The 2010 World Cup Golden Ball winner who proved Fergie wrong — one of football's greatest second acts.
Diego Forlán Corazo was born in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1979 — his father Pablo Forlán and grandfather Juan Carlos Corazzo both played for Uruguay. 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.
World Cup Golden Ball (2010)
Career Honours
- World Cup Golden Ball (2010)
- Europa League (2010)
- La Liga 2x
- Copa América (2011)
- Ballon d'Or runner-up (2002)