Player of first soccer World Cup final dies at 100

BUENOS AIRES - Francisco Varallo, the longest surviving player from the first soccer World Cup final, died Monday at the age of 100, Argentinian media reported.

Varallo was the youngest player to compete in the first World Cup in 1930 when he played for Argentina in the tournament in Uruguay at the age of 20.

A knee injury kept him out of the semifinal against Chile but he was chosen to play in the final against Uruguay in Montevideo, which Argentina lost 2-4.

Born Feb 5, 1910 in La Plata, Varallo, a forward, was nicknamed “El Cañoncito” (Little Cannon) for his shooting ability.

In 1994, he was awarded the FIFA Order of Merit, the highest honour handed out by football’s ruling body for contributions to football.