Diego Forlán

Diego Forlán is a former Uruguayan soccer player and coach recognized as one of the leading figures in the recent history of his country's national team. His professional career was marked by his scoring ability, discipline, preparation, and performance in some of the most competitive leagues in world soccer, building an international career that spanned more than two decades.

He made his professional debut with Independiente in Argentina and later moved to Europe, where he played for Manchester United, Villarreal, Atlético Madrid, and Inter Milan, among other clubs. His scoring ability led him to win the European Golden Boot twice—an award given to the top scorer in the continent’s major leagues—as well as to win national and international titles.

He played 112 games for the Uruguayan national team and scored 36 goals. He participated in three World Cups, and at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, he was one of the key players on the team that reached the semifinals, winning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. A year later, he was part of the squad that won the 2011 Copa América, cementing one of the most remarkable periods in Uruguay’s recent history.

After retiring, he began his coaching career and managed various clubs. In August 2026, the Uruguayan Soccer Association appointed him head coach of both the U-20 national team and the senior national team. This new phase builds on a career that allows him to address leadership, discipline, talent development, team management, and performance, drawing on the experience he has gained as an international player and coach.