful 2007-08 campaign, there was a lot of rumors surrounding Santa Cruz at the start of the 2008–09 Premier League. However, he did sign a four-year deal with Blackburn in August to bring an end to the rumors. Blackburn's younger brother, Julio, had joined Roque's younger brother, Cerro Porte, prior to the 2008–2009 season. In a 3–2 away victory over Everton on August 16, he scored his first goal of the 2008–09 season. In a 2–1 away victory over Newcastle United on September 27, his second goal of the season arrived on September 27 in his second goal of the season. In Blackburn's 2–1 victory over Sunderland on November 12th, he was brought on to the field for Andy Haworth in the 62nd minute and scored in the 65th minute during the 2008–09 Football League Cup.

Santa Cruz's front door was forced open and the house was searched by three thugs who held his wife, Giselle, at knifepoint to her throat during a home game against Portsmouth in December. As the robbers searched the house upstairs with his wife as she was coerced to fork over thousands of pounds worth of jewelry, his children were forced into a downstairs room. Jermaine Pennant's mansion, which had been ram-raiders the day before, was less than a mile away from Santa Cruz's house.

He scored in Blackburn's 3–1 loss against Liverpool on December 6th. Following the billionaire Abu Dhabi United Group's takeover of Manchester City, he became a target for the city. Blackburn's bids of £12 million and £16 million were turned down in January 2009, with the club claiming that it would take them until they consider selling their star striker. City didn't meet the estimated £25 million asking price on February 2, 2009. He scored within 90 seconds to put Blackburn up in their 2–2 draw with Coventry City on February 14th. In a 2–1 away loss to Manchester United on February 21, he scored his fourth and final goal of the 2008–09 season. There were rumors that he was planning to leave Rovers after the 2008–09 season, less than 12 months after signing a new deal with the Premier League club, but he denied these rumors, saying that they were "lost in translation." Blackburn finished in 15th position in the Premier League table on the season with 41 points; Santa Cruz had just 4 goals in 20 league appearances; and Sullivan finished in 15th place;

Santa Cruz was undergoing a medical at Manchester City on June 21, 2009, ahead of a proposed summer transfer worth £17.5 million on a four-year contract. The confirmation that the transaction had been completed was announced later the same day. Santa Cruz's former boss at Blackburn, Mark Hughes, was reunited with him in Manchester City. In a 3–1 home win over West Ham United on September 28th, where he was called into the field for Shaun Wright-Phillips in the 81st minute, he made his debut for Manchester City in the 2009–10 Premier League season. He scored his first goal for Manchester City in a 5–1 victory over Scunthorpe United on October 28th. In a 4-3 home victory over Sunderland on December 19, Mark Hughes' last game at the club, he scored his first league goals for Manchester City, a brace. Santa Cruz's appearances, on the other hand, were limited when Roberto Mancini took over as boss, due to a string of injuries as well as a lack of consistency. In a 2–1 away victory over Fulham on March 21, he scored his third and final league goal for the 2009-10 season. Santa Cruz made only 19 league appearances as Manchester City ended the season in fifth place, where they qualified for the 2010-11 UEFA Europa League.

During the 2010–11 season, Roberto Mancini began to leave Santa Cruz, and he made it clear that he did not want to leave. Mark Hughes, the Fulham boss at the time, had argued for a transfer but it never came. He had made just one league appearance, a 0–0 draw against Birmingham City on November 13, where he had been called to the field for James Milner in the 66th minute from September 2010 to January 2011. In a 2–1 away loss to West Bromwich Albion on September 22, he had made his first appearance in a League Cup appearance. He received a loan offer from Serie A outfit Lazio for the remainder of the season in December, but it was turned down as he wanted to move away from Eastlands permanently.

