George Pakos was a member of the first Canadian team ever to play in soccer's World Cup. He was also instrumental in getting Team Canada to that historic breakthrough, scoring half of their goals. His two goals in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying led the national side into the 1986 World Cup. They are two of the most important goals in the history of Canadian soccer. What is most remarkable is that George is one of the few fully amateur players ever to play in the World Cup. He earned most of his 18 Team Canada caps -scoring 10 goals internationally - while on holiday time or unpaid leaves of absence from work. At age 33 George provided one of the greatest Cinderella stories in the history of Canadian sports. Originally cut after the first round of qualifying for the 1986 World Cup, George was called back by Team Canada. He responded in a big way by scoring Canada's lone goal in a key final round road victory that stunned 50,000 Honduran fans. George again scored at St. Johns when Canada beat Honduras 2-1, to advance to soccer's "Big Dance" for the first time ever. George Pakos was named Victoria Male Athlete of the Year for 1986.