Nelson Valdez

2.1. Childhood and Poverty

Valdez grew up in San Joaquín, one of the poorest districts in Caaguazú Department, Paraguay. His family, including six siblings, lived in dire poverty. Despite not owning a football, Valdez's passion for the sport was evident from a young age; he developed his skills by playing with improvised objects like oranges or a pair of socks. He harbored a dream of one day playing for the Albirroja (Albirroja^Spanish), the Paraguayan national team. Valdez has described his childhood as "excellent" due to the loving support of his family. He began playing club football with his local team, 1º de Mayo, in the San Joaquín district.

2.2. Early Struggles and Resilience

At the age of 15, Valdez made the difficult decision to leave his impoverished family and home to pursue his football dream in Ypané, joining the youth academy of Atlético Tembetary. For two years, he faced severe hardship, living under the wooden grandstands of the stadium in a stairwell, sleeping on a makeshift bed of blankets and cardboard. He kept this struggle a secret from his parents, who were poor land workers. Valdez recalled living with 12 or 13 other people in similar conditions, noting that most could not endure it for more than a few weeks. Living 155 mile ^{(250 km)} away from his family, he worked night shifts in a sawmill to afford food and drink. He described the experience as "hell, frightening and horrible," exacerbated by the extreme Paraguayan climate with boiling hot summers and freezing cold winters.

Before moving to Asunción to join Atlético Tembetary, Valdez experienced a period of depression following the death of his 13-year-old cousin, who was like a brother to him. During this time, he began consuming cane liquor, a cheap whiskey, and confessed that he was "once almost an alcoholic," stating, "I played football during the day and in the evening was drunk." His father, Antonio, eventually confronted him, and Valdez understood he needed to change his path. His talent was eventually spotted by Jürgen L. Born, then chairman of Werder Bremen's board, who was working for Deutsche Bank in Latin America. Born, who described Valdez as a "madman who never stopped running" during youth games, bought him a ticket to Germany. Valdez initially failed his trial at Werder Bremen, but the club president's wife, a fellow Paraguayan, advocated for him to receive a second chance. In his second trial match, he scored four goals and was offered a contract to join Werder Bremen II, the club's Regionalliga Nord team, in December 2001.

3.1. CA Tembetary

Valdez made his professional debut with Atlético Tembetary in the Paraguayan División Intermedia in 2000, at the age of 16. Despite his early struggles with living conditions and lack of salary, he scored 11 goals in 22 league appearances for the club before moving to Germany in 2001.

3.2. Werder Bremen

Upon joining Werder Bremen in December 2001, Valdez faced a significant cultural and linguistic barrier. Fluent primarily in Guaraní (Guaraní^Guarani) and with limited Spanish, he knew no German. He described his initial months as very difficult due to the cold weather and his inability to order food properly, often resorting to eating only chicken and chips for months.

Valdez initially played for Werder Bremen's youth teams before quickly progressing to the first team. In his first season with Werder Bremen II in the Regionalliga Nord, he scored three goals in 12 appearances. The following season (2002-03), he netted 15 goals in 30 league appearances, earning him a call-up to the first team by manager Thomas Schaaf. Valdez debuted in the 2002-03 Bundesliga on 22 February 2003, in a 1-0 home loss to Energie Cottbus. On 29 October 2003, he signed a four-year professional contract with Werder Bremen's first team.

In the 2003-04 Bundesliga season, Valdez scored his first league goal in a 4-1 home victory against Schalke 04 on 23 August, just three minutes after coming on as a substitute. On 8 November, he made his full debut against Hannover 96, scoring two goals in a 5-1 away win. He finished the season with five goals in 21 league appearances. Werder Bremen clinched both the 2003-04 Bundesliga title and the 2003-04 DFB-Pokal, with Valdez being substituted into the DFB-Pokal final win against Alemannia Aachen. His appearances were limited due to strong competition from teammates like Aílton, Angelos Charisteas, and Ivan Klasnić.