Santa Cruz returned to Blackburn on loan for the remainder of the 2010–11 season on January 14, 2011. "When Blackburn demonstrated an interest in me, it was very straightforward to choose," Santa Cruz said on BBC Radio Lancashire after Santa Cruz's medical. Blackburn's first game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on January 15th, where he was recalled into the field in the 46th minute for Nikola Kalini. In a 3–1 FA Cup loss against Aston Villa on January 29, he made one appearance for Blackburn in a 3–1 FA Cup loss. He made nine appearances for Blackburn as they finished in 15th place in the Premier League.

Santa Cruz was loaned to Real Betis for the 2011–12 La Liga season after completing a medical on August 27. He made his debut for Betis in a 1–0 win over Mallorca on September 10, 2011, when he was recalled to the field in the 75th minute for Jorge Molina. In a 4–3 win over Real Zaragoza on September 22, he scored his first goals for Betis, a brace. In a 1–0 loss over Córdoba on December 13, he made his debut in the 2011–12 Copa del Rey. In a 2–0 away victory over Atlético Madrid, where he had been forced onto the field for Beat's second goal in the 72nd minute, he scored his team's second goal in the 90th minute on December 18th.

Cruzeiro, a Brazilian Série A outfit, had made a bid for Santa Cruz and had also sold Léo Bonatini, a highly rated 17-year-old youth, as part of the deal in December. He confessed to being aware of Cruzeiro's interest but said that retaining his club's position in La Liga was more significant than moving to pastures new. In a 2–0 home win over Sporting de Gijón on January 8, he scored his first goal of 2012. In the 46th minute at the Camp Nou in a 4–2 loss to Barcelona on January 15, he was inserted in the field for Ireney in the 46th minute, where he scored in the 52nd minute with a right-footed shot to level the scores at 2–2.

Santa Cruz scored his sixth league goal in a 1–1 home draw against Racing de Santander on March 25. He hadn't scored in over two months. Several days later, it was revealed that he had expressed his desire to remain in Betis for the upcoming season, citing his devotion to the fans and the club. In a 3–1 home win over Villarreal on April 7, he scored his seventh league goal in his seventh league victory. After scoring seven goals in 33 La Liga appearances, he declared his desire to stay with Betis after being deemed surplus to demands at Manchester City.

Mark Hughes, who was then playing Queens Park Rangers, was keen on signing Santa Cruz for the 2012–13 season. It was revealed on July 6, 2012, that he was close to concluding a long-term contract, but that he had to fail due to his increased salary demands. Since the club hired former Paraguay national team head coach Gerardo Martino as the first-team boss for the 2012-2013 season, it was announced on July 13 that Argentine Primera División club Newell's Old Boys expressed an interest in signing him. Martino said he would be the club's number 9 if they wanted to sign him. Olimpia Asunción, Colón and Santa Cruz's former club, had been pursuing him, according to a recent report. Santa Cruz had been linked with a transfer to QPR after he hinted that he might join up with ex-manager Hughes on July 20th. It was reported on July 21 that he had admitted that he would like to join a team in the north-west of England as he attempted to leave Manchester City. Middlesbrough had failed in their bid to sign Santa Cruz on July 31, 2012, when it was understood that the contract had been swiftly refused.

During Manchester City's pre-season tour and friendlies, Santa Cruz made unexpected appearances. He scored in the 53rd minute of a 2–1 friendly loss to Oldham Athletic on July 31, 2012, with a loose ball that fell kindly. He played 73 minutes in the city's 4–0 friendly victory over Limerick on August 5, 2012. Werder Bremen had been questioned to within an inch of making a bid for him on August 10, 2012. It was also announced that he had been planning to sign a long-distance contract with Bremen in order to leave Manchester City, and that, according to Bremen's club general manager Klaus Allofs, they were going after a veteran striker who could make a difference to their team.

Santa Cruz returned to Spain and Andalusia on August 31, 2012, this time on a season-long loan. Santa Cruz was reunited with Argentine centre back and good friend Martn Demichelis, with whom he had competed with at Bayern Munich. In a 3–1 home win over Levante on September 16, 2012, his first league appearance for the 2012–13 season was his first league appearance. In the 69th minute for Javier Saviola, who was wearing the number 24, Santa Cruz was escorted onto the field. Santa Cruz made his Málaga home win over Zenit Saint Petersburg on September 18 two days later as a second-half replacement. The match was his first UEFA Champions League match back after several seasons, including Bayern Munich's 2006–07 version.

