Marcelo Salas, Chilean footballer
José Marcelo Salas Melinao (American Spanish: [maɾˈselo ˈsalas]; born 24 December 1974), nicknamed Matador (due to his goalscoring celebrations), El Fenómeno and Shileno, is a retired Chilean footballer who played as a striker. Salas is considered the best striker in the history of Chile. He stood out during the 1990s and 2000s in clubs such as Universidad de Chile, River Plate , Lazio and Juventus. He was captain of the Chilean national team and the top scorer – scoring 45 goals in total: 37 goals for the Chile national football team (4 in World Cups, 18 in World Cup qualification processes and 15 in friendlies) and 8 goals with the Chile Olympic football team.

He played in Chile, Argentina and Italy, winning titles with each club he joined.

The IFFHS ranked him as the 31st best South American player of the 20th century, the 19th best South American forward of the 20th century and the 3rd best South American forward of the 1990s (integrating the podium with Brazilians players Ronaldo and Romário). He was considered one of the best footballers in the world during the second half of the 1990s and the beginning of the 21st century. In 1997 he ranked 3rd as the "best centre forward in the world" (after players Ronaldo and Gabriel Batistuta) and he was ranked 5th in the “Best Centre Forward” category in the RSS Award for the best footballer of the year, in 1998 and 1999. In addition, in 1996 and 1997 he was considered the "best striker in America", where he was part of the Ideal Team of America. He was also awarded as the South American Footballer of the Year in 1997. He was included in "10 highest figures" contest in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In 2013 he was awarded as the "7th best south-American footballer in history" ("Bleacher Report" magazine). He was also chosen within the "10 best scorers in the history of South American football" In 2019, he was included in the "50 great South American footballers of all time", ranking, positioning himself in 27th place.A powerful and tenacious forward, with good technique, who was well-known for his deft touch with his left foot, as well as his aerial ability, Salas had a prolific goalscoring record throughout his career.

He is considered (along with Leonel Sánchez) the greatest player in the history of Universidad de Chile, and icon for the football team River Plate of Argentina(he's a member of the historic ideal eleven) and one of the greatest foreign players in Lazio's history.Between 1996 and 2001 he was considered one of the best forwards in the world, constantly compared to Ronaldo and Gabriel Batistuta. He was also occasionally compared to Diego Maradona, Pelé and Gerd Müller. After a friendly match between England and Chile at Wembley Stadium, where Salas scored the two goals, the English press headlined: "Olé, Olé, Olé... Salas is the new Diego Maradona" and after scoring two goals in the first game of the 1998 FIFA World Cup against the Italy national team, the Spanish press headlined: "His header in the dispute with Fabio Cannavaro recalled somehow Pelé's memorable jump over Burgnich in the 1970 World Cup final".On 16 December 1998 he integrated the Rest of the World National Team in a match played at the Stadio Olimpico against Italy national football team, in celebration of the centenary of Italian Calcio. Salas entered the second half, replacing Gabriel Batistuta.He played for the Chilean national football team at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, where he scored four goals in four matches, leading his team to the second round of the competition. Additionally, Salas played for the Chile national football team at two Copa América tournaments, helping his team to reach fourth place in the 1999 edition of the tournament.