Scarone was called "The Magician" because he pulled goals out of a hat. He was famous for his ability to improvize and particularly for his heading ability. Despite his short stature, Scarone seemed able to jump earlier and hang in the air longer than opponents.
By the time he played in the inaugural World Cup in 1930, he had already won Olympic gold medals for Uruguay in 1924 and 1928.
The finals on home soil marked a fitting climax to Scarone's international career. Although he scored just one goal, in Uruguay's first round 4-2 win over Romania, his all-round play contributed to the host nation's success. In a repeat of the 1928 Olympic final, Uruguay beat neighboring Argentina, 4-2.
Scarone retired from international soccer after the World Cup, and Uruguay wasn't to return to the World Cup stage until 1950. But Scarone enjoyed a long club career, including a spell at Barcelona, and eventually finished playing after returning to Penarol at the age of 55.
