Cabañas was also a member of the Paraguay national football team from 2004 to 2010, scoring 10 goals in 44 appearances and participating at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and the 2007 Copa América. Cabañas was leading goal scorer of the 2007 and 2008 Copa Libertadores competitions. In 2007, he was awarded as both Paraguayan Footballer of the Year and South American Footballer of the Year. Cabañas had also been top-scorer in Chile and Mexico. He was known for his array of skills on the field such as excellent heading, accurate shooting with either foot, receptions in tight spaces, and a combination of technique, power and positional sense.