Valdez debuted in the 2004-05 UEFA Champions League on 14 September 2004, in a 2-0 away loss against Inter Milan. On 7 December, in a Champions League away match against Valencia, he scored two goals within minutes of coming on as a substitute, securing a 2-0 victory for Bremen and enabling their progression beyond the group stages at Valencia's expense. He scored seven goals in 25 league appearances in the 2004-05 Bundesliga season, where his playing time continued to be restricted by the prolific partnership of Miroslav Klose and Ivan Klasnić.

In the 2005-06 Bundesliga season, Valdez scored an 89th-minute winner in a 2-1 away victory against Hertha BSC on 1 October. On 7 December, he netted two goals in a 5-1 home win against Panathinaikos in the 2005-06 UEFA Champions League group stage, helping Bremen advance to the knockout stage. On 25 March, Valdez scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 home win against Hannover 96. He concluded the season with nine goals in 30 league appearances. Werder Bremen finished second in the Bundesliga. Following Paraguay's early exit from the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Valdez signed with Borussia Dortmund in July for a transfer fee of 4.70 M EUR.

3.3. Borussia Dortmund

Valdez joined Borussia Dortmund in August 2006 on a four-year contract, inheriting the number 9 shirt. He became a regular starter, and while he sometimes struggled with goal-scoring, his high energy and creative play compensated for his lack of prolificacy. His debut for Dortmund in the 2006-07 Bundesliga season was a 2-0 away loss to Bayern Munich. In December 2006, he suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for about a month. He returned in January 2007 and scored his first goal for Dortmund in a 2-0 away victory against VfL Wolfsburg on 5 May. He finished his first season with one goal in 29 league appearances, as Dortmund finished ninth.

In the 2007-08 Bundesliga season, Valdez scored his first goal on 18 August in a 4-1 away defeat against Schalke 04. He scored a penalty in a 6-1 home victory against Arminia Bielefeld on 7 December. Dortmund reached the 2007-08 DFB-Pokal final but were defeated 2-1 by Bayern Munich, with Valdez coming on as a late substitute. He concluded the season with three goals in 27 league appearances. Despite finishing 13th in the league, Dortmund qualified for the 2008-09 UEFA Cup as DFB-Pokal runners-up, due to Bayern Munich's Champions League qualification.

For the 2008-09 Bundesliga season, Valdez scored Dortmund's third goal in a 3-1 away win against Rot-Weiss Essen in the first round of the 2008-09 DFB-Pokal. He scored after just four minutes in the opening league match, a 3-2 victory against Bayer 04 Leverkusen. In the 2008-09 UEFA Cup, Dortmund were eliminated by Udinese in a penalty shootout, though Valdez successfully converted his spot-kick. He finished the season with seven goals in 29 league appearances as Dortmund finished sixth.

The 2009-10 Bundesliga season saw increased competition for Valdez with the signing of fellow Paraguayan striker Lucas Barrios. Valdez scored his first goal of the season in a 4-1 away defeat against Hamburger SV on 15 August. He also scored in a 1-1 home draw against VfB Stuttgart and a 1-0 home victory against Hamburger SV. His final goal for Dortmund came in a 1-1 draw against 1899 Hoffenheim on 18 April. Valdez scored five goals in 28 league appearances, helping Dortmund finish fifth and qualify for the 2010-11 UEFA Europa League.

Following an impressive performance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Valdez attracted interest from several English Premier League clubs, including Fulham, Sunderland, and Wigan Athletic, with Dortmund reportedly setting an asking price of 5.00 M EUR. Dutch side PSV and clubs in Russia and Portugal also showed interest.

3.4. Hércules CF

In August 2010, Valdez signed a three-year contract with Spanish La Liga side Hércules, despite having received offers to play in Russia. His transfer fee of 3.50 M EUR made him the most expensive signing in the club's history. Valdez made an immediate impact, scoring two goals on his debut in a surprising 2-0 victory against Barcelona at the Camp Nou on 11 September. He scored his second brace for Hércules in a 3-1 win against Levante on 29 November, and a goal in a 4-1 victory against Atlético Madrid on 11 January 2011.

