Miguel Fuentes Quiala

Miguel Fuentes Quiala (born 1949) is a retired Cuban footballer. He played as a forward for Azucareros and Holguín throughout the 1970s as a forward. He also played for his native country of Cuba internationally for the 1971 CONCACAF Championship, the winning squad for the 1978 Central American and Caribbean Games and the 1979 Pan American Games.

Club career Fuentes began his career within his local school, defining himself through his speed and durability. Despite initially playing baseball throughout his youth, his Guatemalan teacher Carlos Rivera convinced him to switch to football in 1962. He made his first breakthrough in his success in the National School Games where he set a record high of 18 goals and would remain in the following editions until 1967. Following this, he received his first professional contract with Azucareros in 1968. Despite this initial success, an injury to his leg would prevent active play within the club until 1976. Despite his recovery however, he retired just three years later due to wanting to focus on his studies.

International career Fuentes was initially called up for the 1970 Central American and Caribbean Games but wouldn't make the final squad. He would make his proper debut in the 1971 CONCACAF Championship hosted in Trinidad and Tobago. Following his recovery, he returned to the national football team in 1976 where he was part of the gold-winning squad for the 1978 Central American and Caribbean Games and the San Juan 1979. He has also served as a part of the Caribbean chapter of FIFA since 2018. He has also been a consistent advocate for Cuban players to play abroad in foreign leagues.