Forlán started his career in his native Uruguay as a youth player withPeñarol andDanubio, before joining Argentine clubIndependiente in1997. After rising through their youth team and a successful four-year spell, he sealed a move to England withManchester United in2002. His form for Manchester United was not as successful as at Independiente, although he won thePremier League in2002–03 and theFA Cup in2003–04. In the summer of2004, Forlán moved to Spanish sideVillarreal. In hisfirst season with the club, he won thePichichi Trophy andEuropean Golden Shoe with 25 goals. After two more successful seasons with Villarreal, during which he won theUEFA Intertoto Cup in2004 and reached the semi-finals of theUEFA Champions League in2005–06, Forlán joinedAtlético Madrid in2007 where, in the2008–09 season, he once again became the league's top scorer, winning both the Pichichi Trophy and European Golden Shoe for the second time with 32 goals, becoming the first player to win the Pichichi Trophy twice sinceRonaldo in1996–97 and2003–04. Forlán also won theUEFA Europa League, of which he scored the decisive goal in thefinal, and theUEFA Super Cup with Atlético Madrid, both in2010. In2011, he joined Italian clubInter Milan, before moving toInternacional in Brazil during the 2012 season. After spells in Japan withCerezo Osaka, back in Uruguay with his boyhood club Peñarol, in India withMumbai City and in Hong Kong withKitchee, Forlán officially announced his retirement from professional football in August 2019.
Forlán also had a successful international career, scoring 36 times for his country between his debut in 2002 and his international retirement in 2015. Forlán represented Uruguay in threeFIFA World Cups (2002,2010,2014) and threeCopa Américas (2004,2007,2011). His most notable achievement came at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, in which he led Uruguay to the final four for the first time since the1970 FIFA World Cup, scoring five goals and one assist in the process, and was ultimately awarded theGolden Ball as the tournament's best player, selected forteam of the tournament, and was thejoint–top scorer. In the following year, Forlán earned his 79th internationalcap in a match againstMexico, breaking the record held since 1986 by goalkeeperRodolfo Rodríguez, at the2011 Copa América, in which Uruguay won for the first time since1995, with Forlán scoring two goals in thefinal. On 20 June 2013, in a match againstNigeria at the2013 Confederations Cup, Forlán became the first Uruguayan to win100 caps. He was Uruguay's all-time leading top scorer from 2011 untilLuis Suárez overtook him two years later in 2013.
After retiring as a player, Forlán began his coaching career in Uruguay, managing Peñarol and Atenas in 2020 and 2021. He has also collaborated withFIFA in several ventures, having served as a tournament ambassador for the2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup,[9] and since 2022, has served as an international ambassador for theFIFA Museum.[10] Since July 2023, Forlán has continued his tennis career, competing in the ITF Masters tour, ranking in the 35+, 40+, and 45+ age categories, and played his first ATP event at the 2024 Uruguay Open in doubles withFederico Coria.[11]
Forlán was born on 19 May 1979 and raised in the neighborhood ofCarrasco in the capital city ofMontevideo. 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 theHotel Carrasco and theRambla.[12] Forlán was born into a family of professional footballers, being the son of former playerPablo Forlán, having played several prolific years forPeñarol andSão Paulo and represented theUruguay national team in the1966 and1974FIFA World Cups, and the grandson ofJuan Carlos Corazzo, known for his tenure withIndependiente in Argentina, through his mother, Pilar Corazo.[5][7] He is also a distant relative to footballersRichard Forlán andCristopher Fiermarin.[13]
Forlán attended multiple schools in the private and state sector during his youth. He started at theLiceo Francés Jules Supervielle inBuceo, but later transferred to the Erwy School because it was closer to his home.[12] This was followed byScuola Italiana di Montevideo and then Liceo 15 in Carrasco. He learned English at school from a young age.[14] As a child, Forlán played tennis at the Carrasco Lawn Tennis Club, in addition to football, which often took place on the streets.[12]
Carrasco was something completely different from what it is today, nobody worried about security, there were almost no cars, we played a lot in the street, on the street, tennis, football, whatever you could think of.
