Roque Santa Cruz: Still Playing at 44

Roque Santa Cruz: Still Playing at 44

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No career end

At 44: Ex-Bayern striker keeps playing

Updated on January 2, 2026 – 3:50 p.mReading time: 1 Min.

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Roque Santa Cruz (l.) with Roy Makaay and Sebastian Deisler: The Paraguayan was extremely successful with Bayern. (What: imago)

20 years ago Roque Santa Cruz played in Germany. But the attacker is apparently not yet thinking about ending his career.

It’s still not over for Roque Santa Cruz. The now 44-year-old is joining the Paraguayan club Nacional Asunción. He moves on a free transfer and signs a contract until the end of 2026.

The long-time Paraguay national player was most recently under contract with Libertad. This is the striker’s third stop in his home country. Santa Cruz played a total of 112 international matches and scored 32 goals. In Germany he was best known for his time at FC Bayern.

Santa Cruz played for the German record champions from 1999 to 2007. The goalscorer won five championship titles with the Munich team, the DFB Cup four times and the Champions League and the World Cup once each. Following his time at Bayern, he moved to Blackburn Rovers in England.

Marcus Cole

Marcus Cole is a senior football analyst at Archysport with over a decade of experience covering the NFL, college football, and international football leagues. A former NCAA Division I player turned journalist, Marcus brings an insider's understanding of the game to every breakdown. His work focuses on tactical analysis, draft evaluations, and in-depth game previews. When he's not breaking down film, Marcus covers the intersection of football culture and the communities it shapes across America.

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