Three Banderilleros in the Ring​

The banderilleros line-up (or matadors who place their own banderillas) is a type of bullfight in which all three matadors personally perform the second stage of the contest — the placing of the banderillas — a task that usually falls to their assistants.

This format reached its peak popularity and splendour during the 1980s and 1990s, a golden era driven by figures who revolutionised the tercio with their athleticism and daring. Early matadors associated with this format included Paquirri and Ángel Teruel, but the trio that truly made it famous was formed by Luis Francisco Esplá, Víctor Mendes and Vicente Ruiz “El Soro”.

Three bullfighters with very different styles, also in the way they placed the sticks. Esplá was highly expressive, skilfully using the bulls’ tendencies; the Portuguese Mendes stood out for his precision and purity in his approaches (known in bullfighting jargon as “leaning over the balcony”); while El Soro became renowned for his explosive ability and innovative pairs such as the moviola or the remolino.

Their rivalries and competition to place the most spectacular pairs of banderillas — whether al violín, head-on, or with skilful dodging — became the central attraction of major fairs. From festive arenas such as Alicante to more demanding venues like Salamanca or Albacete, these contests were included in season subscriptions. Even Las Ventas featured them within the prestigious San Isidro Fair programme.

It was a golden era for the second stage, as this trio — with a lower fee than the top stars — filled many arenas and helped sustain the financial viability of numerous fairs, often facing livestock considered less demanding than that presented to leading matadors.

Eventually, the “golden goose” was overused and the format declined, although other performers occasionally joined, such as the Venezuelan Morenito de Maracay, known for his spectacular dodging pairs, or the French matador Nimeño II, particularly when the event was staged in French arenas.