Luis Ernesto Tapia Pérez (21 October 1944 – 13 November 2024) was a Panamanian football forward, who is regarded as the best player ever in Panama.
Known as the "Central American Pele",[4] and "Cascarita", Tapia played primarily in El Salvador during the 1960s and 1970s, especially with the Alianza.
[5] He won the 1967 CONCACAF Champions' Cup with Alianza, scoring in the second leg and twice in the playoff against Jong Colombia, the latter in a 5-3 victory.
[6] On 19 March 1971, in the then Estadio Revolución, about 25,000 fans witnessed the match between Brazil's Santos and Primera División side Atlético Marte.
[7] Tapia was part of the Panama team that participated for the first time in a World Cup qualifier.