Santa Cruz scored his first league goal for Málaga on October 7th, 2012, beating Atlético Madrid 21-0 away. In Malaga's first 2012–13 Copa del Rey fixture, he scored a brace on October 31th in a 4–3 away victory over Cacereo.

In a 3–2 home victory over Real Madrid on December 22, 2012, he scored his first league double. In the 73rd and 76th minutes of the game, Santa Cruz had entered the field in the 65th minute of the match for Javier Saviola, who had scored both goals. Santa Cruz scored Málaga's second goal in their 2–0 Round of 16 UEFA Champions League home win over Porto on March 13, 2013. Málaga's goal brought the team right into the quarter-finals of the tournament, where they will face Borussia Dortmund and be disqualified. Santa Cruz had scored eight goals in 31 La Liga appearances as Málaga finished in sixth position and qualified for the 2013-2014 UEFA Europa League play-off round, but the club was barred from participating due to UEFA Financial Fair Play Rules.

Santa Cruz will continue with Málaga on a three-year contract, according to the company on July 11. Following Javier Saviola's departure, he was given the number 9 shirt for the 2013-14 La Liga season. Santa Cruz said he was content to stay at the club, but the element of family stability came into his decision as he was able to drop his children who were enrolled in the same school. Santa Cruz's first appearance of the season came on August 17th in a 1–0 home loss to Valencia.

Santa Cruz scored his first league point in a 2–2 away draw against Sevilla on September 1, 2013.

In a 3–3 home draw against Osasuna on December 8, 2013, he was his first appearance in the 2013–14 Copa del Rey. Santa Cruz scored his last goal of the 2013-14 La Liga season in a 2–0 home win over Villarreal on April 21, 2014. In the sixth minute of the match, he scored Málaga's first goal. Santa Cruz ended the season with six league goals, though Málaga avoided relegation by six points.

Santa Cruz won by 1–0 in their first La Liga appearance against Athletic Bilbao on August 23rd, playing in the entire 90 minutes of the game.

Santa Cruz will be one of Málaga's two team captains on September 17, 2014, according to the company's website.

Santa Cruz scored his first goal of the 2014-15 season in a 2–1 home win over Granada on October 4th. In a 4–1 home win over Deportivo de La Corua on December 18, 2014, he scored a double.

Santa Cruz defeated Elche 2–1 away in his last match for Málaga on December 21, 2014, beating them 21-0 away. In the 51st minute for Nordin Amrabat, the player was in the starting lineup and was forced off the field. "Thank you very much Roque Santa Cruz," Málaga club president Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani said on Twitter in order to say good bye. You will always be in our hearts. "I wish you every success."

Santa Cruz's manager, Aproniano Santa Cruz (his father), announced that the player would join Mexican club Cruz Azul for the 2015 Clausura on December 20th. Santa Cruz will then fly to Mexico on December 22, 2014, after playing his last league game against Malaga the day before. Santa Cruz will be the highest paid player in the Liga MX, earning more than $100,000 per month and €2 million per year than Ronaldinho at Querétaro, according to Cruz Azul's previous annual salary of €900,000 per year was doubled. The transfer was completed on December 29, 2014.

Santa Cruz made his Cruz Azul debut against Pachuca in 2014--15 Liga MX season on January 10, 2015, after being forced off the field for 82 minutes by Ismael Valadéz. Santa Cruz was forced off the field after just 14 minutes of the first half in a 1–0 home victory over Santos Laguna on January 17, with reports that he had suffered muscle pain in the outer thigh. He would be out for three weeks, as it was later announced.

