Club Nacional and Uruguay goalkeeper Anibal Paz was presented with this gold medal by the Asociación Uruguaya de Fútbol (AUF) in 1976 to commemorate the 26th anniversary of the Maracanazo – Uruguay’s historic triumph over Brazil in the 1950 FIFA World Cup Final. Paz was the second-string goalkeeper behind Roque Maspoli for La Celeste in 1950, although the montevideano received a total of 24 caps for Uruguay. Paz’s greatest success came with Club Nacional, with whom “El Canario” played for from 1939 to 1953, making 471 appearances and winning nine league titles. Paz was a key figure in Nacional’s Quinquenio de Oro, when El Bolso claimed five consecutive league titles between 1939 and 1943. Nacional’s 1941 outfit was the only undefeated, untied team in Primera Division history, winning all 20 of their games and finishing with a goal differential of +57.  

This offered medal is gold in color, with an AUF logo displayed on the front. Etched in high relief around the logo is “Asociacion Uruguaya De Futbol”. The reverse side of the medal is etched with “Campeon Mundial Anibal Paz 1950-1976”. The medal has a diameter of slightly greater than one inch. It is in good condition and is a tremendous artifact from the career of Uruguay’s legendary shot-stopper. This item comes with a LOA confirming it is part of the Rony Almeida Soccer Collection.o:p>

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