# José Cardozo

José Saturnino Cardozo Otazú (locally; born 19 March 1971) is a Paraguayan football manager and former footballer who played as a striker.
Cardozo spent most of his career with Deportivo Toluca, where he is the club's all-time leading scorer and won four league titles. He would go on to become the club's head coach from 2013 to 2016. Cardozo ranks as the fourth highest scorer in the history of the Mexican football league.
On the international stage, Cardozo made 82 appearances for Paraguay over a fifteen-year period, scoring 25 goals to become the country's second-highest scorer. He represented the national team in three Copa América tournaments, two FIFA World Cups and the 2004 Summer Olympics, where he won a silver medal.
In the 2002/03 season, José Saturnino Cardozo was recognized as the World Top Scorer in the First Division according to the IFFHS. He scored 58 goals between the Apertura 2002 and Clausura 2003 playing for Deportivo Toluca F.C.

## Club career

Born in Nueva Italia in the Central Department, Cardozo began his professional career in 1988, making his debut for River Plate of Paraguay. After four years in River, he moved to Swiss club FC St. Gallen, where he played from 1990 to 1992. He returned to South America in 1993, joining Universidad Católica de Chile helping the team reach the 1993 Copa Libertadores de América final. The following year he played for Club Olimpia of Paraguay, from which he moved to Club Toluca of Mexico.
Cardozo made his debut for Toluca in the 1995 season, but only appeared in three games, scoring no goals. However, in the subsequent winter season, he scored 7 goals in 13 games. In his ten years with the team, he has scored a record 249 goals for the club, including 36 goals in 25 matches in the 2002 Apertura. Cardozo was top scorer of the league four times (Verano 1998, Verano 1999, Apertura 2002, and Clausura 2003). He moved to the 4th spot in the list of all-time top scorers in the Mexico Primera Division after Jared Borgetti scored his 250th goal with Monarcas Morelia.
Due to his work at Toluca, Cardozo was elected as the Paraguayan Footballer of the Year in the years 2000, 2002 and 2003; and the South American Footballer of the Year in 2002. Despite the fact that he was fiercely opposed to the move, Cardozo was transferred to Argentine team San Lorenzo de Almagro in June 2005, and finished the season with only 4 goals due to injuries that kept him away from playing several games. However, many critics lambasted Cardozo for refusing to play through the pain. While playing for Toluca, Cardozo struggled through the 1997 campaign with hamstring problems and then played through much of the 2001 season despite suffering a broken wrist in the season opener. Cardozo is the all-time leading scorer for Toluca, with 249 goals in 332 appearances.
In July 2006, Cardozo attempted to return to Club Olimpia to finish his career. He was unable to re-sign for the club because the Paraguayan league's transfer deadline had already passed. As a result of his inability to sign for Olimpia, he decided to retire from football. He scored 342 goals total in his career. In June 2008 a farewell match was organized in the city of Toluca to honor his career and contributions to football. Cardozo scored two goals in the match which had a sellout crowd.

## Paraguay national team

Cardozo was the all-time leading scorer for the Paraguay national team, with 25 goals, until 2013, with the record being broken by Roque Santa Cruz. He played for his country at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups and was named in the original 2006 World Cup squad but he was injured during training sessions and replaced by Dante López. Cardozo was also an over-age player at the 2004 Summer Olympics, when Paraguay finished second. On 4 August, before the Summer Olympics began, he played in a preparation game against the Portugal of Cristiano Ronaldo in the city of Algarve, resulting in a 5–0 defeat. He scored a hat-trick against Uruguay in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, with the final result being 4–1.

### International goals
#### Paraguay U23

    Score and Result list Paraguay's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 12 August 2004 | Kaftanzoglio Stadium, Thessaloniki, Greece | Japan | 2–1 | 4–3 | 2004 Summer Olympics |
| 2. | 12 August 2004 | Kaftanzoglio Stadium, Thessaloniki, Greece | Japan | 3–1 | 4–3 | 2004 Summer Olympics |
| 3. | 21 August 2004 | Kaftanzoglio Stadium, Thessaloniki, Greece | South Korea | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2004 Summer Olympics |
| 4. | 24 August 2004 | Kaftanzoglio Stadium, Thessaloniki, Greece | Iraq | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2004 Summer Olympics |
| 5. | 24 August 2004 | Kaftanzoglio Stadium, Thessaloniki, Greece | Iraq | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2004 Summer Olympics |