Santa Cruz scored his first league goal for Cruz Azul in a 2–1 victory over Tijuana in March 2015. In a 2–0 home win over Tigres UANL three weeks later, he scored a double. He scored in the fourth minute of the match and then converted a penalty in the 14th minute to defeat the team that eventually finished in first place of the 2014–15 Clausura Championships. Cruz Azul's last goal before leaving Cruz Azul was a 1–0 away triumph over UNAM in early May 2015.

Santa Cruz resigned from former Málaga after agreeing to a one-year loan contract on August 26, 2015. He scored in a Copa del Rey fixture against Mirandés on December 3, 2015. The game was his second since recovering from injury and his first appearance in the squad's starting lineup. Santa Cruz said on December 12 that he planned to retire at Málaga.

In a 1–1 away draw against Las Palmas on January 10, Santa Cruz scored his first league goal of the season. It was his third league appearance and the first time he would be in the starting lineup for a league match. Santa Cruz was deciding whether or not to continue playing football or retire on May 22, 2016, according to Málaga Hoy, a Málaga-based newspaper. The player's last game for the club came on April 24th, when he only spent a few minutes at the Vicente Calderón Stadium against Atlético Madrid.

Santa Cruz had been suspended from Paragua's 2016 Copa América squad due to a knee injury; his loan with Málaga had ended; and Mexican club Cruz Azul had reported that Santa Cruz would not return for the next season. Several days later, one of Santa Cruz's former club, Olimpia, Rivarelli (also the player's brother in-law), revealed that he had spoken to Santa Cruz in connection with the player's potential return to the club.

Santa Cruz landed in Paraguay on June 6 for vacay and was welcomed by several Olimpia supporters at the airport. He told the world that his "wish is to be in Olimpia; it's my house; I'm here" and "I'm escaping here."

Santa Cruz had returned to the team after 17 years and would join his teammates for pre-season on June 8.

He made his "second" club debut after coming into the field in the second half of an international match, wearing the number 24 against Boca Juniors on June 23, 2016. On July 30, 2016, his league debut came in a 4–0 win over Deportivo Capiatá at home. In the 66th minute, Santa Cruz was brought to the field for Fredy Bareiro's second half, assisting Julián Bentez in scoring his team's third goal two minutes later and then scoring a goal himself in the 90th minute.

The player then skipped his team's next two league fixtures, including the Superclásico against Cerro Porteo, and on his return to Nacional, he scored once more.

According to newspaper Versus, Santa Cruz was branded 'Roque-Mania' in the 2018 and 2019 seasons as when his return to Olimpia Asunción debuted top, after four straight domestic titles under Daniel Garnero's coaching.

Santa Cruz left Olimpia Asunción as the second-highest scorer behind Mauro Caballero with 91 goals after he was fired from the club in 2021.

In September 2021, Santa Cruz's transfer to Libertad was confirmed, but the transfer attempt was unsuccessful. Santa Cruz, 40, was officially announced as the club's signing on December 27, 2021, who was revealed on Twitter. Horacio Cartes was wishing for his signing. He served until December 2022, the twentieth century's first president. Santa Cruz converted part of the debt payment into an inversion of bonds before he left Olimpia Asunción, who was in debt with him. Santa Cruz was the object of Olimpia Asunción supporters' skepticism following his signing. Thousands of Olimpia Asunción followers were lost within the first 24 hours of learning about Santa Cruz as Libertad's signing. In January of Paraguay's 2022 summer transfer window, the transfer was officially concluded.

International career

Since Santa Cruz appeared in Paraguay's domestic league, national team coach Paulo César Carpegiani considered taking the 17-year-old to the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. Santa Cruz played for Paraguay's under-20 team before being given a call up to the senior team in 1999 when he played his debut against Mexico on April 28, 1999. In a 3–2 loss to Uruguay on June 17, 1999, Santa Cruz scored his first goal for Paraguay. In 1999, he had scored ten goals at international level for Paraguay (including U-20). Santa Cruz was named the Paraguayan Footballer of the Year by Diario ABC Color and the Paraguayan Football Association for his efforts and participation in three major tournaments of the year (1999, 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship, and the 1999 Copa América).