By January, Valdez had scored six goals in 11 appearances, leading to reports that Real Madrid considered signing him as a replacement for the injured Gonzalo Higuaín, though a transfer never materialized. He received a red card in his second-to-last game of the 2010-11 La Liga season, a 3-2 loss against Racing de Santander. Valdez finished the season with eight goals in 25 league appearances. Despite his contributions, Hércules finished 19th in La Liga and were relegated to the Segunda División. He formed a potent attacking partnership with French striker David Trezeguet, with the duo scoring 20 goals between them. After the season, Valdez was again linked with Wigan Athletic (who offered 4.00 M EUR, but Hércules demanded 5.00 M EUR), Sunderland (offering 4.20 M EUR), PSV, and clubs in Russia, Portugal, and Saudi Arabia, including Al-Hilal.

3.5. FC Rubin Kazan

In August 2011, Valdez signed a four-year contract with Russian Premier League side Rubin Kazan. His debut in the 2011-12 Russian Premier League season came on 10 September in a 3-1 away loss to Krasnodar. He made his 2011-12 UEFA Europa League debut on 15 September in a 3-0 victory over Ireland's Shamrock Rovers. Valdez scored his first goals in the Europa League, a brace, in a 4-1 home win against Shamrock Rovers on 30 November, and another goal in a 1-1 away draw against PAOK on 15 December, which secured Rubin Kazan's progression to the knockout phase. They were eventually eliminated by Olympiacos.

Valdez scored his first league goal for Rubin in a 1-1 away draw against Zenit Saint Petersburg on 25 March 2012, equalizing for Rubin after coming on as a substitute. Two weeks later, he scored his second league goal in a 1-1 away draw against Dynamo Moscow. He also featured in Rubin Kazan's 2-0 semi-final win against Rostov in the 2011-12 Russian Cup. In the final game of the season, Valdez opened the scoring as Rubin defeated CSKA Moscow 3-1 on 13 May 2012. On 14 July 2012, Valdez secured his second title with Rubin Kazan within a year of his arrival, as they won the 2012 Russian Super Cup with a 2-0 victory over Zenit. During this period, he was linked with Argentine club Newell's Old Boys, Spanish club Espanyol, and Paraguayan club Libertad.

3.6. Valencia CF

In the summer of 2012, Valdez joined Spanish club Valencia on loan. He scored a header against Bayern Munich in the 2012-13 UEFA Champions League, though Valencia lost the match 2-1. His first league goal for Valencia came on 20 October, a 90th-minute header that secured a 3-2 victory over Athletic Bilbao. On 3 November, Valdez scored in injury time to complete Valencia's 2-0 victory over Atlético Madrid, inflicting the capital side's first defeat of the season. In February 2013, Valencia purchased Valdez's contract outright from Rubin Kazan, and he signed a permanent deal with the club lasting until June 2015.

3.7. Al Jazira Club

On 19 July 2013, Valdez moved to Abu Dhabi-based club Al Jazira for a fee reported to be around 3.00 M EUR. Wearing the number 9 shirt, he debuted on 3 September 2013 in a 1-0 away victory against Al-Shaab in a 2013-14 UAE Arabian Gulf Cup tie. His 2013-14 Arabian Gulf League debut was against the same team on 15 September, a 2-1 away win. On 25 October, he scored his first league goal for Al Jazira in a 1-1 away draw against Al Dhafra.

In October 2013, Valdez was rumored as a possible signing for Barcelona, which he described as a dream, calling Barcelona the best club in the world. At the time, Barcelona was coached by his former national team coach, Gerardo Martino. On 8 January 2014, Valdez scored two goals against Al Shaab in a 3-0 home league victory. However, this match proved to be his last appearance for Al Jazira, as he was sanctioned and fined for his goal celebration. After a fan whistled at him, Valdez responded by putting his finger to his mouth to silence the fans after his first goal, and then after his second, he touched his crotch as a gesture of having "balls." The club suspended him immediately after the match, stating their commitment to preserving good sportsmanship. Valdez clarified on Twitter that his intention was not to offend but to express his commitment on the field despite recent bad luck with scoring. He also stated his desire to remain with the club amidst transfer rumors. Ultimately, Valdez was loaned to Greek club Olympiacos for the remainder of the 2013-14 season.