#### Paraguay

| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 12 July 1991 | Concepción, Chile | Argentina | 1–4 | Loss | 1991 Copa América |
| 2. | 22 June 1995 | Santiago, Chile | New Zealand | 3–2 | Win | 1995 Copa Centenario |
| 3. | 6 July 1995 | Maldonado, Uruguay | Mexico | 2–1 | Win | 1995 Copa América |
| 4. | 12 July 1995 | Maldonado, Uruguay | Venezuela | 3–2 | Win | 1995 Copa América |
| 5. | 26 July 1996 | Asunción, Paraguay | Bolivia | 2–0 | Win | Friendly |
| 6. | 30 April 1997 | Asunción, Paraguay | Uruguay | 3–1 | Win | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7. | 3 June 1998 | București, Romania | Romania | 2–3 | Loss | Friendly |
| 8. | 24 June 1998 | Toulouse, France | Nigeria | 3–1 | Win | 1998 FIFA World Cup |
| 9. | 29 June 2000 | Santiago, Chile | Chile | 1–3 | Loss | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10. | 2 September 2000 | Asunción, Paraguay | Venezuela | 3–0 | Win | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 11. | 15 November 2000 | Asunción, Paraguay | Peru | 5–1 | Win | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 12. | 24 April 2001 | Quito, Ecuador | Ecuador | 1–2 | Loss | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 13. | 5 September 2001 | Asunción, Paraguay | Bolivia | 5–1 | Win | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 14. | 5 September 2001 | Asunción, Paraguay | Bolivia | 5–1 | Win | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 15. | 13 February 2002 | Ciudad del Este, Paraguay | Bolivia | 2–2 | Draw | Friendly |
| 16. | 26 March 2003 | San Diego, United States | Mexico | 1–1 | Draw | Friendly |
| 17. | 10 September 2003 | Asunción, Paraguay | Uruguay | 4–1 | Win | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 18. | 10 September 2003 | Asunción, Paraguay | Uruguay | 4–1 | Win | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 19. | 10 September 2003 | Asunción, Paraguay | Uruguay | 4–1 | Win | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 20. | 15 November 2003 | Asunción, Paraguay | Ecuador | 2–1 | Win | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 21. | 1 June 2004 | La Paz, Bolivia | Bolivia | 1–2 | Loss | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 22. | 19 January 2005 | Los Angeles, United States | South Korea | 1–1 | Draw | Friendly |
| 23. | 27 March 2005 | Quito, Ecuador | Ecuador | 2–5 | Loss | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 24. | 30 March 2005 | Asunción, Paraguay | Chile | 2–1 | Win | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 25. | 27 May 2006 | Aarhus, Denmark | Denmark | 1–1 | Draw | Friendly |