Santa Cruz was selected to represent the under-23s at the 2000 CONMEBOL Men Pre-Olympic Tournament in Brazil, which saw Paraguay fail to qualify for the 2000 Summer Olympics. He appeared in four matches at the tournament, including Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru, and Peru, scoring a double against the latter.

Santa Cruz had scored a total of three goals during the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. In round nine, Santa Cruz had scored Paraguay's first goal in the third minute of a 2–0 away victory over Colombia on October 7, 2000. His second goal came in a 5–1 home win over Peru on November 15, 2000, and Santa Cruz scored his third goal of the 2002 World Cup qualification in a 5–1 home win over Bolivia on September 5th.

Santa Cruz scored his eighth international goal in a 2–1 victory over Sweden in a friendly on May 17, 2002. During the 2006 World Cup qualifier, Santa Cruz scored four goals. On November 15, 2003, when Santa Cruz had given Paraguay a 1–0 lead in the 29th minute, his first came in a 2–1 home victory over Ecuador. Santa Cruz's only goal in their 4–1 away loss to Brazil on June 5th, 2005, was Paraguay's only goal. Santa Cruz won 4–1 home victory over Bolivia in Asunción on June 8, 2005, three days later, in his third goal of the qualification campaign. Santa Cruz scored in the 14th minute of the 1–0 home win over Argentina in Asunción on September 3, 2005, in round 16 of the qualification program. His four goals during his qualification campaign brought him to a total number of 13 international goals for Paraguay.

Santa Cruz didn't score his next international goal until two years later, while Paraguay's only goal in their 2–1 away win over Mexico at the Estadio Universitario in Monterrey on March 25, 2007. Santa Cruz had scored three goals for Paraguay during the qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup. Santa Cruz had dribbled into the 18-yard box and scored with a right-footed shot in the 50th minute of a 5–1 home victory over Ecuador on November 17, 2007. Santa Cruz scored Paraguay's first goal in Asunción's 2–0 home win over Brazil, with a far-post tap-in, team footing the ball into the goal after receiving it from a corner. In the 49th minute, he was dealt a through ball from Nelson Valdez and dribbled toward the goal to try a shot on goal. His goal was first saved by Brazil goalkeeper Jlio César, but he soon fell into the path of Salvador Cabas, who would score Paraguay's second goal. In a 2–0 home win over Asunción against Romania on June 11, 2011 in a warm-up game for the 2011 Copa América, he scored his 24th international goal for Paraguay. Santa Cruz defeated Chile 2–1 home defeat in a 2014 World Cup qualifier on June 7, 2013. The goal brought his total score to 26, making him the all-time leading goal scorer of the Paraguayan national team's history. During the 2014 World Cup qualifiers (against Bolivia and Argentina), Santa Cruz scored two more goals (against Bolivia and Argentina) and also served as the national team captain for the last four games of the season. Santa Cruz scored in a 2–1 away friendly loss against Peru in Lima on November 18, raising his total score for the national team to 30.

In January, Santa Cruz was named in the 20-man squad for Paraguay's 1999 South American Youth Championship in Argentina. As Paraguay's first match against Bolivia, Santa Cruz scored 1–1 in the 69th minute, tying the scores at 1–1 in the 69th minute. Santa Cruz scored in the first minute of the match in Paraguay's second game against Brazil, resulting in a 1-1 draw on January 10th. In qualifying for the second round of the tournament, Paraguay's ranking finished in first place of their respective group with ten points. Santa Cruz scored in the 66th minute of Paraguay's 3–2 victory over Chile on January 21 in Paraguay's third match of the second ground. With eight points, Panama finished in fourth place of the second round group stage and then qualified for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.

