Joel Fernando Zayas (born 17 September 1977 in Asunción) is a Paraguayan former football goalkeeper.

Joel Zayas
Personal information
Full name Joel Fernando Zayas Cabrera
Date of birth (1977-09-17) 17 September 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth Asunción, Paraguay
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2003 Cerro Porteño 19 (0)
2004–2005 Club Sport Colombia 30 (0)
2005 Sp. Luqueño 0 (0)
2006–2007 Bolívar 59 (0)
2007–2008 Guaraní 19 (0)
2009 Wilstermann 9 (0)
2010 CNI 5 (0)
2010 San José 9 (0)
2011–2012 3 de Febrero 23 (0)
International career
2007 Paraguay 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

In June 2007, after great performances with his club Bolívar, he was selected for the Paraguay national football team that participated in the 2007 Copa America. In the quarterfinals of the competition, Paraguay played against Mexico. In the 2nd minute, goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla was sent off after a bad challenge over Nery Castillo and after Justo Villar got injured earlier in the tournament, giving Zayas the chance to play in the rest of the match and his first cap. Paraguay ended playing the game with 10 players, and they eventually lost 6–0, thus ending the Copa America campaign.

After the Copa America tournament, Zayas was transferred to Guaraní. In 2009, he returned to Bolivia, only this time, he signed with Club Jorge Wilstermann.

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