Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan is perhaps best known for his prolific international career. He may not have won the World Cup, but at the 2010 tournament, he won the Golden Ball for best player, Goal of the Tournament, and was joint highest-scorer. At club level, he was twice winner of the European Golden Boot, an award given to the continent’s highest domestic goalscorer. He spent three seasons with Manchester United, helping them to win the Premier League and FA Cup, and tasted European glory with Atletico Madrid, winning the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup with them. In 2020, he became manager of his boyhood club, Penarol.

Forlan was born in Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital, in 1979. Despite being the son of Uruguayan international Pablo Forlan, Forlan Jr almost became a tennis player before deciding on football. He signed with Penarol as a schoolboy, but it was with Independiente — one of Argentina’s “Big Five” clubs — that he turned professional. His goalscoring flair quickly caught the attention of other international clubs, and in 2002, he moved to Manchester United, one of the world’s biggest footballing institutions. After three years, he moved again, this time to Spain and Villareal, for whom he scored 59 times in nearly 130 appearances. Moving to rival club Atletico Madrid, he paired up with Argentinian legend Sergio Aguero to form an intimidating strike partnership. In the Europa League final, he scored twice and was awarded Man of the Match.

Forlan was the first Uruguay player to win 100 caps for his country. Before Luis Suarez, he was also their all-time top goalscorer. As he embarks on a managerial career, he will be looking to match his success as a player.