Santa Cruz was selected by coach Mario Jacquet for the 18-man Paraguay World Youth Championship in April 1999. The number 9 shirt was given to Santa Cruz by Santa Cruz. In Paraguay's group stage opener, he played for 90 minutes, defeating Germany 4–0 on April 4th. Santa Cruz scored in the 26th minute of Paraguay's 3–1 victory over Costa Rica on April 7th in Paraguay's second group stage match. In the 75th minute for Sergio Fernández, he was called off of the field. Santa Cruz then won by 2–1 over Nigeria on April 10th, eight minutes of Paraguay's last group stage match, 80 minutes of Paraguay's last group stage match. Paraphrased Paraguay was dragged into Uruguay, where they were losing 2–0 before Santa Cruz scored a 62nd-minute penalty goal. In the 86th minute, he scored for Paraguay, bringing the total score to a low of 2–2. The match was then decided by penalty shoot-out, where Santa Cruz had scored Paraguay's first goal. Santa Cruz fired his second penalty shot after ten penalty shots had been missed. Uruguay later won the penalty shoot-out 10–9.

Santa Cruz's national youth teams received a call-up for the 1999 Copa América event in Paraguay, hosted in Paraguay. Santa Cruz scored a double against tournament invitees Japan on July 2nd in Paraguay's second group stage match. Santa Cruz had scored in both halves, one goal in the 40th minute of the first half, and the other in the 86th minute of the second half. Santa Cruz had scored their only goal against Peru on July 5th, just three days later. In the 88th minute of the game, Santa Cruz had scored in the 88th minute. With seven points, Paraguay finished in first place in their respective group and advanced to the quarter-final stages of the tournament. Paraguay will meet Uruguay in Asunción on July 10th, where Uruguay defeated 5–3 by penalty shoot-out after drawing 1–1 in regulation time.

Santa Cruz was part of Cesare Maldini's 23-man squad for the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, where he was given the number 9 shirt. On June 2nd, Santa Cruz debuted in Paraguay's first group stage match against South Africa. As he came to the end of a free-kick by Francisco Arce and headed the ball to the left side of the net, he scored in the 39th minute, giving Paraguay a 1–0 lead in the first half. Santa Cruz saw a full 90 minutes of the 2–2 draw. On June 7, he began his second group stage match against Spain. He played a full 90 minutes of the 3–1 loss and was issued a yellow card in the 80th minute. Santa Cruz won by 3–1 over Slovenia on June 12th, a full 90 minutes of Paraguay's 3–1 victory over Slovenia. With four points, Panama finished in second place of their respective countries, qualifying for the round of 16 where they met Germany on June 15th. Santa Cruz had to start the game as part of the squad's starting lineup, but Jorge Campos was forced to leave the field in the 29th minute due to injury in the eventual 1–0 loss.

José Lus Chilavert had reportedly claimed that Santa Cruz had pretended to be injured in order to miss the match against Germany in the round of the 2002 World Cup, despite the fact that it was announced on June 10. It was allegedly because Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the club's vice president at the time, had visited Paraguay's hotel, not to play against Germany, according to Chilavert, who had played against Costa Cruz from 1999 to 2007.

In the announcement that "Chilavert comes out to say silly stuff every now and then," Francisco Arce said of Santa Cruz. Don't go for him. Roque is the most organized person I've encountered in my time in the national team, he's been "nobody has a stain in any place."

The media announced that the match would be particularly significant to Santa Cruz because he plays for a German club. Santa Cruz said, "I'm so excited, I've been dreaming of this." I have a chance to kill them all – I know all their tricks. It will be a special game for me and my colleagues and coworkers from Bayern Munich, but I don't see it as a personal challenge. I have been living in the area for three years, and I love the country, but I think they will understand that I must do my best, and that they will not need to motivate themselves. Germany is a strong team with players of the highest caliber, and their name is written into World Cup history," and Santa Cruz's Chilavert's remarks were untrue in 2013 because they were made more than ten years after the incident. Santa Cruz also said that the things that had been said was painful because alongside Chilavert, he had shared many experiences, but that the participants had seen Santa Cruz play and were aware of his professionalism.

