Remember him? Corinthians hero now heads Kings League national team

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Central do Timão

·16 de diciembre de 2025

Remember him? Corinthians hero now heads Kings League national team

By Central do Timão Editorial Team

On July 16, 2012, 13 years ago, Corinthians introduced striker Paolo Guerrero, a signing that would become a symbol of one of the club's greatest international achievements: the 2012 Club World Cup. The Peruvian arrived at Parque São Jorge from Hamburg, Germany.

Trained in the youth ranks of Alianza Lima, Peru, where he scored over 200 goals before turning 16, Guerrero was bought by Bayern Munich, where he turned professional.

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Paolo Guerrero celebrates a goal against Chelsea — Photo: Daniel Augusto Jr / Ag. Corinthians

Signed to replace the naturalized Portuguese Liédson, who left after winning the Libertadores, the Peruvian played only 17 matches and scored eight goals. Two of these goals are crucial to Timão's history. One in the semifinal and another in the World Cup final.

At the beginning of 2013, striker Guerrero had a brilliant start, securing another title by winning the Paulistão, defeating Neymar's Santos. The striker also contributed to winning the Recopa, against São Paulo. By the end of the season, Guerrero had accumulated 46 games and 18 goals.

In 2014, Corinthians did not perform very well, but for Guerrero, the story was different. Despite not winning the Brasileirão, the striker, along with Diego Tardelli, was recognized as the best in his position in the competition, in an award by Placar magazine and ESPN. He ended the season with 46 games and 16 goals.

Guerrero in action for Corinthians in 2014 — Photo: Heuler Andrey / Getty Images

In total, for Corinthians, Guerrero played 130 matches, scored 54 goals, and won four titles: FIFA Club World Cup 2012, Recopa 2013, Campeonato Paulista 2013, and Campeonato Brasileiro 2015.

With a beautiful history at the Parque São Jorge club, Guerrero lost the affection of the Fiel Torcida after not renewing his contract with Timão and transferring for free to Flamengo, an interstate rival.

At Rubro-Negro, the former number 9 of Alvinegro Paulista did not repeat the same success achieved at Timão. Additionally, Guerrero also played for clubs like Internacional and Avaí in Brazil.

In 2023, after announcing his departure from Racing, Argentina, Paolo went to Ecuador, where he played for LDU and won the Copa Sudamericana title in the same year, a competition where he eliminated Timão's rival, São Paulo, and caught the attention of the Fiel after his celebration during a penalty kick.

The striker "stole" the scene after converting his penalty and making the gesture of the letter "C" after the goal, which many Corinthians fans believe was a nod to Corinthians.

Guerrero celebrates penalty with the gesture of the letter “C” — Photo: Miguel Schincariol / Getty Images

“I won't talk (about the C). It's a moment of great emotion, a lot of adrenaline, and you try to celebrate in a way that you have an attachment, an affection. It has a special taste, for sure (eliminating the old rival)“, declared the former Timão striker.

Currently, Paolo Guerrero plays for Alianza Lima, Peru, the club where he began his training as a player. In the season, he finished the Peruvian league with 14 goals, with the team finishing the competition in fourth place. Recently, he was officially announced as the president of the team that will represent Peru in the Kings League.

At 41 years old, and with a career marked by goals and titles, Paolo Guerrero begins his journey in leading a team in a football format that combines traditional rules with innovative elements, such as data that directly affect the match and secret cards capable of altering the score. Now, he will have the mission to structure and lead the Peruvian team in the Kings World Cup Nations 2026, which will be held in Brazil.

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