FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005 player's profile

When he was suspended from the squad days before the start of the tournament, striker Hugo Rodallega could never have imagined he would become the all-time top-scorer for the championship. The young Deportes Quindío star, born on 25 July 1985, broke Argentinian Luciano Galetti’s record of nine goals, thus ensuring his place in the history books. Incredibly, Rodallega began the first match against Bolivia on the bench, before going on to score 4 goals in 45 minutes. A fixture in the starting line-up from then on, he showed his versatility by scoring with his left foot, his right, his head, from a free-kick and even with a bicycle kick. The Colombian supporters naturally acclaimed their new idol with the Jay-Jay Okocha-style locks. The goal that booked their ticket to the Netherlands against Brazil and the one that brought them the title against Venezuela were among the most prominent of the 11 he scored on the way to being crowned top scorer.

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