#### Goals in Deportivo Toluca F.C.

| Resultado | Resultado | Resultado | Resultado | Lugar | Fecha | Competencia | Jornada |
| Morelia | 1 | 2 | Toluca | Morelia | 12 de marzo de 1995 | Liga MX | 29 |
| Toluca | 4 | 2 | Atlante | Toluca | 19 de marzo de 1995 | Liga MX | 30 |
| Toluca | 1 | 2 | Veracruz | Toluca | 23 de abril de 1995 | Liga MX | 36 |
| Toluca | 5 | 0 | Tecos | Toluca | 17 de agosto de 1996 | Liga MX | 2 |
| Toluca | 1 | 0 | Monterrey | Toluca | 14 de septiembre de 1996 | Liga MX | 6 |
| Veracruz | 1 | 1 | Toluca | Veracruz | 21 de septiembre de 1996 | Liga MX | 7 |
| Toluca | 1 | 0 | Toros Neza | Toluca | 19 de octubre de 1996 | Liga MX | 11 |
| Pumas | 0 | 3 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 25 de octubre de 1996 | Liga MX | 12 |
| Toluca | 4 | 0 | Cruz Azul | Toluca | 24 de noviembre de 1996 | Liga MX | 17 |
| Atlante | 3 | 2 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 2 de febrero de 1997 | Liga MX | 4 |
| Toluca | 4 | 0 | Atlas | Toluca | 8 de marzo de 1997 | Liga MX | 9 |
| Toluca | 4 | 0 | Veracruz | Toluca | 30 de agosto de 1997 | Liga MX | 8 |
| Atlas | 1 | 1 | Toluca | Guadalajara | 6 de septiembre de 1997 | Liga MX | 9 |
| América | 4 | 2 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 29 de septiembre de 1997 | Liga MX | 13 |
| Toluca | 4 | 0 | Santos | Toluca | 15 de octubre de 1997 | Liga MX | 15 |
| Toluca | 1 | 1 | Atlante | Toluca | 26 de octubre de 1997 | Liga MX | 17 |
| Toluca | 2 | 1 | Monterrey | Toluca | 3 de enero de 1998 | Liga MX | 1 |
| Tigres | 2 | 2 | Toluca | San Nicolás de los Garza | 10 de enero de 1998 | Liga MX | 2 |
| Toluca | 2 | 0 | Necaxa | Toluca | 17 de enero de 1998 | Liga MX | 3 |
| Cruz Azul | 3 | 1 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 24 de enero de 1998 | Liga MX | 4 |
| León | 1 | 5 | Toluca | León | 1 de febrero de 1998 | Liga MX | 6 |
| Toluca | 4 | 1 | Atlas | Toluca | 21 de febrero de 1998 | Liga MX | 9 |
| Puebla | 3 | 1 | Toluca | Puebla | 1 de marzo de 1998 | Liga MX | 10 |
| Toluca | 2 | 1 | Tecos | Toluca | 7 de marzo de 1998 | Liga MX | 11 |
| Toluca | 1 | 3 | América | Toluca | 15 de marzo de 1998 | Liga MX | 13 |
| Toluca | 4 | 1 | Toros Neza | Toluca | 21 de marzo de 1998 | Liga MX | 14 |
| Santos | 1 | 3 | Toluca | Torreón | 25 de marzo de 1998 | Liga MX | 15 |
| Toluca | 2 | 1 | Pumas | Toluca | 29 de marzo de 1998 | Liga MX | 16 |
| Atlante | 0 | 1 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 15 de abril de 1998 | Liga MX | 4tos. de final, ida |
| Toluca | 5 | 1 | Atlante | Toluca | 18 de abril de 1998 | Liga MX | 4tos. de final, vuelta |
| Toluca | 5 | 2 | Necaxa | Toluca | 10 de mayo de 1998 | Liga MX | Final, vuelta |
| Necaxa | 1 | 4 | Toluca | Querétaro | 23 de agosto de 1998 | Liga MX | 4 |
| Guadalajara | 0 | 4 | Toluca | Guadalajara | 6 de septiembre de 1998 | Liga MX | 6 |
| Pumas | 1 | 1 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 13 de septiembre de 1998 | Liga MX | 7 |
| Toluca | 2 | 1 | Toros Neza | Toluca | 3 de octubre de 1998 | Liga MX | 10 |
| Monterrey | 0 | 3 | Toluca | Monterrey | 10 de octubre de 1998 | Liga MX | 11 |
