In 2018, FK Panevėžys, a Lithuanian second-division football club, announced the signing of French-Angolan forward Barkley Miguel Panzo, expecting to add a prolific striker to their squad.
The club highlighted his record of scoring 45 goals in 36 appearances for Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and representing the Angola national team.
These statistics, however, were later found to be inaccurate. Miguel Panzo had never played for QPR’s first team, nor had he made official appearances for Angola.
The inflated numbers had originated from his Wikipedia page, which the club had reportedly used as a reference.
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Following the revelation, FK Panevėžys removed the announcement and clarified that the previously reported statistics were incorrect. Miguel Panzo made at least one appearance for the club.
Before joining FK Panevėžys, Miguel Panzo had played for Syrianska FC in Sweden. After leaving Lithuania, his career included stints at Vittoriosa United in Malta, NK Krsko in Slovenia, and Mauerwerk in Austria.
Transfer records show he joined Vittoriosa in July 2019, moved to NK Krsko in January 2021 for €25,000, and later transferred to Mauerwerk. He retired following the 2021/22 season.
During his career after Panevėžys, Miguel Panzo had periods without a club, including in early 2020, but continued to participate in professional football across several countries. His Wikipedia page has since been updated to reflect verified information.
The signing drew attention in football circles due to the unusual circumstances. FK Panevėžys continued its participation in the 2018 Lithuanian second division following Miguel Panzo’s departure.
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