1. Overview
Domingo Alberto Tarasconi (Domingo Alberto TarasconiDomingo Alberto TarasconiSpanish; December 20, 1903 - July 3, 1991) was an Argentine football forward. He began his career at Club Atlético Atlanta, but spent the majority of his playing years with Boca Juniors, where he achieved significant success, winning nine official titles. He stands as the fourth-highest all-time scorer in Boca Juniors' history, trailing only Martín Palermo, Roberto Cherro, and Francisco Varallo.
Beyond his club achievements, Tarasconi was a prolific scorer in the Argentine Primera División, securing the top scorer title on five occasions between 1922 and 1934. He is recognized as one of the league's all-time leading goalscorers, having netted 208 goals in 289 matches from 1921 to 1934. His international career with the Argentina national football team was equally distinguished. He earned a silver medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, where he was the tournament's top scorer with 11 goals in just four matches-a record that remains unbroken. Tarasconi also contributed to Argentina's victories in two Copa América tournaments, in 1925 and 1929. His legacy extends into popular culture, as he was notably mentioned in the 1928 tango "Patadura," performed by the legendary Carlos Gardel.
2. Early Life and Football Beginnings
Domingo Alberto Tarasconi was born on December 20, 1903, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His formative years led him to the football field, where he made his professional debut with Club Atlético Atlanta in 1921. This marked the initial stage of his football journey and his early development as a promising player.
3. Club Career
Domingo Alberto Tarasconi's club career was predominantly defined by his highly successful tenure at Boca Juniors, though he also had brief spells with other Argentine clubs.
3.1. Boca Juniors
One season after his debut with Atlanta, Tarasconi transferred to Boca Juniors in 1922, where he would spend a decade of his career. During his ten years with the team, he played in 226 official matches and scored 186 goals, establishing himself as one of the club's all-time leading scorers. He is currently ranked as the fourth-highest goalscorer in Boca Juniors' history. With Boca Juniors, Tarasconi secured an impressive nine official titles, contributing significantly to the club's dominance during that era. He was also a prolific individual scorer, leading the Argentine Primera División in goals in 1922, 1923, 1924, and 1927.
In 1925, Tarasconi was part of Boca Juniors' successful European tour, where he scored 7 goals, making him the second-highest scorer of the tour, behind Manuel Seoane.
3.2. Other Clubs and Tours
After leaving Boca Juniors in 1932, there are no records of Tarasconi playing any matches until 1934. In that year, he joined Sportivo Barracas, which was part of the official Argentine Football Association (AFA) that maintained its amateur status, in contrast to the dissident Liga Argentina de Football (LAF), which was the country's first professional league. Tarasconi played only 6 matches for Sportivo Barracas during this period, without scoring any goals. He then moved to a club located in General San Martín Partido of Greater Buenos Aires, also named General San Martín (not San Martín de Tucumán, as some sources incorrectly state). In the same season, he played 20 matches for General San Martín, scoring 16 goals.
In 1935, Tarasconi had another spell with Sportivo Barracas before concluding his career with Argentinos Juniors. He played 8 matches for Argentinos Juniors in the 1936 season before officially retiring from football.
4. International Career
Domingo Alberto Tarasconi was a key player for the Argentina national football team, participating in several significant tournaments and achieving notable successes.
4.1. Argentina National Team Appearances
Tarasconi represented the Argentina national team in 24 matches, scoring 18 goals between 1922 and 1929. His scoring record places him as the 13th highest scoring player in the history of the Argentina national football team.
4.2. 1928 Olympic Games
One of the highlights of Tarasconi's international career was his performance at the 1928 Summer Olympics held in Amsterdam. He played a pivotal role in Argentina's campaign, helping them secure the silver medal. Individually, Tarasconi was the undisputed top scorer of the tournament, netting an impressive 11 goals in just 4 matches. This outstanding achievement still stands as a record for the most goals scored by a single player in an Olympic football tournament.
4.3. Copa América
Tarasconi also enjoyed success in the Copa América (then known as the South American Championship). He was part of the Argentine squads that won two Copa América titles, first in the 1925 tournament and again in the 1929 tournament.
5. Individual Records and Honors
Domingo Alberto Tarasconi's career was marked by numerous personal scoring achievements and accolades, solidifying his status as one of Argentina's most prolific forwards.
5.1. Primera División Top Scorer
Tarasconi was a dominant force in the Argentine Primera División, leading the league in scoring on five separate occasions. He was the top scorer in:
- 1922
- 1923
- 1924
- 1927
- 1934
Overall, he scored 208 goals in 289 matches in the Primera División between 1921 and 1934, placing him among the all-time top scorers in the league's history.
5.2. National Team Scoring Records
For the Argentina national football team, Tarasconi scored 18 goals in 24 appearances between 1922 and 1929. This record ranks him as the 13th highest scoring player in the history of the Argentina national team. Furthermore, his 11 goals in the 1928 Summer Olympics set a record for the most goals scored in a single Olympic football tournament, a record that remains unbroken.
6. Titles and Trophies
Domingo Alberto Tarasconi accumulated a significant number of team and individual honors throughout his distinguished career.
6.1. Boca Juniors Titles
- Argentine Primera División: 1923, 1924, 1926, 1930, 1931 (LAF)
- Copa Ibarguren: 1923, 1924
- Copa Competencia Jockey Club: 1925
- Copa Estímulo: 1926
6.2. Argentina National Team Titles
- Copa América: 1925, 1929
- Summer Olympics: 1928 Silver Medal
7. Cultural Impact
Domingo Alberto Tarasconi's influence extended beyond the football pitch into Argentine popular culture, most notably through his mention in the tango Patadura. Released in 1928 and performed by the legendary tango singer Carlos Gardel, the song uses football as a metaphor to describe a person's ineptitude. The word patadura is a local Argentine term that describes someone with poor skills in football.
The lyrics of Patadura, written by Enrique Carreras Sotelo with music by José López Ares, specifically name Tarasconi, referring to him by his nickname Tarasca. The song highlights his powerful and accurate shot, stating that he could "score a goal from the middle of the field." Other notable footballers of that era mentioned in the song include Manuel Seoane, Luis Monti, and Pedro Ochoa, who was also a friend of Gardel and the subject of another tango, Ochoíta, composed in his honor.
In 1929, Carlos Gardel recorded a new version of Patadura in Paris. The lyrics were slightly altered to replace the original Argentine footballers with players from FC Barcelona, including Vicente Piera, Ricardo Zamora, Josep Samitier, and Franz Platko. This change reflected Gardel's growing friendship with these Barcelona players, particularly Samitier, and his increasing affinity for the club. Gardel became an honorary member of FC Barcelona and attended several of their matches, including the 1928 Copa del Rey Final.
8. Legacy and Evaluation
Domingo Alberto Tarasconi is remembered as one of Argentina's most significant football figures of the early 20th century. His prolific goal-scoring ability and consistent performance for both club and country cemented his place in football history. His record of 11 goals in the 1928 Summer Olympics remains an unbroken achievement, highlighting his exceptional talent on the international stage. As the fourth-highest all-time scorer for Boca Juniors and the 13th for the Argentina national football team, Tarasconi's impact on Argentine football is undeniable. His cultural recognition through the tango Patadura further underscores his lasting legacy beyond the sport itself.