— Diego Forlán, Old Boys Magazine, 2022
On 14 September 1991, Forlán's sisterAlejandra 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 ofDiego Maradona. Until this point Forlán was also dedicated to tennis, but ultimately focused more on football, like his father and grandfather, in the hope that he might contribute to paying for his sister's treatment.[15]
Forlán was a boyhood fan ofPeñarol and played youth football for both Peñarol andDanubio.[14][12] In 1995, a 16-year-old Forlán moved to France, where he spent four months on trial atNancy, but was ultimately not offered a contract by managerLászló Bölöni.[15]
Forlán received an offer to join Argentine sideIndependiente through the help of one of his father's contacts,José Omar Pastoriza. He soon accepted, rejecting a simultaneous offer fromBoca Juniors. 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 againstArgentinos Juniors.[12]
Forlán scored 37 goals in 80 league games.[16] His goalscoring attracted the attention of European sides, and in January 2002, Independiente agreed a £6.9 million deal withMiddlesbrough of thePremier League; the transfer fee would be paid over 18 installments. Forlán travelled to England expecting to negotiate with Middlesbrough, but at the last minuteManchester 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."[17] He signed for United soon after.[18]
On 18 September 2002, Forlán came on as a 56th-minute substitute forRyan Giggs in aChampions League match versusMaccabi Haifa. He scored his first United goal as an 89th-minutepenalty kick in the 5–2 win. His first Premier League goal was a 77th-minute equaliser in a home 1–1 draw againstAston Villa on 26 October. In Forlán's next Premier League game, at home toSouthampton on 2 November, he came on as a 79th-minute substitute for United's goalscorerPhil Neville with the score at 1–1, and scored the winner with a dipping shot over Southampton goalkeeperAntti Niemi in the 85th minute.[20] The goal also became notable due to hisgoal celebration where he ripped off his jersey, but then struggled to put it back on as the game recommenced, with Forlán making a blocked tackle while shirtless.[21]
On 1 December, Forlán scored his first brace for Manchester United with goals in the 64th and 67th minute of an away 2–1 Premier League win atrivalsLiverpool.[22] On 17 December 2002, Forlán scored the winning goal as United defeatedChelsea in the quarter-finals of theFootball League Cup. On 18 January 2003, Forlán scored a 90th-minute winning goal to again defeat Chelsea, this time in a Premier League match.[23] Manchester United went on to win thePremier League title in2002–03, and Forlán scored six goals to make him the club's third best-scoring striker that season afterRuud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjær.[24]
At the start of the2003–04 season, Forlán played seven Premier League games without scoring. This run was broken on 25 October, when he equalised the score to 1–1 in the 45th minute of a home match versusFulham, a game which United lost 3–1. Forlán then scored a goal in his three subsequent matches in three different competitions, starting with an extra-time goal in an awayLeague Cup game atLeeds United which Manchester United won 3–2. This was followed by the opener in a 3–0 home Premier League victory overPortsmouth and a sixth-minute goal in a win by the same score overRangers in theChampions League. In his next Champions League game, he scored the 85th-minute winner for United overPanathinaikos in a 1–0 away victory. On 6 December 2003, Forlán scored two injury-time goals as Manchester United beatAston Villa 4–0 at home in the Premier League. These were Forlán's last Premier League goals despite him playing 10 more league games over the season. His only other Manchester United goal was in a 3–0 victory overNorthampton Town of Division Three on 24 January 2004 in theFA Cup.[25] Diego Forlán did not feature at all in United's 3–0 victory overMillwall in the2004 FA Cup Final on 22 May 2004.[26]
United supporters would continue to sing Forlán's name in tribute to the two goals he scored against Liverpool for several years after Forlán's departure from the club, with the chant "He came from Uruguay, he made thescousers cry". Forlán spoke of this fondly in 2010.[28]
Forlán was strongly linked with a move to Spanish clubsLevante andAthletic Bilbao, but on 21 August 2004, he signed withVillarreal.
