Guillermo Stábile's name won't be among the greatest in football, and yet his name will shine bright forever in the history books of the beautiful game. The reason for that is quite simple, as Stábile was the top goal scorer of the very first World Cup. It's a feat that is bound to make any player a legend of the game, and Stábile's legacy will forever live on due to his heroics in football's greatest ever competition. Let us now look back at his career, as we pay tribute to this magnificent Argentine Centre forward.
Early footballing days
Guillermo Stábile began his football career with local club Sportivo Metán, following which he joined Argentine club Huracán. The young Argentine initially started out as a right winger, but eventually converted into a centre forward. Stábile's time at Huracán saw him win several titles, with the most notable accomplishments being the championships of 1925 and 1928 and the Copa Dr. Carlos Ibarguren regional trophy in 1925.
From Argentina to Italy
After making himself known around the footballing world with his World Cup heroics, Stábile was signed by Italian side Genoa in 1930. He had a dream debut with the club, as he scored a hat-trick in his first game against rivals Bologna. The Argentine centre forward stayed for the next 5 years at Genoa.
Napolion years
It was during the 1935–36 season that Stábile signed for Napoli, with Napoli player Antonio Vojak going to Genoa. This also meant that Stábile shared the pitch with Attila Sallustro, who is widely regarded as one of the most important players in Napoli history. Stábile's time at Napoli however, only lasted for a single season.
Final club
French club Red Star Paris was the final destination of Stábile. The club was founded by Jules Rimet, the longest serving FIFA president who took initiative for the tournament's first edition. Stábile stayed at Red Star Paris for 3 years, during which he helped them achieve promotion from Division 2 into Division 1. He also served as player-manager for the club, before eventually bidding farewell to the Beautiful Game.
International legacy
It was at the age of 25 that Stábile made his debut for the Argentina national side, as they played their second match in the inaugural 1930 FIFA World Cup. This was a golden opportunity for the Centre forward, who did not feature in the first match against France.
It was an anxiety attack to fellow teammate Roberto Cherro that led to Stábile finally getting a chance to showcase his abilities. Argentina's second World Cup match against Mexico eventually ended in a 6-3 victory for the South American nation, with Stábile shocking the world with a hat-trick.
This was also the second hat-trick in World Cup history ( initially considered to be first), with American player Bert Patenaude scoring the first-ever hat-trick just 2 days prior to Stábile.
The final group stage match against Chile ended in a 3-1 win for Argentina, with Stábile yet again being a dominant figure with a brace. This led Argentina to the semi-finals, where the United States awaited them.
Argentina's magnificent form continued in the semis as well, with the South American nation thrashing the US 6-1. Stábile yet again added to his ridiculous World Cup goalscoring record with yet another brace.
All that stood between Argentina and World Cup glory was Uruguay. The final ended in a 4-2 scoreline, and Stábile was yet again on the score sheet. However, it was Uruguay that ended up as the first ever World Champions of football.
It was a moment of eternal heartbreak for Argentina and Stábile. However, the Argentine centre forward managed to finish the tournament with a magnificent 8 goals in 4 tournaments. Thus leaving as the first ever World Cup's greatest goalscorer. The final was also his final appearance in an Argentine shirt.
Stábile's time with the Argentina national side was a short yet memorable one that'll be fondly looked back on for the decades to come.
