Juan Tuñas

Who was Juan Tuñas?

Juan Tuñas Bajeneta, nicknamed "Romperredes" was a Cuban footballer. He played for the Cuban clubs Juventud Asturiana and Centro Gallego, and was the oldest surviving member of the Cuba national football team that played at the 1938 FIFA World Cup in France, scoring a goal against Romania.

After helping lead Cuba to the quarterfinals in their only World Cup appearance, he moved to Mexico and played for Real Club España, winning two Liga Mayor championships there, in 1942 and 1945. His nickname Romperredes means "net-breaker", after his powerful shots on goal. In 2005, he received the Gloria del Deporte Cubano Award in La Habana. Since his retirement he resided in Mexico City and was the last surviving member of Cuba's squad from the 1938 World Cup.