The lanky striker has been a regular in the Paraguay side for the last six years and moved to Bayern Munich from Olimpia in 1999. Santa Cruz joined the Paraguayan side at the age of nine and made his debut for the first-team when aged only 16. He helped the club win successive domestic titles in 1998 and 1999 and his performances alerted Bayern Munich who snapped him up in late 1999. However, a series of injuries have dogged his time in the Bundesliga and he has never scored more than five goals in a season for the German giants. Santa Cruz netted once in Paraguay's 2002 World Cup campaign.