Forlán's debut for Villarreal was on 30 August 2004, starting away to rivalsValencia and scoring his club's goal in the 77th minute of a 2–1 defeat. His next goal came in a home 2–0 win overReal Zaragoza on 3 October, and was followed with an equaliser in a 1–1 draw atMallorca and the final goal of a 4–0 win at home toNumancia. Between 12 December 2004 and 16 January 2005, Forlán scored seven goals in fivePrimera División matches, including a brace in a 3–0 home victory overBarcelona on 9 January. On 22 May 2005, he scored his firsthat-trick for a European club with all of Villarreal's goals in a 3–3 away draw against eventual league champions Barcelona. A week later, he scored two in a 4–1 victory over local rivals Levante as Villarreal ended the season in third, qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in the club's history.[27] Forlán won the 2004–05Pichichi Trophy for most goals in La Liga, with 25. He also shared the 2005European Golden Boot with Arsenal strikerThierry Henry.[29]
His goal rate declined in the2005–06 season as Villarreal underwent several changes, yet the club reached the semi-finals of theChampions League where they were knocked out by Arsenal.
In2006–07, he ended the season with 19 goals in 36 league appearances.
Forlán was linked with a transfer jointly withJuan Román Riquelme toAtlético Madrid in exchange forLuis Perea plus cash in June 2007. On 30 June 2007, following the departure of their captainFernando Torres to Liverpool, Atlético Madrid confirmed that they had agreed to a fee of around €21 million.[30] He returned to England in February 2008 to take part in Atlético'sUEFA Cup clash againstBolton Wanderers (the club against whom he made his Manchester United debut), but the side lost out 1–0 on aggregate. In May 2008, Forlán helped Atlético qualify for theChampions League for the first time in over a decade, scoring the winning goal againstDeportivo de La Coruña.[31] He ended his first season in Madrid with 23 goals and formed a potent partnership with Argentinian strikerSergio Agüero.
On 9 May 2009, Forlán scored twice againstEspanyol to help Atlético clinch Champions League qualification for a second successive year.[32]Los Rojiblancos were trailing 2–0 at half-time and had seen Luis Perea sent off, but came back to win 3–2 thanks to a goal of the season contender from Forlán, as well as alast-minute winner. He also scored crucial goals in wins over Barcelona, Villarreal and Valencia. On 23 May 2009, Forlán scored ahat-trick against Athletic Bilbao, which helped him win the La Liga Pichichi Trophy, as well as the European Golden Boot for a second time.[33] He ended the 2008–09 season with a very impressive 32 goals in 33 matches.
Forlán started the2009–10 season slowly, and struggled for form as Atlético made their worst start to a league season since their relegation in 2000. On 24 October 2009, Forlán scored a penalty and missed another as Atlético were held to a 1–1 draw at home against Mallorca, who had played the majority of the second half with just nine players on the field. The disappointing result and performance led to protests from Atlético supporters,[34] as well as criticism for Forlán, who was subsequently left out of the squad for the next game.[35] Atlético started to improve after the arrival new managerQuique Sánchez Flores, and once again, Forlán flourished in the second half of the season, as Atlético reached the finals of both theEuropa League andCopa del Rey. On 14 February 2010, Forlán scored the first goal as Atlético beat Barcelona 2–1 at theVicente Calderón, inflicting the eventual Champions only league defeat of the season.[36] On 22 April 2010, Forlán scored the only goal of the game in Atlético's Europa League semi-final first leg at home to Liverpool. A week later, Liverpool took the tie to extra time before taking a 2–1 aggregate lead. Forlán then scored again to make it 2–2 on aggregate, giving Atlético the away goal they needed to reach the final, in which they played against Fulham atVolksparkstadion,Hamburg, on 12 May.[37] Forlán scored twice against Fulham in thefinal, in a 2–1 win and was awarded man of the match.[38] He ended the season with a total of 28 goals, including six in Atlético's successful Europa League campaign.