| Toluca | 3 | 0 | Cruz Azul | Toluca | 17 de octubre de 1998 | Liga MX | 12 |
| Toluca | 3 | 1 | Atlas | Toluca | 31 de octubre de 1998 | Liga MX | 14 |
| Toluca | 5 | 0 | León | Toluca | 14 de noviembre de 1998 | Liga MX | 16 |
| Tecos | 1 | 1 | Toluca | Zapopan | 22 de noviembre de 1998 | Liga MX | 17 |
| Toluca | 3 | 2 | Santos | Toluca | 23 de enero de 1999 | Liga MX | 2 |
| Tigres | 4 | 4 | Toluca | San Nicolás de los Garza | 27 de enero de 1999 | Liga MX | 3 |
| Toluca | 3 | 1 | Necaxa | Toluca | 30 de enero de 1999 | Liga MX | 4 |
| Toluca | 3 | 0 | América | Toluca | 17 de marzo de 1999 | Liga MX | 9 |
| Toros Neza | 1 | 6 | Toluca | Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl | 21 de marzo de 1999 | Liga MX | 10 |
| Toluca | 4 | 0 | Monterrey | Toluca | 28 de marzo de 1999 | Liga MX | 11 |
| Atlas | 3 | 3 | Toluca | Guadalajara | 17 de abril de 1999 | Liga MX | 14 |
| Toluca | 5 | 2 | Celaya | Toluca | 24 de abril de 1999 | Liga MX | 15 |
| Toluca | 3 | 2 | Tecos | Toluca | 9 de mayo de 1999 | Liga MX | 17 |
| Necaxa | 1 | 3 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 19 de mayo de 1999 | Liga MX | 4tos. de final, ida |
| Toluca | 1 | 2 | Necaxa | Toluca | 22 de mayo de 1999 | Liga MX | 4tos. de final, vuelta |
| Santos | 1 | 1 | Toluca | Torreón | 26 de mayo de 1999 | Liga MX | Semifinales, ida |
| Atlas | 3 | 3 | Toluca | Guadalajara | 3 de junio de 1999 | Liga MX | Final, ida |
| Toluca | 2 | 2 | Atlas | Toluca | 6 de junio de 1999 | Liga MX | Final, vuelta |
| Toluca | 5 | 4 | Atlas | Toluca | 6 de junio de 1999 | Liga MX | Definición por penales |
| Cruz Azul | 1 | 1 | Toluca | Los Ángeles | 8 de agosto de 1999 | Pre-Pre Libertadores | 1 |
| Tecos | 1 | 2 | Toluca | Guadalajara | 14 de agosto de 1999 | Liga MX | 1 |
| Guadalajara | 1 | 2 | Toluca | Dallas | 18 de agosto de 1999 | Pre-Pre Libertadores | 3 |
| Toluca | 2 | 0 | Pumas | Toluca | 4 de septiembre de 1999 | Liga MX | 4 |
| Toluca | 2 | 1 | Tigres | Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl | 18 de septiembre de 1999 | Liga MX | 6 |
| Toluca | 6 | 1 | Toros Neza | Toluca | 25 de septiembre de 1999 | Liga MX | 8 |
| Toluca | 5 | 2 | Celaya | Toluca | 9 de octubre de 1999 | Liga MX | 10 |
| León | 2 | 5 | Toluca | León | 17 de octubre de 1999 | Liga MX | 11 |
| Toluca | 1 | 0 | Guadalajara | Toluca | 23 de octubre de 1999 | Liga MX | 12 |
| Cruz Azul | 2 | 2 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 13 de noviembre de 1999 | Liga MX | 16 |
| Pumas | 3 | 6 | Toluca | Querétaro | 6 de febrero del 2000 | Liga MX | 4 |
| Toluca | 5 | 0 | Puebla | Toluca | 12 de febrero del 2000 | Liga MX | 5 |
| Tigres | 1 | 2 | Toluca | San Nicolás de los Garza | 22 de marzo del 2000 (reprogramado) | Liga MX | 6 |
| Toluca | 2 | 4 | América | Toluca | 26 de febrero del 2000 | Liga MX | 7 |
| Toluca | 2 | 1 | Atlas | Toluca | 11 de marzo del 2000 | Liga MX | 9 |
| Celaya | 2 | 3 | Toluca | Celaya | 18 de marzo del 2000 | Liga MX | 10 |
| Toluca | 2 | 0 | Atlante | Toluca | 8 de abril del 2000 | Liga MX | 13 |
| Toluca | 3 | 1 | Necaxa | Toluca | 15 de abril del 2000 | Liga MX | 14 |
