Luciano Vassalo

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Luciano Vassallo is a former Ethiopian footballer. He is the most capped international football in Ethiopian history. He is known for his skill, and mostly for his volleys, free kicks and penalties. He played professionally with Saint-George SA along with his brother.

Both brothers were a part of the glorious campaign in 1962 when Ethiopia won their only trophy to date. Luciano, captain of the team, scored 2 goals in the semifinal against Tunisia and was tied for third highest scorer in the tournament, and was named player of the tournament, the only Ethiopian to claim that award. He was personally handed the trophy by his higness Haile Selassie. In 2006, The selection for the best African footballer in the last fifty years, by CAF began. Luciano, along with legendary teamate and friend Mengistu Worku were selected in the group of the top 50 players, as the only Ethiopians, but were not selected in the final 30, where Roger Milla was named number 1.

Many consider him the best Ethiopian footballer in history, after Mengistu Worku and Ydnekatchew Tessema. After retirement, he had a short stint in coaching, with the then Dire Dawa Cotton FC.