With advancements in the modern era of sports coverage, the Copa America’s popularity has seemingly surged outside of South America.
Despite matches just before the turn of the millennium being rather hard to come by outside of satellite channels such as Eurosport or even dodgy cable, it was still rather hard to avoid Martin Palermo’s Copa America exploits when representing Argentina.
Now it must be said, as any Championship Manager aficionados will agree, Martin Palermo was a striker of great talent. Playing for his beloved Boca Juniors, Palermo won six championships, two Copa Libertadores, one Intercontinental Cup and two Copa Sudamericana, while became twice the top scorer in Argentina.
In fact, the striker played in both Spain and Argentina, netting a non too shabby 249 goals in 592 games during a 19-year professional spell.
However, in the nerve splitting cauldron that is an international tournament football, things, to put it delicately, can easily go tits up.
Palermo became the infamous subject of the most unwanted of world records when, during his sides group match against Colombia, the Argentine missed, not one, not two (you see where this is going), but an incredible three penalties in one match.
Our story takes us to 1999’s Copa America. The La Plata natives tournament began in great style, netting two goals in a 3-1 win over Ecuador. Their next group game encounter was against Colombia, it was against their fierce rivals were history would take place.
It would be after the 5th minute played where Palermo would find his first opportunity. Instead, the Boca striker skimmed the wrong side of the crossbar, much to the joy of the opposition.
Curiously, Colombia themselves had a penalty drama themselves, missing own and converting another.
At 1-1, Palermo had another chance of redemption when the ball as handled in the box. This time the mad hatter sent his shit even further over the goal – surely things couldn’t get worse.
Now, 3-0 down and with yet game all but lost, the Gods seemingly inflicted Palermo with a final insult. La Albiceleste were awarded a 90th penalty.
Their fair striker did at least finally hit the target, only to be denied by goalie Miguel Calero – and the humiliation was complete.
Incidentally, the striker did score in the following match against Uruguay, helping his side to a quarter-final where they were then knocked out by eventual winners Brazil.
If you think however that it couldn’t get any worse for Palermo, here he is breaking his leg when celebrating a goal for Villarreal.
Good lord…..