Viral Paraguayan model returns to World Cup after 16 years

This year marks a new chapter in Riquelme’s career. With the Paraguayan national team qualifying for the World Cup after a 16-year absence, the 41-year-old will directly experience the tournament for the first time.

She plans to closely follow Paraguay’s journey at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. Besides appearing as a passionate supporter, she will also take on the role of a sports journalist, monitoring and reporting on her home team’s progress, AS reported.

Paraguay have participated in the World Cup eight times, with their best performance coming in 2010 when the team successfully reached the quarterfinals. For their ninth appearance at the global tournament, they have been drawn into Group D alongside the U.S., Australia and Turkey.

Riquelme, one of Paraguay’s highest-earning models, was well-known in her country before getting international fame during the 2010 World Cup. While many fans assumed she was cheering from the stadiums in South Africa, she never actually visited the host nation that year.

The famous photo that turned her into a worldwide sensation was taken in a public square in Asuncion, Paraguay’s capital, where she watched the matches on a big screen during a mobile phone advertising campaign.

She famously celebrated a goal during the Paraguay-Slovakia match wearing a top in the colors of the Paraguayan flag, with a Nokia phone tucked between her breasts. This image went viral across international media, cementing her status as a global sensation.

Spanish sports media, notably Markquickly dubbed her the “World Cup Girlfriend”, a nickname that became recognized worldwide.

Larissa Riquelme as a football reporter. Photo by Instagram/@larissariquelme

After becoming one of the most-searched individuals on the internet at that time, Riquelme captured public attention with bold promises. When football legend Diego Maradona vowed to run naked if Argentina won the World Cup, Riquelme replied that she would run naked through Asuncion, wearing only body paint, if Paraguay reached the semifinals.

Although Paraguay fell short, she kept her promise anyway. Later that year, she further solidified her fame by posing nude for Playboy Brazil.

In addition to her modeling career, Riquelme also competed in the Argentine version of “Dancing with the Stars”. She eventually completed a three-year media training program, transitioning into a professional role as a football commentator.

After 16 years since her rise to fame, Riquelme’s life remains tied to football. She made her television debut as a commentator during a match between Paraguay and Peru last year.