Diego Forlán
Diego Forlán Corazo was born on the 19th of May 1979 in the Carrasco neighborhood of Montevideo, Uruguay. His family history is deeply rooted in professional football. His father Pablo played for Peñarol and São Paulo while representing Uruguay in the 1966 and 1974 FIFA World Cups. His maternal grandfather Juan Carlos Corazzo had a notable tenure with Independiente in Argentina. This lineage placed him within a three-generation footballing dynasty from his birth.
The trajectory of his life shifted dramatically on the 14th of September 1991 when a car accident seriously injured his sister Alejandra. The crash also killed her boyfriend and left Alejandra handicapped. Medical bills plunged the family into financial crisis until Diego Maradona organized fundraising efforts to help them. Before this event, young Diego played tennis at the Carrasco Lawn Tennis Club alongside street football. He eventually focused entirely on football to contribute financially toward his sister's treatment costs.
Forlán moved to England in January 2002 after a successful four-year spell with Argentine club Independiente where he scored 37 goals in 80 league games. Manchester United paid £6.9 million for his transfer fee which was offered as a single payment compared to Middlesbrough's offer of installments. Sir Alex Ferguson signed him on the 22nd of January 2002. He made his debut as a substitute against Bolton Wanderers on the 29th of January 2002 but did not score during that season.
His first goal came on the 18th of September 2002 as an 89th-minute penalty kick against Maccabi Haifa. He scored six goals total in the 2002, 03 season helping Manchester United win the Premier League title. Forlán then moved to Spanish side Villarreal on the 21st of August 2004. In his first season there he won the Pichichi Trophy and European Golden Shoe by scoring 25 goals. He shared the 2005 European Golden Boot with Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.
He joined Atlético Madrid on the 30th of June 2007 for around €21 million. During the 2008, 09 season he scored 32 goals in 33 matches winning both the Pichichi Trophy and European Golden Shoe again. This made him the first player to win the Pichichi Trophy twice since Ronaldo between 1996, 97 and 2003, 04.
Forlán led Uruguay to the semi-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He scored five goals and provided one assist throughout the tournament. His performance earned him the Golden Ball award as the best player of the competition. He was also selected for the team of the tournament and finished as joint-top scorer alongside other players.
On the 16th of June 2010 he opened the scoring against host nation South Africa with a long-range effort followed by a penalty kick goal. The match ended 3, 0 in favor of Uruguay. On the 2nd of July 2010 he scored a free-kick against Ghana to equalize in the quarter-final before Uruguay won the subsequent penalty shootout. On the 6th of July 2010 he scored another long-range goal against the Netherlands to equalize in the semi-final though they eventually lost 3, 2.
His final goal came on the 10th of July 2010 when he netted a well-executed volley from the edge of the area during the third-place play-off against Germany. This specific goal was selected by FIFA as the Goal of the Tournament. Forlán became the first player since Lothar Matthäus in 1990 to score three goals from outside the penalty area in a single tournament.
Forlán's playing career spanned multiple continents after his European peak. He joined Italian club Inter Milan on the 29th of August 2011 but was released on the 5th of July 2012 after scoring only twice in 22 appearances. He then signed a three-year deal with Brazilian club Internacional on the 6th of July 2012 helping them win the 2013 Campeonato Gaúcho while scoring nine goals.
In January 2014 he moved to Japan to sign an 18-month deal with Cerezo Osaka. He scored his first hat-trick there on the 29th of April 2015 against Kyoto Sanga. On the 10th of July 2015 he returned to Uruguay to sign with his boyhood club Peñarol where he scored eight goals in 31 appearances before leaving in June 2016.
His journey continued globally when he signed a three-month deal with Indian Super League club Mumbai City in August 2016. He scored a hat-trick against Kerala Blasters on the 19th of November 2016. In January 2018 he joined Hong Kong Premier League club Kitchee winning the league that season. He officially announced his retirement from professional football on the 7th of August 2019.
Forlán began his coaching career shortly after retiring as a player. He was appointed manager of Peñarol on the 20th of December 2019 but was sacked on the 1st of September 2020 after winning just four of eleven games. He then managed Atenas of the Uruguayan Segunda División starting the 17th of March 2021 until being released on the 16th of September 2021 following a loss to Rampla Juniors.
He has also collaborated with FIFA serving as an ambassador for the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and since 2022 as an international ambassador for the FIFA Museum. His athletic pursuits expanded significantly into tennis after retirement. Since July 2023 he competed on the ITF Masters tour ranking in the 35+, 40+, and 45+ age categories.
At age 45 he received a wildcard for the main doubles draw of the 2024 Uruguay Open in Montevideo partnering Federico Coria. The pair lost in the first round to seeds from Bolivia. In October 2025 the 46-year-old suffered three broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung during a collision in an over-40s Liga Universitaria veterans' game requiring hospital drainage.
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Common questions
When was Diego Forlán born and where did he grow up?
Diego Forlán Corazo was born on the 19th of May 1979 in the Carrasco neighborhood of Montevideo, Uruguay. His family history is deeply rooted in professional football with his father Pablo playing for Peñarol and São Paulo while representing Uruguay in the 1966 and 1974 FIFA World Cups.
What caused Diego Forlán to switch from tennis to professional football?
A car accident on the 14th of September 1991 seriously injured his sister Alejandra and plunged the family into financial crisis. Young Diego focused entirely on football to contribute financially toward his sister's treatment costs after medical bills became unmanageable.
How many goals did Diego Forlán score during the 2008, 09 season at Atlético Madrid?
During the 2008, 09 season Diego Forlán scored 32 goals in 33 matches winning both the Pichichi Trophy and European Golden Shoe again. This achievement made him the first player to win the Pichichi Trophy twice since Ronaldo between 1996, 97 and 2003, 04.
Which award did Diego Forlán receive for his performance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup?
Diego Forlán earned the Golden Ball award as the best player of the competition after leading Uruguay to the semi-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He scored five goals and provided one assist throughout the tournament while finishing as joint-top scorer alongside other players.
When did Diego Forlán officially announce his retirement from professional football?
Diego Forlán officially announced his retirement from professional football on the 7th of August 2019. His playing career spanned multiple continents including stints with Inter Milan, Internacional, Cerezo Osaka, Peñarol, Mumbai City, and Kitchee before this announcement.