3.8. Olympiacos F.C.

On 30 January 2014, Valdez joined Superleague Greece side Olympiacos on loan from Al Jazira, receiving the number 18 shirt. He made his debut on 2 February in a 2-1 home victory against Panetolikos. Two weeks later, he scored his first goal for the club in a 4-2 home victory against Platanias on 15 February, assisted by Javier Saviola. Valdez scored his second league goal for Olympiacos in a 2-0 home victory against Panthrakikos on 15 March, assisted by Alejandro Domínguez.

Valdez participated in the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League round of 16 against Manchester United. He came on as a substitute in both legs, a 2-0 home victory in the first leg and a 3-0 away loss in the second, which resulted in Olympiacos's elimination on aggregate. On 23 March 2014, he scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 away win against Ergotelis, with all three goals coming within a ten-minute span in the first half. He netted his last goal of the season in a 1-0 home victory against Aris on 30 March. Valdez concluded his Superleague Greece season with six league goals in ten appearances. Olympiacos finished first in the 2013-14 Superleague Greece and qualified for the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League. He also played in the 2013-14 Greek Football Cup semi-final first leg against PAOK.

3.9. Eintracht Frankfurt

On 29 July 2014, Valdez returned to the Bundesliga, signing with Eintracht Frankfurt for the 2014-15 Bundesliga season and being issued the number 11 shirt. He expressed his motivation for joining Frankfurt was the opportunity to reunite with his former Werder Bremen coach, Thomas Schaaf, stating, "He made me a professional. For me, it was clear that I was going to go to Frankfurt when I received the offer. It is an enormous pleasure to return to the Bundesliga."

Valdez made his first appearance for Eintracht Frankfurt in a friendly against Inter Milan on 10 August, which Frankfurt won 3-1. He then debuted in an official competition on 16 August, a 2-0 away victory against Viktoria Berlin in the first round of the 2014-15 DFB-Pokal. His Bundesliga debut for Frankfurt came on 23 August in a 1-0 home victory against SC Freiburg.

On 30 August, in his second league match, a 2-2 away draw against VfL Wolfsburg, Valdez suffered a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee, an injury expected to sideline him for approximately six months. However, his recovery was remarkably fast; German newspaper Bild reported in late December that his injury had healed outstandingly in just three and a half months, raising hopes for his return by January and potential participation in the 2015 Copa América. Upon his return from injury, he came on as a substitute on 14 March 2015 in a league fixture against SC Paderborn and scored in the 82nd minute, helping Frankfurt to a 4-0 victory.

3.10. Seattle Sounders FC

Valdez moved to Major League Soccer (MLS), signing with Seattle Sounders FC as a Designated Player on 7 August 2015.

3.11. Cerro Porteño

On 4 January 2017, Valdez signed with Paraguayan Primera División club Cerro Porteño. He played for the club until 2020, winning the 2017 Clausura and 2020 Apertura titles. After his contract with Cerro Porteño ended, Valdez expressed a desire to play for one more year, stating he would return to Atlético Tembetary if necessary. He was linked with Sol de America and Guireña (which he turned down for family reasons) in early 2021, and also with Argentine club Argentinos Juniors. In January 2021, Valdez announced that he and his family had been diagnosed with COVID-19 while in Germany. On 1 July 2021, Nelson Haedo Valdez announced his retirement from professional football via his social media channels.

4.1. Paraguay U-20

In 2003, Valdez chose to represent Paraguay over Germany, despite being invited to trial with the Germany U21 team. He was selected for the Paraguay U-20 national team for the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates. Valdez, who was largely unknown to his U-20 teammates and coach Rolando Chilavert (brother of José Luís Chilavert), met them for the first time on the airplane. Paraguay's U-20 squad had already secured third place at the 2003 South American Youth Championship, qualifying for the World Cup.

