
After Friaça put Brazil ahead at the Maracanã on 16 July 1950, Varela tucked the ball under his arm and walked to referee George Reader to argue an offside he later admitted never existed, buying the minutes it took the stadium to fall silent. Uruguay won that final 2-1, and El Negro Jefe had already been named best player of the 1942 South American Championship, adding six Uruguayan titles with Peñarol. Career record: 45 caps and 9 goals for Uruguay; club career at Montevideo Wanderers Fútbol Club, Club Atlético Peñarol.
| 1938–1943 | Montevideo Wanderers Fútbol Club |
| 1943–1955 | Club Atlético Peñarol |
| Uruguay | 45 caps, 9 goals |
One rank above: José Santamaría at #7.
One rank below: Diego Forlán at #9.
Uruguay's editorial top five: Juan Alberto Schiaffino · Luis Suárez · Enzo Francescoli · Héctor Scarone · José Leandro Andrade.