{{short description|Bolivian footballer (1938–2008)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Mario Zabalaga |image = |caption = |fullname = |birth_date = {{birth date|1938|5|8|df=yes}} |birth_place = Cochabamba, Bolivia |death_date = {{death date and age|2008|12|13|1938|5|8|df=yes}} |death_place = |position = Defender |years1 = 1958-1961 |clubs1 = Jorge Wilstermann |years2 = 1961 |clubs2 = Always Ready |years3 = 1962-1963 |clubs3 = Jorge Wilstermann |years4 = 1964 |clubs4 = Aurora |years5 = 1965-1973 |clubs5 = Jorge Wilstermann |nationalteam1 = Bolivia |nationalyears1 = 1961-1967 |nationalcaps1 = 11 |nationalgoals1 = 0 | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|BOL}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Copa América}} {{Medal|Winner|1963 Bolivia|}} }}
'''Mario Zabalaga''' (8 May 1938 – 13 December 2008)<ref>{{cite web |title=Entre la nostalgia y el olvido se recuerdan 60 años del título de Bolivia del 63 |url=https://www.la-razon.com/marcas/2023/03/31/bolivia-3/ |website=La Razon |access-date=8 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=EL HOMBRE RECORD |url=https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=715108786956903&locale=ms_MY |website=Facebook Wilstermann cuestion de orgullo |access-date=8 January 2024}}</ref> was a Bolivian footballer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe158337/mario-zabalaga/ |title=Mario Zabalaga |work=worldfootball.net |access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mario Zabalaga |url=https://www.livefutbol.com/ficha_jugador/mario-zabalaga/ |website=Live Futbol |access-date=8 January 2024}}</ref> He was part of Bolivia's squad that won the 1963 South American Championship on home soil.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/63safull.html |title=South American Championship 1963 |work=RSSSF |access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref>
==International career== Zabalaga got his first cap with Bolivia on 15 July 1961 against Uruguay for the 1st leg of the 1962 FIFA World Cup qualification.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bolivia v Uruguay, 15 July 1961 |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/bolivia-v-uruguay-15-july-1961-227950/ |website=11v11 |access-date=8 January 2024}}</ref> He also play the 2nd leg on 30 July, also against Uruguay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Uruguay v Bolivia, 30 July 1961 |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/uruguay-v-bolivia-30-july-1961-227951/ |website=11v11 |access-date=8 January 2024}}</ref>
He was selected in Bolivia's squad for the 1963 South American Championship, playing only one game against Paraguay on 24 March<ref>{{cite web |title=South American Championship 1963 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/63safull.html |website=RSSF |access-date=8 January 2024}}</ref> as Bolivia won the tournament, its first and only Copa America.
In July and August 1965, he played three 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification games, two against Paraguay<ref>{{cite web |title=Paraguay v Bolivia, 25 July 1965 |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/paraguay-v-bolivia-25-july-1965-229103/ |website=11v11 |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bolivia v Paraguay, 22 August 1965 |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/bolivia-v-paraguay-22-august-1965-229135/ |website=11v11 |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref> and one against Argentina.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bolivia v Argentina, 29 August 1965 |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/bolivia-v-argentina-29-august-1965-229145/ |website=11v11 |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref>
Zabalaga was in Bolivia's squad for the 1967 South American Championship and played 5 games during the tournament.<ref>{{cite web |title=South American Championship 1967 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/67safull.html |website=RSSSF |access-date=8 January 2024}}</ref> The game against Chile on 1 February was his 11th and last cap with Bolivia.
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Bolivia squad 1963 South American Championship}} {{Bolivia squad 1967 South American Championship}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zabalaga, Mario}} Category:1938 births Category:Bolivian men's footballers Category:20th-century Bolivian sportsmen Category:Bolivia men's international footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:C.D. Jorge Wilstermann players Category:Copa América–winning players Category:Club Aurora players
Category:2008 deaths
{{Bolivia-footy-defender-stub}}