World Cup hero who had to sell his boots to save son's life set for dream million-dollar transfer

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Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

San Lorenzo goalkeeper Orlando Gill is set for a multi-million-dollar transfer to Europe after his 2026 World Cup heroics for Paraguay.

Heading into the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico, there was some uncertainty as to who would start between the sticks for Paraguay. Gill was battling for the No.1 spot with Gaston Olveira and Roberto Fernandez.

The 26-year-old ultimately won out - and deservedly so. Gill was one of Paraguay's best performers at the World Cup, saving two penalties as the South American minnows knocked Germany out of the tournament in the round of 32.

Their World Cup fairytale ultimately came to an end against France in the round of 16. Paraguay saw themselves become the villains for playing dirty against the French, but Gill came away from the game and the tournament at large with plenty of credit in the bank.

According to reliable transfer reporter Matteo Moretto, Gill's heroics have attracted the attention of European clubs. Several suitors are ready to sign him from his club San Lorenzo, who will listen to offers in the region of $7 million.

Gill set for dream transfer after previous hardship

Curiously, Gill has to date only played for sides named San Lorenzo. He was born in the Paraguayan city of San Lorenzo, played for the local club there and then moved to San Lorenzo in Argentina in 2024.

The goalkeeper's representatives will travel to Spain soon for discussions with his admirers. A move to a European club would be the culmination of a remarkable rise from obscurity and hardship.

Just a few years back, Gill was languishing in the reserve team of his Paraguayan club and struggling financially. In December 2022, his son, Lautaro Daniel, was born prematurely after an emergency medical procedure.

With his child fighting to survive, Gill was forced to sell his gear - boots, kits, the lot - to be able to pay the hospital bills. "We had absolutely nothing," his wife Melissa Avalos recounted on social media.

"Orlando sold all his gear from the club, his boots and his youth national team shirt. He literally sold everything so we could cover the expenses whilst our son fought for his life."

Thankfully, little Lautaro made it, and Gill eventually secured financial stability when he joined Buenos Aires-based San Lorenzo, 15-time national champions of Argentina. The struggles, though, didn't stop there.

After his Man of the Match outing against Germany and his idol Manuel Neuer, Gill was overcome with emotion in the post-game interview as he dedicated his performance to his nephew, Alexander, who is battling a severe illness.

"This trophy is for a nephew of mine who is hospitalised and having a very difficult time," Gill said. "I promised that if I became the protagonist of this match, this victory would be entirely for him."

A mountain of a man, Gill is poised to top off his remarkable rise with a major transfer to Europe, a transfer that won't just be for him but also for Lautaro and Alexander.