| Pachuca | 2 | 4 | Toluca | Pachuca | 7 de mayo del 2000 | Liga MX | 17 |
| Toluca | 7 | 0 | Puebla | Toluca | 20 de mayo del 2000 | Liga MX | 4tos. de final, vuelta |
| Guadalajara | 1 | 4 | Toluca | Guadalajara | 24 de mayo del 2000 | Liga MX | Semifinales, ida |
| Toluca | 2 | 2 | Guadalajara | Toluca | 27 de mayo del 2000 | Liga MX | Semifinales, vuelta |
| Toluca | 5 | 1 | Santos | Toluca | 3 de junio del 2000 | Liga MX | Final, vuelta |
| Toluca | 1 | 2 | Tigres | Toluca | 19 de agosto del 2000 | Liga MX | 4 |
| Pumas | 1 | 2 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 26 de agosto del 2000 | Liga MX | 5 |
| Millonarios | 5 | 5 | Toluca | Bogotá | 10 de octubre del 2000 | Copa Merconorte | 6 |
| Toluca | 4 | 3 | Atlas | Toluca | 14 de octubre del 2000 | Liga MX | 11 |
| América | 0 | 2 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 29 de noviembre del 2000 | Liga MX | 4tos. de final, ida |
| Toluca | 2 | 4 | América | Toluca | 2 de diciembre del 2000 | Liga MX | 4tos. de final, vuelta |
| Atlas | 3 | 3 | Toluca | Guadalajara | 6 de diciembre del 2000 | Liga MX | Semifinales, ida |
| Toluca | 3 | 1 | Atlas | Toluca | 9 de diciembre del 2000 | Liga MX | Semifinales, vuelta |
| Morelia | 3 | 1 | Toluca | Morelia | 13 de diciembre del 2000 | Liga MX | Final, ida |
| Toluca | 2 | 0 | Morelia | Toluca | 16 de diciembre del 2000 | Liga MX | Final, vuelta |
| Toluca | 3 | 5 | Pachuca | Toluca | 6 de enero del 2001 | Liga MX | 1 |
| Toluca | 2 | 2 | Pumas | Toluca | 3 de febrero del 2001 | Liga MX | 5 |
| Toluca | 1 | 3 | Tecos | Toluca | 14 de febrero del 2001 | Liga MX | 7 |
| Santos | 2 | 2 | Toluca | Torreón | 4 de marzo del 2001 | Liga MX | 10 |
| Atlas | 4 | 4 | Toluca | Guadalajara | 10 de marzo del 2001 | Liga MX | 11 |
| Toluca | 1 | 2 | Necaxa | Toluca | 17 de marzo del 2001 | Liga MX | 12 |
| Toluca | 4 | 2 | Irapuato | Toluca | 31 de marzo del 2001 | Liga MX | 14 |
| Toluca | 3 | 1 | León | Toluca | 21 de julio del 2001 | Liga MX | 1 |
| Necaxa | 2 | 2 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 28 de julio del 2001 | Liga MX | 2 |
| Toluca | 3 | 1 | Atlas | Dallas | 1 de agosto del 2001 | Pre-Pre Libertadores | 2 |
| Toluca | 2 | 2 | Cruz Azul | California | 29 de agosto del 2001 | Pre-Pre Libertadores | 4 |
| Atlante | 2 | 3 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 15 de septiembre del 2001 | Liga MX | 9 |
| Tigres | 1 | 1 | Toluca | San Nicolás de los Garza | 13 de octubre del 2001 | Liga MX | 13 |
| Atlas | 0 | 3 | Toluca | Guadalajara | 27 de octubre del 2001 | Liga MX | 15 |
| Pachuca | 1 | 1 | Toluca | Pachuca | 5 de diciembre del 2001 | Liga MX | Semifinales, ida |
| Toluca | 2 | 4 | Pachuca | Toluca | 8 de diciembre del 2001 | Liga MX | Semifinales, vuelta |
| Toluca | 5 | 1 | Puebla | Toluca | 19 de enero del 2002 | Liga MX | 3 |
| Guadalajara | 0 | 3 | Toluca | Guadalajara | 10 de febrero del 2002 | Liga MX | 6 |
| Toluca | 2 | 1 | América | Toluca | 9 de marzo del 2002 | Liga MX | 11 |
| Pachuca | 1 | 2 | Toluca | Pachuca | 17 de marzo del 2002 | Liga MX | 12 |
| Toluca | 3 | 1 | Tigres | Toluca | 23 de marzo del 2002 | Liga MX | 13 |