Santa Cruz had been out of contention for the 2006 World Cup because of a knee injury, but the team's coach eventually selected the 23-man squad, which was eventually selected in the Anz-Britiz team. Despite wearing the number 24 shirt during the World Cup qualification campaign, he was given the number 9 for the tournament. In Paraguay's first match against England on June 10, Santa Cruz was one of the starting XI players. In the eventual 1–0 loss, he was partnered straight alongside Nelson Valdez. Santa Cruz got off to a 1–0 loss to Sweden on June 15th, where he was called off the field for Dante López in the 63rd minute. In the 86th minute of Paraguay's third group stage match against Trinidad and Tobago, Santa Cruz scored in Paraguay's second goal. Paraphrased

Santa Cruz was selected for the 2007 Copa América by new coach Gerardo Martino. Santa Cruz scored a hat-trick in his team's 5–0 victory in Paraguay's first group stage match against Colombia on June 28. His first goal, a left-footed chip in the 46th minute, was a header, assisted by Carlos Bonet's cross in the 80th minute. Santa Cruz won by a full 90 minutes over the United States on July 2nd. Jonathan Santana was brought onto the field by Jonathan Santana in Paraguay's last group stage match, a 1–0 loss to Argentina on July 5th. Having scored six points from their two victories, Paraguay finished in second place of their respective category. They advanced to the quarter-finals where they met Mexico on July 8th, where Santa Cruz defeated Paraguay 6–0.

Santa Cruz scored three times during qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, including the first goal in a 2–0 victory over Brazil in Asunción, as La Albirroja finished third in the CONMEBOL standings.

Despite injury limiting him to a substitute appearance in the team's first match of the tournament championships against Italy, Santa Cruz continued to play in Paraguay's second and third Group F matches, as well as the round of 16 versus Japan in Pretoria. Paraguay's first World Cup quarter-finals were defeated by the team, who lost 0–1 to eventual champions Spain, with Santa Cruz appearing as a 72nd substitute.

Santa Cruz was one of Paraguay's starting eleven players for the 2011 Copa América. He appeared in Paraguay's first group stage game, a 0–0 draw against Ecuador on July 3rd. He appeared in 83 minutes of the game before being called off for Pablo Zeballos. Santa Cruz Paraguay's first goal in the 54th minute of their 2–2 draw against Brazil in Córdoba in Paragua's second group stage fixture on July 9th. Santa Cruz was named Man of the Match in the 2nd round. His goal helped him to a total of 25 goals for Paraguay's national team, making him the joint all-time leading goal scorer of the Paraguayan national team's history, with José Saturnino Cardozo.

Santa Cruz played just 39 minutes of Paraguay's last group stage match against Venezuela on July 13 before being replaced by Nelson Valdez. The game came as a 3–3 draw, with Paraguay finishing third in third place of their respective division with three points, qualifying for the quarter finals stages. Santa Cruz will not participate in Paraguay's quarterfinal match against Brazil on July 17th. Paraguay won the semi-finals after beating Brazil 2–0 on penalty shoot-output: Paragonal heteh heheter despite losing by penalty shoot-output: Paragraphs ayxedoutput: Santa Cruz was recalled onto the field in the 73rd minute of Nelson Valdez's semi-final victory over Venezuela on July 20th, but he was forced to leave the field in the 80th minute for Osvaldo Martez due to an injury. Paraguay had defeated Venezuela 5–3 on penalties and qualified for the final, where they met Uruguay at the Estadio Monumental Antonio Liberti in Buenos Aires on July 24th. Santa Cruz did not qualify for the final, where Paraguay was defeated 3–0 and the runners-up were placed.

Santa Cruz scored his 26th international goal and became the leading goalscorer for Paraguay on June 7, 2013, in a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Chile. despite this, Paraguaguy, however, Paraguy, Nonetheless, Paraguanguay, doutput: nedoutput: Paraguy, but, ne o

Source