The2010–11 season began with another trophy for Forlán and Atlético, winning theUEFA Super Cup, beatingInter Milan 2–0 inMonaco on 27 August 2010.[39] Again Forlán started the season slowly, and despite finding the net three times in the opening two league games, he then went 12 matches in all competitions without a goal before finally scoring a double in a 3–0 win againstOsasuna on 13 November.[40]
On 29 August 2011, it was confirmed that Forlán had joined Inter Milan as a replacement for the departingSamuel Eto'o.[41] No financial details were announced but it is believed the 32-year-old signed an initial two-year deal.[42] He made his debut on 11 September 2011, scoring with a high left foot shot in a 4–3 defeat at Sicilian clubPalermo.[43] On 4 March 2012, Forlán scored his second goal for Inter againstCatania in a 2–2 draw.[44] In April, Forlán declared his loyalty to Inter and his intention to stay when he toldSky Sports: "I want to stay at Inter. You haven't seen the real Forlán yet... I wouldn't want to leave Inter like this. I like challenges and I wouldn't want to leave when the team are not in a good position."[45] In June, his father confirmed the belief that the striker would see out his contract with theNerazzurri.[46] On 5 July, however, after only scoring twice in 22 appearances, the Italian club confirmed that he had been released, terminating the final year of his contract.[47] Forlán has stated that his poor performance with theNerazzuri was due to being played out of position. In addition, former Inter and Uruguay playerÁlvaro Recoba believed that his compatriot struggled at Inter due to the success of his predecessor Samuel Eto'o, which led Forlán to fail to live up to expectations.
On 6 July 2012, after terminating his contract with Inter, Forlán signed a three-year deal with Brazilian clubInternacional.[48] He was also linked to Mexican teamsTigres UANL andClub América.[49] In January 2013, Forlán was linked with another Mexican team, the recently promotedClub León. At León, Forlán had the chance to play the 2013Copa Libertadores; Internacional, however, retained Forlán's services for the 2013 season.[50]
On 28 July 2012, he made his debut for the Brazilian club againstVasco da Gama. Forlán scored his first two goals for Internacional in a 4–1 win againstFlamengo.[51] Forlán also helped the club win 2013Campeonato Gaúcho, scoring nine goals, the highest total at the tournament.[citation needed]
On 22 January 2014, Forlán signed an 18-month deal with JapaneseJ1 League sideCerezo Osaka.[52] He made hisAFC Champions League debut in a 1–1 draw withPohang Steelers, and his J. League debut in a 1–0 loss against defending championsSanfrecce Hiroshima. He scored his first goal for Cerezo in a 4–0 win overBuriram United in an AFC Champions League match. On 12 April, Forlán scored two goals in theOsaka derby against local club rivalsGamba Osaka. He scored a crucial goal againstShandong Luneng on 23 April to put his team through to the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League. Cerezo Osaka were knocked out in the first round byGuangzhou Evergrande, losing 5–1 at home in the first leg.[53] In spite of the disappointing home defeat, they managed to secure a 1–0 away win after an own goal byLiao Lisheng. However, this was not enough to overcome the 5–2 aggregate lead.
Having been relegated in his first season toJ2 League, he started off the new campaign with a goal againstTokyo Verdy drawing 1–1. Forlán scored his first hat-trick againstKyoto Sanga on 29 April 2015, his side winning 3–0.
On 10 July 2015, Forlán signed an 18-month contract with his boyhood clubPeñarol.[54] In his only season at the club, he scored eight goals in 31 appearances as Peñarol won the championship title. On 14 June 2016 at a press conference, Forlán said he would be leaving the club.[citation needed]
Mumbai finished first in the league table and progressed to the semi-final of the playoffs where they would faceATK.[57] After conceding an early goal, Mumbai equalised and soon took the lead from the headers ofLeo Costa andGerson Vieira. In both cases the free kicks were taken by Forlán. Forlán received a red card in the second half as ATK won the match 3–2.[58][59]
On 4 January 2018, Forlán joinedHong Kong Premier League clubKitchee.[60] He made his debut for Kitchee on 14 January 2018, coming off the bench in the 88th minute in a 2–2 draw againstSouthern.[61][62] On 28 January, Forlán scored his first and second goals for Kitchee in a 7–0 victory overBiu Chun Rangers.[63] He scored a hat-trick in a 5–1 win againstLee Man in the following match.[64] Forlán played in Kitchee's 1–0 victory overKashiwa Reysol in the2018 AFC Champions League, helping Kitchee to become the first-ever team from Hong Kong to win a match in AFC Champions League history.[65] On 13 May 2018, Forlán played his final match with the club, featuring in the first 56 minutes of a 2–0 victory, and went on to win the Hong Kong Premier League that season.[66]
