FIFA: Blanco has 97 appearances for Mexico

Posted December 09, 2008 10:00 pm

Associated Press

ZURICH, Switzerland - Mexican star Cuauhtémoc Blanco needs three more international appearances to reach the century mark, soccer's governing body said Wednesday.

The forward, who turns 36 next month, announced his retirement from the national team Sept. 10 before appearing in the last seven minutes of a World Cup qualifier against Canada. It was announced at the game that was his 100th international appearance. The next day, however, there were conflicting figures ranging from 99 to 105.

FIFA then said it would need time to investigate.

"To the best of our knowledge, Blanco currently stands at 97 caps," FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot said Wednesday in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Blanco, a star for the Chicago Fire, played in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups and scored in each. He helped Mexico win CONCACAF Gold Cups in 1996 and 1998, and helped to beat Brazil for the 1999 Confederations Cup.

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