'Can't make this up': 51-year-old club president hands debut to himself in Paraguay's top division league

Luis Vidal, the president of Paraguay’s top division club Recoleta, turned a rather routine match into a historic encounter as he did what nobody thought was possible. Vidal handed himself a debut as professional football player in Recoleta’s clash against Nacional Asuncion on Friday. At 51 years, 11 months, and 20 days of age, he thus became the oldest player to make his debut in Paraguay’s top flight football.

Vidal barely touched the ball but fulfilled his wish and stole global headlines with his debut just days ahead of his 52nd birthday.

It was a goalless affair between Recoleta and Nacional Asuncion in the Paraguayan Primera División’s Clausura tournament when and the match had just entered injury time when the referee held the board to show a substitution. Vidal who was ready in his jersey and gear, quickly sprinted onto the field in the 91st minute with an 18 on the back and knee braces strapped.

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He quickly pressed ahead with an aim to help his team take the lead but nothing of that sort happened and the match ended in a goalless draw.

Vidal spent four minutes on the pitch, could not do much with the ball but now has the record for Paraguay’s oldest top-flight debutant—and player—ever.

Vidal’s debut did not affect Recoleta

Recoleta’s fortunes were not affected at all by the club president’s historic debut. They had already secured their top-flight survival and earned a historic berth in the continental club tournament, Copa Sudamericana 2026.

You can't make this up.

Luis Vidal, 51 years old, the president of Recoleta, is making his first team debut.

WTF. 🇵🇾

pic.twitter.com/7ZqfyphERe

— herculez gomez (@herculezg) November 28, 2025

This allowed the manager Jorge González to fulfill the club president’s wish and the fans too loved how things panned out.

ESPN analyst Herculez Gomez posted, “You can’t make this up,” on Vidal’s debut

In one similar moment five years ago, Nelson Bernal, who was a goalkeeping coach for the second division Paraguayn club 12 de Octubre, had to take up duties between the post as 19 members of his squad were out due to COVID-19.