Photo: Alechuncho / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Marcelo Salas is, simply, the greatest striker Chile has produced, and I will not argue otherwise. Born 1974 in Temuco, nicknamed Matador for those soaring volleyed celebrations, he tore it up through the 1990s and 2000s at Universidad de Chile, River Plate, and then Lazio and Juventus in Serie A. There is something stirring about a smaller South American forward, 173cm, walking into Italian football and belonging. Chilean Sportsman of the Year in 1997 was just the official stamp on what fans already knew. His finishing was clean, instinctive, and genuinely beautiful to watch. A bona fide national icon, no asterisks.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Marcelo Salas
- Name (Japanese)
- マルセロ・サラス
- Reading
- まるせろ・さらす
- Born
- December 24, 1974 (age 51)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Capricorn / Tiger
- Origin
- Temuco, Cautín Province, Chile
- Height
- 173 cm
- Occupation
- association football player
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 1997 Chilean Sportsman of the Year
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Marcelo Salas born?
Born December 24, 1974 (age 51).
Where is Marcelo Salas from?
Marcelo Salas is from Temuco, Cautín Province, Chile.
What does Marcelo Salas do?
Marcelo Salas works as association football player.
How tall is Marcelo Salas?
Marcelo Salas is 173 cm.
Association football player — see all → · More people from Chile →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.