 Puyol at the 2020 Goya Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Carles Puyol Saforcada[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 13 April 1978[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | La Pobla de Segur, Spain | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1995 | Pobla de Segur | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1997 | Barcelona | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Barcelona C | 1 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1999 | Barcelona B | 89 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2014 | Barcelona | 392 | (12) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 482 | (18) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 | Spain U18 | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | Spain U21 | 4 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | Spain U23 | 5 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2013 | Spain | 100 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2013 | Catalonia | 6 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Carles Puyol Saforcada (Catalan: [ˈkaɾləs puˈjɔl səfuɾˈkaðə], Spanish: [ˈkaɾles puˈʝol safoɾˈkaða]; born 13 April 1978) is a Spanish former professional footballer from Catalonia who played his entire career for Barcelona. He mainly played as a centre-back, but he could also play in either full-back position, mostly as a right-back.
Known for his defensive qualities and leadership, Puyol is regarded as one of the greatest defenders and captains of all time.[4][5] His abilities and prowess on the field earned him the nickname of "El Tiburón" ("The Shark") by teammates and fans. He was Barcelona's captain from August 2004 until his retirement in 2014, and appeared in 593 competitive matches for the club. He won 18 major club titles, including six La Liga trophies and three Champions Leagues.[citation needed]
Puyol won 100 caps for Spain, and was part of the squads that won Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup. In the 2010 World Cup semi-final, he scored the only goal of the game against Germany.[6]
- ^ "FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of Players: Spain" (PDF). FIFA. 4 June 2010. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2020.
- ^ "Carles Puyol Saforcada". El Mundo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- ^ "Carles Puyol". FC Barcelona. Archived from the original on 23 November 2006. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ^ "Top 10 - Inspirational Captains". beIN SPORTS. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ Hosangadi, Aditya (6 May 2020). "20 Best defenders of all time". www.sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Carles Puyol Saforcada – Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2017.