Juan Carlos Cárdenas (25 July 1945 – 30 March 2022) was an Argentine football player and coach.

Cárdenas was spotted in 1962 by Racing Club de Avellaneda playing as a teenager for Unión Santiago.

He spent one year on loan in the Argentine 2nd Division with Nueva Chicago before returning to Racing Club in 1964.

Cárdenas also held the record of the youngest player to score in a Copa Libertadores match for nearly 60 years, as he scored Racing's second in a 2–2 home draw against Nacional Montevideo on 26 February 1962 at the age of 16 years, 7 months and 2 days.

[3] After retiring as a player Cárdenas became the manager of several lower league teams in Argentina, including All Boys, Deportivo Armenio and General Lamadrid (being champion in this last one in 1977).