| Toluca | 5 | 1 | Atlas | Toluca | 6 de abril del 2002 | Liga MX | 15 |
| Toluca | 3 | 1 | La Piedad | Toluca | 13 de abril del 2002 | Liga MX | 17 |
| Toluca | 3 | 0 | Necaxa | Toluca | 3 de agosto del 2002 | Liga MX | 1 |
| Atlante | 2 | 3 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 11 de agosto del 2002 | Liga MX | 2 |
| Toluca | 4 | 1 | Morelia | Toluca | 17 de agosto del 2002 | Liga MX | 3 |
| Pumas | 1 | 4 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 25 de agosto del 2002 | Liga MX | 4 |
| Celaya | 2 | 2 | Toluca | Celaya | 11 de septiembre del 2002 | Liga MX | 7 |
| Querétaro | 0 | 2 | Toluca | Querétaro | 22 de septiembre del 2002 | Liga MX | 9 |
| Toluca | 4 | 1 | Puebla | Toluca | 28 de septiembre del 2002 | Liga MX | 10 |
| América | 1 | 2 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 6 de octubre del 2002 | Liga MX | 11 |
| Toluca | 5 | 1 | Chiapas | Toluca | 12 de octubre del 2002 | Liga MX | 12 |
| Cruz Azul | 1 | 1 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 16 de octubre del 2002 | Liga MX | 13 |
| Toluca | 6 | 0 | Tecos | Toluca | 19 de octubre del 2002 | Liga MX | 14 |
| Tigres | 2 | 2 | Toluca | San Nicolás de los Garza | 27 de octubre del 2002 | Liga MX | 15 |
| Toluca | 5 | 1 | Pachuca | Toluca | 2 de noviembre del 2002 | Liga MX | 16 |
| Guadalajara | 3 | 3 | Toluca | Guadalajara | 10 de noviembre del 2002 | Liga MX | 17 |
| Toluca | 3 | 1 | San Luis | Toluca | 16 de noviembre del 2002 | Liga MX | 18 |
| Santos | 5 | 2 | Toluca | Torreón | 24 de noviembre del 2002 | Liga MX | 19 |
| Guadalajara | 2 | 1 | Toluca | Guadalajara | 4 de diciembre del 2002 | Liga MX | 4tos. de final, ida |
| Toluca | 3 | 0 | Guadalajara | Toluca | 7 de diciembre del 2002 | Liga MX | 4tos. de final, vuelta |
| Santos | 3 | 5 | Toluca | Torreón | 11 de diciembre del 2002 | Liga MX | Semifinal, ida |
| Toluca | 2 | 1 | Santos | Toluca | 14 de diciembre del 2002 | Liga MX | Semifinal, vuelta |
| Toluca | 4 | 1 | Morelia | Toluca | 21 de diciembre del 2002 | Liga MX | Final, vuelta |
| Toluca | 2 | 3 | Atlante | Toluca | 18 de enero del 2003 | Liga MX | 2 |
| Morelia | 1 | 1 | Toluca | Morelia | 25 de enero del 2003 | Liga MX | 3 |
| Toluca | 5 | 1 | Pumas | Toluca | 1 de febrero del 2003 | Liga MX | 4 |
| Toluca | 3 | 1 | Monterrey | Toluca | 1 de febrero del 2003 | Liga MX | 6 |
| Toluca | 4 | 1 | Colibríes | Toluca | 22 de febrero del 2003 | Liga MX | 7 |
| Toluca | 4 | 0 | Querétaro | Toluca | 8 de marzo del 2003 | Liga MX | 9 |
| Toluca | 3 | 0 | América | Toluca | 22 de marzo del 2003 | Liga MX | 11 |
| Toluca | 1 | 3 | Cruz Azul | Toluca | 6 de abril del 2003 | Liga MX | 13 |
| Municipal | 1 | 2 | Toluca | Guatemala | 9 de abril del 2003 | Copa de Campeones de la CONCACAF | 4tos. de final, ida |
| Toluca | 3 | 1 | Tigres | Toluca | 19 de abril del 2003 | Liga MX | 13 |
| Pachuca | 0 | 1 | Toluca | Pachuca | 27 de abril del 2003 | Liga MX | 16 |
| San Luis | 2 | 3 | Toluca | San Luis | 10 de mayo del 2003 | Liga MX | 18 |
| Toluca | 4 | 3 | Santos | Toluca | 17 de mayo del 2003 | Liga MX | 19 |
| Tigres | 2 | 2 | Toluca | San Nicolás de los Garza | 31 de mayo del 2003 | Liga MX | 4tos. de final, vuelta |
