Hire Silvio Velo for Talks, Lectures, and Experience Creators
Silvio Velo
A blind soccer player and a global role model in adaptive sports. His story of overcoming adversity inspires resilience, discipline, and passion, demonstrating that barriers can be broken down with a positive attitude, hard work, and self-belief.
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Who is Silvio Velo?
Silvio Velo is a former Argentine soccer player and coach, universally recognized as one of the leading figures in Paralympic sports and the longtime captain of Argentina’s national blind soccer team, nicknamed “Los Murciélagos.” Born in San Pedro, in the province of Buenos Aires, on May 29, 1971, his life is a powerful story of overcoming adversity and resilience. Although he has been blind since birth, his unwavering determination led him to turn his dream of becoming a soccer player into a professional reality, earning him the nickname “the Maradona or Messi of the blind” for his unmatched talent on the field.
From his childhood in the humble neighborhood of Las Canaletas, Velo was drawn to soccer, playing with sighted boys using a conventional ball. The turning point in his life came when he discovered, at a school for the blind, the sound ball—or bell ball—the tool that would allow him to channel his passion. At age 20, he was selected for the national blind soccer team, where he quickly established himself as an undisputed leader and served as captain for three decades. As an attacking midfielder, he was known for his speed, masterful ball control, and ability to turn games around with spectacular goals.
Silvio Velo’s record with “Los Murciélagos” is a testament to his success. He led the team to victory in two World Blind Soccer Championships (Rio de Janeiro 2002 and Buenos Aires 2006). At the continental level, he was a multiple-time champion of the IBSA Copa América. In addition, his presence was vital at the Paralympic Games, where he served as the flag bearer and won a silver medal in Athens 2004, as well as bronze medals in Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016. This track record of success earned him individual recognition, as he was repeatedly named the World’s Best Player.
After retiring from the Argentine national team in 2019, Velo has ventured into literature, publishing his life story, and into documentary filmmaking, continuing to actively advocate for inclusion and visibility in Paralympic sports. He has even tried his hand at other disciplines, such as blind tennis. Currently, he gives motivational talks and coaches young people, spreading his message that barriers can be broken with determination.
