Leonel Sánchez

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40 years after the Ballet Azul, Universidad de Chile supporters still idolize him

Leonel Guillermo Sánchez Lineros (born April 25, 1936 in Santiago de Chile) is a former professional footbal player. He played at left midfield for over 20 years between 1953 and 1973. 17 of those 20 were in Universidad de Chile, where he was the icon of the Ballet Azul (Blue Ballet), a team that won 6 national championships between 1959 and 1969.

Regarded as the one of Chile's finest players, Sánchez holds the record for most games played for Chile with 84 games and 23 goals between 1955 and 1968. 4 of those were at the 1962 World Cup in which he was the top scorer along with five other players. In that World Cup he also knocked out the Italian player Mario David with a hook in a dispute in the infamous Chile - Italy match.

Sánchez remained in Universidad de Chile although he received numerous offers from well known European clubs such as AC Milan. In 1969, after a contract rule was settled, Universidad de Chile was forced to sell the fan's idol. He finished his career in those four years deambulating between chilean teams.

Preceded by Just Fontaine	FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe 1962 Shared with: Dražan Jerković, Garrincha, Vavá, Valentin Ivanov and Flórián Albert	Succeeded by Eusébio

	Chile squad - 1962 FIFA World Cup
1 Escuti \| 2 Eyzaguirre \| 3 R. Sánchez \| 4 Navarro \| 5 Contreras \| 6 Rojas \| 7 Ramírez \| 8 Toro \| 9 Landa \| 10 Fouilloux \| 11 L. Sánchez \| 12 Godoy \| 13 Valdés \| 14 Lepe \| 15 Rodríguez \| 16 Cruz \| 17 Ortiz \| 18 Moreno \| 19 Musso \| 20 Campos \| 21 Tobar \| 22 Astorga \| Coach: Riera

	Chile squad - 1966 FIFA World Cup
1 Araya \| 2 Berly \| 3 Campos \| 4 Cruz \| 5 Donoso \| 6 Eyzaguirre \| 7 Figueroa \| 8 Fouilloux \| 9 Godoy \| 10 Hodge \| 11 Landa \| 12 Marcos \| 13 Olivares \| 14 Prieto \| 15 J. Ramírez \| 16 O. Ramírez \| 17 Sánchez \| 18 Tobar \| 19 Valdés \| 20 Valentini \| 21 Villanueva \| 22 Yávar \| Coach: Alamos