Famous Paraguayan - Paraguayan Celebrities

Hard working, determined and adventurous, Paraguayans are well known for their love of sports which are an important part of the country’s national culture. Football is the most popular sport, while basketball is also very famous. The most successful football players in Paraguayan history are Arsenio Erico, Aurelio González, Julio César Romero and José Luis Chilavert while sportsmen like Victor Caballero, Hugo Chapacú, and Ramón Delgado have made the country proud in the world of tennis. The nation has an interesting music history and the famous composer José Asunción Flores is credited to be the creator of the Guarania music genre which is most popular in Paraguay. There is a small but vibrant jazz community in Paraguay, represented by the likes of Palito Miranda and Pereira. The country has also produced several literary geniuses in the form of poets and novelists such as José Ricardo Mazó, Roque Vallejos, and Nobel Prize nominee Augusto Roa Bastos. Paraguayan film industry, a traditionally small one, is now beginning to thrive with the likes of Renate Costa, Manuel Cuenca, Jorge Díaz de Bedoya, and Paz Encina dominating the cinema. This section provides you information about the life and works of famous Paraguayans.

Find out more about the greatest Paraguayans, including Alfredo Stroessner, Horacio Cartes, Francisco Solano López, José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia and Augusto Roa Bastos.

The Most Famous Paraguayan

NameBirthdayNationalityBio
Francisco Solano LópezJuly 24, 1827ParaguayanFrancisco Solano Lopez was the president of Paraguay from 1862 to 1870
Manuel Ortiz GuerreroJuly 16, 1897ParaguayanParaguayan-born Manuel Ortiz Guerrero was a renowned bilingual poet, playwright and musician
Horacio CartesJuly 5, 1956ParaguayanHoracio Cartes is a Paraguayan businessman and the present President of Paraguay
José Gaspar Rodríguez de FranciaJanuary 6, 1766ParaguayanJose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia was one of Paraguay’s first leaders after its independence, a supreme dictator of the country for 26 years.
Nicanor DuarteOctober 11, 1956ParaguayanNicanor Duarte was the President of Paraguay from 2003 to 2008
Alfredo StroessnerNovember 3, 1912ParaguayanAlfredo Stroessner was the President of Paraguay who ruled his country with an iron grip for over three decades
Augusto Roa BastosJune 13, 1917ParaguayanAugusto Roa Bastos is a famous Paraguayan novelist and screenplay writer who is renowned for his book ‘Yo, el Supremo’
Manuel Ortiz Guerrero

Manuel Ortiz Guerrero

Paraguayan-born Manuel Ortiz Guerrero was a renowned bilingual poet, playwright and musician

ParaguayanJuly 16, 1897134 views

Horacio Cartes

Horacio Cartes is a Paraguayan businessman and the present President of Paraguay

ParaguayanJuly 5, 1956122 views

Augusto Roa Bastos

Augusto Roa Bastos is a famous Paraguayan novelist and screenplay writer who is renowned for his book ‘Yo, el Supremo’

ParaguayanJune 13, 1917106 views

Francisco Solano López

Francisco Solano Lopez was the president of Paraguay from 1862 to 1870

ParaguayanJuly 24, 1827241 views

José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia

Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia was one of Paraguay’s first leaders after its independence, a supreme dictator of the country for 26 years.

Nicanor Duarte

Nicanor Duarte was the President of Paraguay from 2003 to 2008

ParaguayanOctober 11, 1956112 views

Alfredo Stroessner

Alfredo Stroessner was the President of Paraguay who ruled his country with an iron grip for over three decades