Diego Forlan

Diego Martín Forlán Corazo (born 19 May 1979) is a Uruguayan professional football manager and former player who played as a striker.

Regarded as one of the best forwards of his generation, Forlán is a two-time winner of both the Pichichi Trophy and the European Golden Shoe at club level.

On 14 September 1991, Forlán's sister Alejandra was seriously injured and eventually left handicapped by a car accident that also killed her boyfriend.

The cost of the medical bills plunged his family into financial crisis, though this was later averted due to the fundraising efforts of Diego Maradona.

Until this point Forlán was also dedicated to tennis, but having been inspired by Maradona's generosity, began to focus more on football in the hope that he might contribute to paying for his sister's treatment himself.

Forlán was a boyhood fan of Peñarol and played youth football for both Peñarol and Danubio In 1995, a 16 year old Forlán moved to France, where he spent four months on trial at Nancy, but was ultimately not offered a contract by manager László Bölöni.

Forlán received an offer to join Argentine side Independiente through the help of one of his father's contacts, José Omar Pastoriza.

He soon accepted, rejecting a simultaneous offer from Boca Juniors.

After two more successful seasons with Villarreal, Forlán joined Atlético Madrid, where he once again became the league's top scorer, and became the first player to win the Pichichi Trophy twice since Ronaldo in 1996–97 and 2003–04.

Arriving in Argentina on 28 January 1998, Forlán made his way up the Independiente reserve teams and thanks to strong performances, started training with the first team.

Injuries to several forward players who were ahead of him in the pecking order created an opportunity for the young Uruguayan, who made his professional debut on 26 October 1998 in a match against Argentinos Juniors.

Forlán scored 37 goals in 80 league games.

After rising through their youth team and after a successful four-year spell, he sealed a move to England with Manchester United in 2002.

His form for United was not as successful as at Independiente, although he won the Premier League in 2002–03 and the FA Cup in 2003–04.

Forlán also had a successful international career, scoring 36 times for his country between his debut in 2002 and his retirement in 2015, including six goals at FIFA World Cups.

His goalscoring attracted the attention of European sides, and in January 2002, Independiente agreed a £6.9 million deal with Middlesbrough of the Premier League; the transfer fee would be paid over 18 installments.

Forlán travelled to England expecting to negotiate with Middlesbrough, but at the last minute Manchester United gazumped the Teesside club, offering Independiente the same fee in a single payment, as well as a more lucrative salary for Forlán.

On arriving in England, he negotiated with United officials for four hours, then informed the press of his decision.

"Manchester United is a big club, so I've decided to go there," he explained.

"The thing is, they offered more money than Middlesbrough."

He signed for United soon after.

Forlán was signed for Manchester United by Sir Alex Ferguson for £6.9 million on 22 January 2002.

In the summer of 2004, Forlán moved to Spanish side Villarreal.

In his first season in Spanish football, he won the Pichichi Trophy.

With the Uruguay national team, he had notable individual success at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, finishing as joint top scorer with five goals, winning the goal of the tournament, and winning the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.

Forlán began his career in his native Uruguay as a youth player with Peñarol and Danubio, before joining Argentine club Independiente.

Forlán scored in Atlético's 2010 Europa League final victory against Fulham.

In 2011, he joined Inter Milan of Italy before moving to Internacional in 2012.

On 12 July 2011, at the 2011 Copa América in Argentina, which Uruguay won, Forlán earned his 79th international cap in a match against Mexico, breaking the record held since 1986 by goalkeeper Rodolfo Rodríguez.

Forlán was Uruguay's all-time leading top scorer from 2011 until Luis Suárez overtook him two years later.

Forlán was born and brought up in the Montevideo barrio of Carrasco.

His family — which included three brothers, a sister, four cousins, his maternal grandmother and her sister — resided in an apartment building on Potosi street, a short distance from the casino and the rambla.

He is the son of former player and Uruguayan international Pablo Forlán.

Forlán attended multiple schools in the private and state sector.

He started at Liceo Francés Jules Supervielle in Buceo, but later switched to Erwy School because it was closer to his home.

This was followed by Scuola Italiana di Montevideo and then Liceo 15 in Carrasco.

He learned English at school from a young age.

As a child, Forlán played tennis at Carrasco Lawn Tennis Club in addition to football, which often took place on the streets.

On 20 June 2013, in a match against Nigeria at the 2013 Confederations Cup, Forlán became the first Uruguayan to win 100 caps.

After spells in Japan with Cerezo Osaka, back in Uruguay with his boyhood club Peñarol, in India with Mumbai City and in Hong Kong with Kitchee, Forlán retired from professional football in August 2019.