Valdez played in all three group-stage matches against the United States, South Korea, and Germany. He scored Paraguay's second goal in their 2-0 victory against Germany, a match where he humorously revealed he had a bet with his Werder Bremen teammates, Christian Schulz and Alexander Walke, who were playing for Germany U-20, that if he scored, one of them would buy him dinner. Paraguay finished second in their group with six points. In the round of 16, Paraguay was defeated 1-0 by Spain U-20.

4.2. Senior National Team

Valdez was part of Paraguay's 22-man squad for the 2004 Copa América in Peru. He played in two of Paraguay's three group stage games, as they finished first in their group before losing 3-1 to Uruguay in the quarter-finals. Following the Copa América, Valdez was recalled by Werder Bremen, causing him to miss the 2004 Summer Olympics, where Paraguay's U-23 team went on to win a silver medal.

Valdez scored his first goal for the senior Paraguay squad in a 3-0 friendly win against El Salvador on 17 August 2005. During the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, he scored the only goal in a 1-0 away win against Venezuela on 8 October 2005. Paraguay finished fourth in the qualifiers, and Valdez was selected for the final 23-man squad for the 2006 World Cup, wearing the number 18 shirt.

At the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Valdez started in Paraguay's opening Group B match against England, which they lost 1-0. He also played against Sweden, a 1-0 loss that eliminated Paraguay from the tournament. He played 66 minutes in Paraguay's final group stage fixture, a 2-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago.

Valdez was not included in Paraguay's squad for the 2007 Copa América, but he later participated in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. He opened his goal-scoring account with a winner in a 1-0 victory against Uruguay on 7 October 2007. He scored his third goal of the qualifiers in a 4-2 away loss to Bolivia in La Paz. On 9 September 2009, in Asunción, Valdez scored in the 27th minute to give Paraguay a 1-0 lead against rivals Argentina. Paraguay won the game 1-0, securing their qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This was Paraguay's second official victory against Argentina. Valdez scored five goals in 17 appearances during the campaign, as Paraguay finished third behind Brazil and Chile.

Valdez was selected for the 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Paraguay was grouped with Slovakia, New Zealand, and Italy. Valdez played in all three group matches, helping Paraguay top their group with five points. In the round of 16, Paraguay faced Japan, drawing 0-0 after extra-time. Valdez came on as a substitute and played through extra-time. In the subsequent penalty shootout, Valdez successfully converted Paraguay's fourth spot-kick, contributing to their 5-3 victory and historic progression to the quarterfinals. In the quarter-finals against Spain, Valdez scored a goal that was disallowed for offside. Paraguay eventually lost the game 1-0.

Valdez was included in the squad for the 2011 Copa América in Argentina, where Paraguay was drawn in Group B with Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Days before the tournament, he scored his 11th national team goal in a 2-0 home friendly victory against Romania on 11 June 2011. In Paraguay's opening group stage fixture on 3 July, Valdez came on as a substitute in a 0-0 draw with Ecuador. On 9 July, against Brazil, Valdez entered as a substitute and scored in the 66th minute to give Paraguay a 2-1 lead in a match that eventually finished 2-2. Paraguay reached the final of the 2011 Copa América, finishing as runners-up.

Valdez played a significant role in Paraguay's 2014 World Cup qualification campaign, featuring in 11 fixtures, though Paraguay ultimately failed to qualify. Following a 2-0 defeat against Colombia in October 2012, which left Paraguay at the bottom of the qualifiers table, Valdez angrily responded to Paraguayan fans who criticized the squad: "I appreciate with my whole heart those few who continue to support us. In change, I lament the rest. We come here for shit money and they treat us like this? From one day to another, they forget about all the joy we gave them." He later reflected that the unsuccessful campaign was the price the national team was paying for the frequent coaching changes and player transitions since the 2010 World Cup, suggesting some new players were "immature" and did not fully grasp the significance of representing the national team. In 2013, under new coach Victor Genes, Valdez was left out of the squad for a friendly against Germany and two World Cup qualifiers.

