Inside a minute in Toulouse on 24 June 1998, the centre-half put Paraguay ahead against Nigeria, and that 3-1 win carried them into the second round. He won the Copa Libertadores with River Plate in 1996 and six Argentine league titles across two spells there, and he played 85 times for Paraguay at four Copa América tournaments and the 1998 World Cup. Career record: 85 caps and 6 goals for Paraguay; club career at Club Atlético River Plate, Real Betis Balompié, Atlético Madrid.
| 1990–1994 | Club Olimpia |
| 1994–1995 | Club Atlético Rosario Central |
| 1995–1998 | Club Atlético River Plate |
| 1998–1999 | Real Betis Balompié |
| 1999–2000 | Atlético Madrid |
| 2000–2000 | São Paulo |
| 2001–2005 | Club Atlético River Plate |
| 2006–2006 | Club Social y Deportivo Colo Colo |
| Paraguay | 85 caps, 6 goals |
Paraguay legends whose careers overlapped Ayala's
One rank above: Aurelio González at #9.
One rank below: Francisco Arce at #11.
Paraguay's editorial top five: Arsenio Erico · José Luis Chilavert · Carlos Gamarra · José Saturnino Cardozo · Julio César Romero.