Pedro Calomino

Lore & Background

A representative of Boca Juniors saw Calomino playing in a field in Retiro and convinced him to play for the club. Calomino debuted in the third division v River Plate. His good performances led him to be promoted to upper divisions, debuting in the senior squad in 1911, when Boca still played in Segunda División. In 1912 he moved to Argentino de Quilmes, where he was soon regarded as the best right winger in Argentina. Calomino had brief returns to Boca Juniors (1913) and Argentino de Quilmes (1914), also playing for Hispano Argentino until 1915 when he returned to Boca Juniors, playing there until the end of his career in 1924. Calomino played a total of 222 games for Boca scoring 96 goals. He was Boca Juniors' top scoring player in six seasons: 1913, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918 and 1919. This record has only been surpassed by Martín Palermo, who accomplished the feat eight times. On May 25, 1940, when the club inaugurated La Bombonera, Calomino was appointed by the club to raise the Argentine flag during the ceremony. Calomino debuted in the national team on 15 August 1917 v Uruguay. He represented Argentina in four South American Championships: 1917, 1919, 1920 and 1921. In his final tournament, he captained Argentina to victory.

In Their Own Story

The sun beat down on the dusty pitch at La Boca, kicking up clouds of red earth with every tackle. The crowd, a sea of desperate hope and local pride, roared as Calomino received the ball near the halfway line. He didn't sprint; he glided, his eyes scanning the field with a calm that belied the chaos around him. With a deft touch, he sidestepped a defender, the leather ball sticking to his boot as if magnetized. The roar grew louder, a physical force pressing against the players' backs. He saw the opening, a sliver of space in the defense, and with a precise, low drive, sent the ball into the net. The eruption that followed wasn't just for a goal; it was the sound of a neighborhood believing it could conquer the world.

Reader's Guide

Calomino is a right winger known for inventing the step over. He spent most of his career at Boca Juniors, winning nine titles with the club. He was Boca's top scorer in six seasons (1913, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919). With Argentina, he won the 1921 South American Championship as captain. He played 222 games for Boca, scoring 96 goals, and 37 games for Argentina, scoring 5 goals.

Did You Know?

• Calomino invented the step over move.
• He was the first idol of Boca Juniors.
• He raised the Argentine flag at the inauguration of La Bombonera in 1940.
• He captained Argentina to their first official title, the 1921 South American Championship.