On 28 May 2015, Valdez was included in Paraguay's 23-man squad for the 2015 Copa América by coach Ramón Díaz. In a friendly against Honduras on 6 June 2015, Valdez received his first international red card after retaliating when hit by Honduran player Maynor Figueroa. He left the field showing the mark left by the studs and apologized publicly, stating that his "character is stronger than intelligence." Despite this, Valdez started in Paraguay's opening group stage fixture against Argentina on 13 June 2015. He scored Paraguay's first goal from approximately 25 yd in their 2-2 draw against Argentina in La Serena, as Paraguay recovered from a 0-2 deficit. After the draw, Valdez received the MasterCard Man of the Match award, which was reportedly initially offered to Lionel Messi, who declined it. Valdez made 77 appearances for the senior national team, scoring 13 goals.

6.1. Family and Relationships

Valdez has been married to Martynka Haedo Valdez since 2008. They have two children, a son named Nelson Samuel and a daughter named Noemi Beata. His parents, Antonio Haedo and Silvia Valdez, reside in Coronel Oviedo, the capital city of the Caaguazú Department, which is also home to Valdez's birthplace, the San Joaquín District. His niece, Samira López, is an Argentine-Paraguayan model.

6.2. Philanthropy and Community Impact

Valdez has demonstrated a deep commitment to giving back to his community. He and his wife established a foundation dedicated to supporting his hometown of San Joaquín. This foundation provides approximately 8.29 K GBP per month and annually buys Christmas presents for 1,500 children in the area. Valdez believes that San Joaquín depends on his efforts to provide its people with better opportunities than he had growing up. While he was playing for Borussia Dortmund, his cousin, César Nelson, stayed in Dortmund and helped him manage all matters related to the foundation's work in San Joaquín.

In February 2014, Valdez actively sought ways to financially assist his former national teammate Salvador Cabañas, who had faced economic difficulties since being shot in the head in January 2010. Valdez organized a charity match, scheduled for June 2014, which was set to feature prominent players like David Trezeguet and Javier Saviola, to raise funds for Cabañas.

In late November 2014, it was reported that Valdez, along with his in-laws Beata and Fritz Rößler, would open a restaurant in Bremen, Germany, in December.

6.3. Personal Incidents and Experiences

Valdez has faced several notable personal incidents that highlight his protective nature and resilience. In 2009, he famously chased off thieves who were attempting to steal his car, confronting them with a gun. On another occasion, he bravely ran into his blazing home to rescue his dog.

On 23 December 2009, Valdez and his wife returned home in the early hours of the morning to find their house engulfed in flames. The fire destroyed their home, and tragically, their Golden Retriever named Arami (Arami^Guarani), a gift from Valdez to his wife, perished in the blaze. Months prior to this incident, at the same house, burglars attempted to steal Valdez's Mercedes-Benz, and Valdez himself confronted them with a shotgun blast to prevent the theft.

In late January 2022, Paraguayan newspapers reported that five individuals were arrested for attempting to kidnap one of Valdez's family members in the San Joaquín area of the Caaguazú Department, further underscoring the challenges he and his family have faced.

7.1. Club Honours

• Werder Bremen
  • Bundesliga: 2003-04
  • DFB-Pokal: 2003-04
• Borussia Dortmund
  • DFB-Pokal runner-up: 2007-08
• Rubin Kazan
  • Russian Cup: 2011-12
  • Russian Super Cup: 2012
• Olympiacos
  • Super League Greece: 2013-14
• Seattle Sounders FC
  • MLS Cup: 2016
• Cerro Porteño
  • Primera División: 2017 Clausura, 2020 Apertura

7.2. International Honours

• Paraguay
  • Copa América: runner-up 2011

7.3. Individual Awards

• Best Paraguayan footballer abroad (APF): 2010
• Best Paraguayan footballer abroad (Premios Guaraní - Canal 2 Red Guaraní): 2010
• Most favourite player of Albirroja (Premios Guaraní - Canal 2 Red Guaraní): 2010
• Special Consideration (President of Paraguayan Republic: Fernando Lugo): 2010

8.1. Club

8.2. International