Emilio Butragueño

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Butragueño's international career began before he had even played for the senior side: he was picked as an uncapped player for UEFA Euro 1984, where Spain finished as runners-up. He made his debut later that year, scoring in a 3–0 win over Wales in a World Cup qualifier. At the 1986 World Cup, he was joint second-top scorer with five goals, netting four of them in a 5–1 round-of-16 victory over Denmark. He also played in the 1990 World Cup but scored no goals in four games. Butragueño left the national team after playing just one game in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers, aged 29. His final appearance was a 0–0 draw with the Republic of Ireland on 18 November 1992.

In Their Own Story

On 17 October 1984, Butragueño made his Spain debut against Wales in a World Cup qualifier in Seville. He closed the 3–0 win with a goal, announcing his arrival on the international stage. Two years later, at the 1986 World Cup, he delivered his most famous performance: in the round of 16 against Denmark, he scored four goals as Spain won 5–1, making him the second-top scorer of the entire tournament. He also represented Spain at Euro 1984 (where he was an uncapped pick and the team finished runners-up) and Euro 1988, though the source does not detail his role in the latter. His last cap came on 18 November 1992 in a 0–0 draw with the Republic of Ireland.

Reader's Guide

Butragueño earned 69 caps for Spain and scored 26 goals, a national record that stood for several years. His international career spanned from 1984 to 1992, covering two World Cups (1986 and 1990) and two European Championships (1984 and 1988). At the 1986 World Cup, he was the second-top scorer, with four goals in a single match against Denmark. He scored no goals in four games at the 1990 World Cup. He left the national team after playing two games in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers, aged 29. His final appearance was a 0–0 draw with the Republic of Ireland on 18 November 1992. Butragueño was also part of the Spain squad that finished runners-up at Euro 1984.

Did You Know?

• Butragueño was picked for UEFA Euro 1984 as an uncapped player, before he had ever played for Spain's senior team.
• He scored four goals in a single World Cup match, Spain's 5–1 round-of-16 win over Denmark in 1986, finishing as the tournament's joint second-top scorer with five goals.
• His 26 goals for Spain stood as a national record for several years.
• Butragueño's last appearance for Spain was a 0–0 draw with the Republic of Ireland on 18 November 1992 — his only match in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers.
• He never received a single red card during his entire professional career.