The Unlikeliest Debut

A lot has been written about Dan Burn who, at 32, became one of the oldest men to make their international debut. But, remarkable though that was, his was not the unlikeliest first start of the most recent international break. Not even close.

Fernando Zampedri always dreamt of being a professional footballer, but for a long time, that dream seemed out of reach. At seventeen, he spent a year at Newell's Old Boys, but the opportunity led nowhere, forcing him to return home to his father's farm in Chajarí. Still, he refused to give up even when opportunities in Italy with Venezia and then Uruguay failed to turn into a concrete offer.

Then, at 21, he finally caught a break. Second-tier Atlético Rafaela took a chance on him, and slowly, he began to carve out a name for himself. Over the following years, he persisted, playing in Argentina’s lower divisions for a host of clubs: Sportivo Belgrano, Crucero del Norte, Guillermo Brown, Boca Unidos, and Juventud Unida. It was at Brown that he truly made his mark, scoring 22 goals in 32 matches. He followed that up with 25 goals for Juventud Unida, a tally that finally caught the attention of bigger clubs.

In 2016, Atlético Tucumán brought him to Argentina’s top flight and, at 28, he finally had the chance to compete at the highest level. He started slowly, managing just three goals in 13 matches but after a period of adjustment, his second campaign was unforgettable. He netted 17 goals in 32 games, delivering standout performances—including a famous Copa Libertadores win over Ecuador’s El Nacional in Quito. That night, his team arrived exhausted and had to play in Argentina’s U-20 national team jerseys. Wearing Lautaro Martínez’s No. 9 shirt and boots a size too small, Zampedri still managed to score the winner.

This success paved the way for a move to Rosario Central, where he found the net 18 times, scored in a derby against his former club Newell’s, and won the 2018 Copa Argentina. Just as his career seemed to be peaking, however, disaster struck when a serious ankle injury sidelined him for eight months and derailed a potential move to Independiente.

At Rosario, he befriended Chilean fullback Alfonso Parot, who later returned to Universidad Católica and advocated for Zampedri’s signing. Ironically, Colo Colo had already shown interest but ultimately passed on him. At 31, Zampedri joined Universidad Católica, unknowingly embarking on the most defining chapter of his career.

Once he adjusted to the Chilean league, defenders found him unstoppable. Over five years, he won four league titles and became Universidad Católica’s all-time leading scorer. He also took on the captaincy, cementing his legacy at the club.

His remarkable consistency — topping the goal-scoring charts for five consecutive seasons — made him one of Chile’s standout players. This, in turn, fuelled discussions about his potential inclusion in La Roja. After securing his Chilean citizenship, coach Ricardo Gareca handed him his long-awaited international debut. At 37, Zampedri finally donned the Chilean jersey in last week’s 1-0 defeat to Paraguay.

At an age when many players are winding down their careers, Zampedri continues to push forward, proving that resilience and hard work can create new opportunities, no matter the stage of one’s career. While the result against Paraguay was not what he or Chile had hoped for, his journey to this moment is a triumph in itself.

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