Iván Ramiro Córdoba rose from humble beginnings. Born into a poor family, he grew up playing soccer in the streets of Rionegro, Colombia. After a couple years with the local Rionegro team, he moved to the first-level Atlético Nacional club of Medellín, then to the Buenos Aires—based San Lorenzo de Almagro club. Córdoba's skill at disarming opponents' attacks soon caught the attention of European clubs, and in 1999 he landed with Inter Milan. In a dozen seasons with Inter Milan, Córdoba earned a reputation as one of the world's best defenders. Along the way, he helped the club to a pair of league championships. For Colombians, however, Córdoba will always be remembered for a goal he scored on July 29, 2001. That tally gave Colombia a 1—0 victory over Mexico—and the Copa América title.