Uruguayan · Montevideo, Uruguay · Born 19 May 1979The 2010 World Cup Golden Ball winner who proved Fergie wrong — one of football's greatest second acts.
Diego Forlán Corazo was born in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1979 — his father Pablo Forlán and grandfather Juan Carlos Corazzo both played for Uruguay. Manchester United paid £7.5 million for him in 2002 but he scored only 17 goals in 98 appearances — Sir Alex Ferguson ultimately deciding he was not good enough. He joined Villarreal and was named among the top five in the Ballon d'Or in 2002. Atlético Madrid gave him the platform to be extraordinary — 74 goals in 99 appearances, two La Liga titles, the UEFA Cup and the Europa League in 2010. His performances in the 2010 World Cup — six goals, the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player — were the definitive rehabilitation of a player dismissed by one of England's great managers. He won the Copa América with Uruguay in 2011. His career is football's most celebrated recovery from a perceived failure — dismissed by Manchester United, he became the best player at a World Cup.
Winning the Golden Ball at the 2010 World Cup
How They Played
Clinical finisher with exceptional long-range shooting and free-kick ability
Lasting Impact
One of Uruguay's greatest modern strikers and a World Cup icon
Career Honours
- World Cup Golden Ball (2010)
- Europa League (2010)
- La Liga 2x
- Copa América (2011)
- Ballon d'Or runner-up (2002)
- Copa América 2011
- Europa League 2010
- Pichichi Trophy 2009
- UEFA Europa League Golden Boot 2010
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independiente | 1998–2002 | — | 83 | 20 | #7 |
| Villarreal | 2004–2007 | — | 106 | 25 | — |
| Atlético Madrid | 2007–2011 | — | 134 | 96 | — |
| Peñarol | 1997–2002 | Free | 76 | 37 | — |
| Manchester United | 2002–2004 | £6.9m | 98 | 17 | — |
| Inter Milan | 2011–2013 | €4m | 47 | 11 | — |
| Cerezo Osaka | 2014–2015 | — | 37 | 18 | — |
| Mumbai City FC | 2016–2018 | — | 21 | 5 | — |
 Uruguay | — | — | 112 | 36 | — |
Uruguayan Athletes