Diego Forlán

The 2010 World Cup Golden Ball winner who proved Fergie wrong — one of football's greatest second acts.

After 98 appearances and 17 goals at Manchester United — deemed insufficient by Sir Alex Ferguson — Diego Forlán moved to Spain, rebuilt his career with extraordinary success at Atlético Madrid, and was then voted the best player at the 2010 World Cup with six goals, the most celebrated rehabilitation in football's recent history. 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.

Clinical finisher with exceptional long-range shooting and free-kick ability

One of Uruguay's greatest modern strikers and a World Cup icon

• 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 Career

Club	Period	Fee	Apps	Goals
Independiente	1997–2002	—	80	37
Manchester United	2002–2004	£7.5m	63	10
Villarreal	2004–2007	—	106	54
Atlético Madrid	2007–2011	—	134	74
Inter Milan	2011–2012	—	18	2
Internacional	2012–2014	—	34	10
Cerezo Osaka	2014–2015	—	42	17
Peñarol	2015–2016	—	30	8
Mumbai City	2016–2016	—	11	5
Kitchee	2018–2018	—	7	5
Uruguay	—	—	112	36