Isabelino Gradín

Isabelino Gradín (8 July 1897 – 21 December 1944) was a Uruguayan footballer and athlete. He was considered to be one of the greatest footballers in the early era of Uruguayan football and is regarded as one of the greatest Uruguayan players before the Uruguayan win at the 1930 FIFA World Cup.

Gradín played in the first South American Championship held in Argentina, where Uruguay became the first champions of the tournament, and finished as top scorer. On 2 July of that tournament against Chile, where Uruguay would go on to win 4–0, Gradin and teammate Juan Delgado became the first black players in history to be fielded in an international tournament. Gradin was also part of the Uruguayan winning team of the 1917 South American Championship. He was also a four-time South American athletics champion in the 400 and 200 metres sprint. He was brought up in the Palermo barrio in Montevideo.

International career At the age of 18 Gradín made his international debut in July 1915 against Argentina in Montevideo.

1916 South American Championship The 1916 South American Championship, in which Uruguay took out their first continental championship, is considered to have been Gradín's career high point. As the age of 19 he finished the tournament with three goals and was leading goalscorer for the tournament.

Gradín's racial background became an issue with Chile complaining before and after their match with Uruguay that the Uruguayans were unfairly selecting "Africans". They were unhappy with the selection of Gradín and his teammate Juan Delgado. The complaints were particularly bitter after Gradín scored two goals in Uruguay's 4–0 defeat of the Chileans. Gradín scored his third goal of the tournament in Uruguay's defeat of Brazil which won Uruguay the championship.

1917 South American Championship Although a member of the title-winning Uruguay squad for the 1917 South American Championship he did not make it onto the pitch for any of their matches.

1919 South American Championship The 1919 South American Championship had Gradín playing all of Uruguay's tournament matches and scored two goals. Brazil prevailed over Uruguay in the playoff final. It is recorded as the longest game in history: Brazil 1 – Uruguay 0 (150 minutes = 90 +15 +15 +15 +15).

Gradín playing on a foreign national team in Brazil did not quell the support he received from black Brazilians. Brazil was reluctant to select black players for their national teams.

1920s After the 1919 championships Gradín played sporadically for Uruguay. This was partly due to his siding with the rebel Federación Uruguaya de Football against the mainstream Uruguayan Football Association. In 1924 Gradín played for a rebel Uruguay national team organised by the FUF against an Argentina national team organised by the Asociación Amateurs de Football. This led to him missing out on selection during Uruguay's successful tournament run when they won several South American Championships and an Olympic gold medal.

Track and field While still playing football, Gradín also managed to be a successful athlete.

Club Gradín began his club athletics career with Plaza de Deportes Nº 1 before transferring to Club Atlético Olimpio in 1918.

He followed up his 1919 success at the 1920 South American Championships in Athletics by defending his 200 and 400 metres titles.

Later life and death Gradín spent his final years destitute and in poverty. By 1944 Gradín had become seriously ill and was in hospital. On 17 December 1944, the day they had won the Uruguayan championship, the entire Peñarol team visited him at the Pasteur Hospital, dedicating their win to him. He died four days later on 21 December 1944.

A biography of his life was released in 2000 by Uruguayan author Carina Blixen entitled Isabelino Gradín : testimonio de una vida.

A square in Montevideo is named in his memory. In 2009 a memorial star was placed in the square by the Montevideo local government.