Leopoldo Jacinto Luque (; 3 May 1949 – 15 February 2021) was an Argentine professional footballer who played as a striker. Regarded as one of the best forwards of the Argentina national team, he also won the 1978 FIFA World Cup.
Club career In a career spanning from 1972 to 1984 he played for Unión de Santa Fe, Rosario Central, River Plate, Racing Club de Avellaneda and Chacarita Juniors.
On 22 February 1976, Luque scored all five goals in a game in which his team, River Plate, defeated San Lorenzo de Almagro 5–1.
International career With Argentina he was 1978 World Champion, scoring four goals in the tournament, including a spectacular long distance volley against France during the first round. During that tournament, his younger brother Oscar died in a traffic accident on the day that Argentina played against France. He also seriously injured his left elbow in the match against France, the second game of that championship, forcing him to miss two matches. He was back for the last three matches of the tournament, including the final against the Netherlands.
Later life and death Luque was sports secretary of Mendoza Province.
In February 2007, Luque suffered a heart attack from which he recovered. He died from COVID-19 on 15 February 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina.
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by season and competitionLeagueContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsPrimera División261100319292109
FIFA World Cup statistics AppsGoalsResult1978 FIFA World Cup54Champions
International goals Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Luque goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Leopoldo LuqueNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 3 August 1975 Estadio Olímpico, Caracas, Venezuela 1–0 5–1 1975 Copa América2 3–13 4–14 10 August 1975 Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario, Argentina 11–0 11–0 1975 Copa América5 8 April 1976 José Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina 2–0 4–1 1976 Copa del Atlántico6 9 June 1976 Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay 1–0 3–0 1976 Copa del Atlántico7 27 February 1977 Estadio Boca Juniors, Buenos Aires, Argentina 3–0 5–1 Friendly8 5–09 29 May 1977 Estadio Boca Juniors, Buenos Aires, Argentina 2–1 3–1 Friendly10 24 August 1977 Estadio Boca Juniors, Buenos Aires, Argentina 1–0 3–0 Copa Félix Bogado11 2–012 23 March 1978 Estadio Nacional de Lima, Lima, Peru 1–0 3–1 1978 Copa Ramón Castilla13 19 April 1978 Estadio Boca Juniors, Buenos Aires, Argentina 3–? 3–1 Friendly14 3 May 1978 Estadio Boca Juniors, Buenos Aires, Argentina 1–0 3–0 Friendly5 2 June 1978 Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina 1–1 2–1 1978 FIFA World Cup16 6 June 1978 Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina 2–1 2–1 1978 FIFA World Cup17 21 June 1978 Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario, Argentina 4–0 6–0 1978 FIFA World Cup18 6–019 2 June 1979 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland 1–0 3–1 Friendly20 2–021 21 May 1980 Praterstadion, Vienna, Austria 2–0 5–1 Friendly22 16 December 1980 Estadio Olímpico de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina 2–0 5–0 Friendly
Honours
Club River Plate Primera División: 1975 Nacional, 1977 Metropolitano, 1979 Metropolitano, 1979 Nacional, 1980 Metropolitano Copa Libertadores Runner-up: 1976
International Argentina FIFA World Cup: 1978
Individual Copa América Top Scorer: 1975
References
External links