| Toluca | 3 | 4 | Atlante | Toluca | 2 de agosto del 2003 | Liga MX | 1 |
| Toluca | 3 | 4 | Pachuca | Toluca | 16 de agosto del 2003 | Liga MX | 3 |
| Toluca | 2 | 1 | Guadalajara | Toluca | 21 de septiembre del 2003 | Liga MX | 8 |
| Pumas | 3 | 2 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 5 de octubre del 2003 | Liga MX | 11 |
| Veracruz | 2 | 3 | Toluca | Veracruz | 18 de octubre del 2003 | Liga MX | 13 |
| Toluca | 2 | 1 | Tecos | Toluca | 22 de octubre del 2003 | Liga MX | 14 |
| Toluca | 6 | 0 | América | Toluca | 1 de noviembre de 2003 | Liga MX | 16 |
| Toluca | 5 | 0 | San Luis | Toluca | 11 de noviembre del 2003 | Liga MX | 18 |
| Santos | 3 | 2 | Toluca | Torreón | 22 de noviembre del 2003 | Liga MX | 19 |
| Toluca | 4 | 0 | Guadalajara | Toluca | 26 de noviembre del 2003 | Liga MX | Repechaje, ida |
| Guadalajara | 4 | 2 | Toluca | Guadalajara | 29 de noviembre del 2003 | Liga MX | Repechaje, vuelta |
| Toluca | 2 | 2 | Pumas | Toluca | 3 de diciembre del 2003 | Liga MX | 4tos. de final, ida |
| Toluca | 1 | 0 | Tigres | Toluca | 10 de diciembre del 2003 | Liga MX | Semifinales, ida |
| Toluca | 3 | 2 | Tigres | Toluca | 21 de febrero del 2004 | Liga MX | 6 |
| Toluca | 2 | 2 | Necaxa | Toluca | 7 de marzo del 2004 | Liga MX | 9 |
| Toluca | 2 | 2 | Veracruz | Toluca | 4 de abril del 2004 | Liga MX | 13 |
| Tecos | 1 | 2 | Toluca | Zapopan | 11 de abril del 2004 | Liga MX | 14 |
| América | 2 | 1 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 25 de abril del 2004 | Liga MX | 16 |
| Toluca | 2 | 2 | Atlas | Toluca | 1 de mayo del 2004 | Liga MX | 17 |
| Toluca | 4 | 1 | Santos | Toluca | 15 de mayo del 2004 | Liga MX | 19 |
| Atlante | 2 | 1 | Toluca | Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl | 15 de septiembre del 2004 | Liga MX | 5 |
| Toluca | 3 | 2 | Pachuca | Toluca | 18 de septiembre del 2004 | Liga MX | 6 |
| Toluca | 1 | 1 | Tecos | Toluca | 25 de septiembre del 2004 | Liga MX | 7 |
| Toluca | 4 | 1 | Tigres | Toluca | 2 de octubre del 2004 | Liga MX | 9 |
| Cruz Azul | 1 | 3 | Toluca | Ciudad de México | 16 de octubre del 2004 | Liga MX | 10 |
| Sinaloa | 1 | 3 | Toluca | Culiacán | 23 de octubre del 2004 | Liga MX | 12 |
| Chiapas | 1 | 3 | Toluca | Tuxtla Gutiérrez | 13 de noviembre del 2004 | Liga MX | 16 |
| Toluca | 4 | 0 | Monterrey | Toluca | 21 de noviembre del 2004 | Liga MX | 17 |
| Atlante | 4 | 2 | Toluca | Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl | 24 de noviembre del 2004 | Liga MX | 4tos. de final, ida |
| Toluca | 3 | 4 | Atlante | Toluca | 27 de noviembre del 2004 | Liga MX | 4tos. de final, vuelta |
| Toluca | 2 | 1 | América | California | 2 de enero del 2005 | Interliga | 1 |
| Toluca | 2 | 1 | Guadalajara | Toluca | 29 de enero del 2005 | Liga MX | 3 |
| Pumas | 1 | 2 | Deportivo Toluca | Ciudad de México | 6 de febrero del 2005 | Liga MX | 4 |
| Toluca | 1 | 0 | Atlante | Toluca | 12 de febrero del 2005 | Liga MX | 5 |
| Pachuca | 1 | 1 | Toluca | Pachuca | 20 de febrero del 2005 | Liga MX | 6 |
| Toluca | 2 | 0 | Santos | Toluca | 21 de abril del 2005 | Liga MX | 14 |

