Soccer in Sun and Shadow

The Perfect Kiss Would Like to Be Unique

Quite a few Argentines swear, hand over heart, that Enrique García was the one. Known as “Bandyleg,” García played left wing for the club Racing. Just as many Uruguayans swear, fingers crossed on their lips, that it was Pedro Lago, “Muleteer,” a striker for Peñarol. It was one or the other, or perhaps both.

Half a century ago, or a little more, Lago or García scored a perfect goal, one that left his adversaries paralyzed with rage and admiration. Then he plucked the ball from the back of the net and with it under his arm he retraced his path, step by step, dragging his feet. That’s right, raising lots of dust to erase his footsteps, so that no one could copy the play.