## Goals per rival in Liga MX

| Rival | Nº goles | Torneos |
| Atlas | 22 | 21 Liga, 1 Pre-Pre Libertadores |
| Santos | 22 | Liga |
| América | 18 | 16 Liga, 2 InterLiga |
| Atlante | 18 | Liga |
| Tigres | 18 | Liga |
| Guadalajara | 17 | 16 Liga, 1 Pre-Pre Libertadores |
| Necaxa | 15 | Liga |
| Pumas UNAM | 15 | Liga |
| Pachuca | 15 | Liga |
| Puebla | 13 | Liga |
| Tecos UAG | 13 | Liga |
| Cruz Azul | 10 | 8 Liga, 2 Pre-Pre Libertadores |
| Monterrey | 10 | Liga |
| Morelia | 7 | Liga |
| Neza | 7 | Liga |
| Veracruz | 7 | Liga |
| León | 6 | Liga |
| Celaya | 5 | Liga |
| San Luis | 5 | Liga |
| Chiapas | 4 | Liga |
| Querétaro | 3 | Liga |
| Irapuato | 2 | Liga |
| Colibríes | 1 | Liga |
| Dorados | 1 | Liga |
| La Piedad | 1 | Liga |

## Coaching career
### Club Olimpia

In November 2006, Club Olimpia's coach Oscar Paulin was fired due to poor performances by the team and Cardozo was named as the interim coach of the Paraguayan club, this being his first experience as a coach. He coached for the remainder of the year and for the 2007 Apertura tournament.

### Indios

In October 2009 he was hired to be an assistant coach for the team of Indios de Juarez for the Apertura 2009.

#### Club Olimpia (Return)

Cardozo returned to Olimpia Asunción in November 2009 following coach Carlos Kiese's resignation.

### Querétaro FC

In 2011, he was hired as coach Querétaro FC where he led the team into their first liguilla and the team's all team highest place (8th) and points (26) in Primera División regular season. He managed to eliminate Guadalajara in the Quarter Finals and advance to a surprising semi-final where they lost to champions Tigres UANL 1–0. The following season however, Querétaro began the season with poor results, which once again emerged relegation problems against rivals Atlas and Estudiantes Tecos (relegated) which led to Cardozo's resignation.

#### Club Olimpia (Return)

After spending the 2011 and 2012 seasons at Querétaro, he was appointed to manage Olimpia once again on 25 September 2012 after the departure of Gregorio Perez.

### Toluca

On 7 May 2013, Cardozo was announced as the new manager for Club Deportivo Toluca of Mexico where he played for 10 years (1995–2005). On 1 May 2016, during the 2016 Clausura, Cardozo confirmed that he would no longer coach Toluca beyond the end of the season despite still having a year left on his contract. He stated that since he did not meet his objective of reaching the Liga MX playoffs with the club, he had nothing more to do with the club, citing that Toluca was a big club with directors and fans that expected a lot more of the team than he could continue to offer. He stated that when a team can no longer accomplish what is asked of it, that the first change that must come is the manager, no questions about it.

### Chiapas

Cardozo had a turbulent season at Chiapas during the Apertura 2016, being sacked in September and then brought back due to the petition of the chiapas players. He was ultimately sacked one week later after two more defeats.

### Puebla

Cardozo took over Club Puebla early in the Clausura 2017 season.

### Guadalajara

On 12 June 2018, Cardozo was appointed manager of Liga MX club Guadalajara.

## Honours

Olimpia
* Paraguayan League: 1993
Toluca
* Mexican Primera División: Verano 1998, Verano 1999, Verano 2000, Apertura 2002
* CONCACAF Champions' Cup: 2003
Cruz Azul
* Copa Libertadores runner-up: 2001
Paraguay
* CONMEBOL Men Pre-Olympic Tournament: 1992
* Summer Olympics silver medal: 2004
Individual
* Mexican Primera División Golden Ball: Apertura 2002
* Mexican Primera División Golden Boot: Verano 1998, Verano 1999, Apertura 2002, Clausura 2003
* FIFA World Topscorer of the Year: 2003 (58 goals)
* Paraguayan Footballer of the Year: 2000, 2002, 2003
* South American Footballer of the Year: 2002
* South American Team of the Year: 2002, 2003, 2004
* All-time scorer for Deportivo Toluca (249 goals)