Forlán's 100th cap came in the2013 FIFA Confederations Cup match againstNigeria. On 11 October 2011, he scored his 32nd goal, which made him Uruguay's top scorer of all time in official matches, beatingHéctor Scarone who had held the record alone with 31 goals since 1930.[68] (Scarone scored 42 goals in total, but 11 of them were in unofficial matches).[69]
2002 FIFA World Cup, 2004 Copa América, and 2007 Copa América
Forlán debuted for the Uruguayan senior squad on 27 March 2002, scoring his first goal in a 3–2 friendly defeat againstSaudi Arabia.[70] During the2002 World Cup, he scored a volley on 11 June in the group stage 3–3 draw againstSenegal.[71] Despite coming from three goals down to draw the game, Uruguay were eliminated from the tournament along withFrance inGroup A.[72] Forlán scored againstBrazil in the 35th minute of the2007 Copa América semi-final, but missed his shot during the subsequent penalty shoot-out, which Brazil eventually won 5–4.[73]
On 16 June 2010, during Uruguay's second group game in the2010 World Cup againstSouth Africa, Forlán opened the scoring with a right footed long range effort. Later in the game, Forlán scored from the penalty spot, shooting high into the net for his second and also had a hand in Uruguay's third, in a 3–0 win over the host nation.[75] On 2 July 2010, Forlán scored a free kick againstGhana to equalise in the quarter-final. The game ended 1–1 and Uruguay advanced to the semi-finals after defeating Ghana 4–2 in thepenalty shootout.[76] On 6 July 2010, Forlán scored another long range goal, this time with his left foot to equalise against theNetherlands in the semi-final. Despite a half-time score of 1–1, Uruguay eventually lost 3–2 as the Dutch advanced to thefinal.[77] Forlán became the first player sinceLothar Matthäus in1990 to score three goals from outside the penalty area in one tournament.[78] On 10 July 2010, Forlán scored for the final time in the tournament as he netted a well-executed volley from the edge of the area to give Uruguay the lead. This goal, from a pass byEgidio Arévalo Ríos, was selected by FIFA as the Goal of the Tournament.[79] Forlán then hit the crossbar with the final kick of the game from a free kick as they lost toGermany 3–2 in thethird place play-off.[80] Forlán was awarded theGolden Ball as the tournament's best player. He was also picked for the team of the tournament, and was the joint top scorer at the World Cup with five goals.[81]
On 24 July 2011, Forlán scored twice afterLuis Suárez's opening goal helping Uruguay win their 15thCopa América title and became Uruguay's joint top scorer at international level, his 31 goals matching those of Héctor Scarone after beatingParaguay 3–0 inthe final. Forlán's father and grandfather were also South American champions with Uruguay over a period spanning the 95 years of the world's oldest active tournament.[82]
On 16 June 2013, Forlán appeared as a 69th-minute substitute in Uruguay's opening2013 Confederations Cup match againstSpain. In Uruguay's second group game, a match where he won his 100th cap for his country, Forlán scored the winning goal to defeat Nigeria 2–1. He was subsequently rested for the next match againstTahiti. He was again in the starting line-up as Uruguay lost 1–2 to Brazil in the semi-final, where he had a penalty kick saved by Brazilian goalkeeperJúlio César.
Forlán was a part of the Uruguay squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. At the age of 35, he started the opening match against group underdogsCosta Rica in place of the absent Luis Suárez. He had a deflected shot saved by Costa Rican goalkeeperKeylor Navas as Uruguay lost the game 3–1. Forlán did not appear again until the Round of 16, where Uruguay were beaten 2–0 byColombia.[83]
A talented, technically gifted, hardworking and creative player, with an eye for goal, Forlán was a quick, clever, complete and versatile forward, with a good positional sense, who was capable of playing anywhere along the front line.[85][86] He was deployed as amain striker (his favoured position), as asupporting forward, as anattacking midfielder, and even as awinger, often drifting onto the flank tobegin attacking plays.[85][87][88] He was capable of scoring with either foot,[87][89][90] both from inside and outside the area; in fact, Forlán was most known for his powerful and accurate long range shots, which made him a large threat if given space outside the box.[91] Alongside this, Forlán was also an accurateset-piece andpenalty kick taker.[86][6][92] In addition to his accurate finishing, movement, and goalscoring ability, Forlán was a skilful player, gifted with good technical ability and ball control, as well as good vision, passing ability, intelligence, and awareness on the ball; these attributes also enabled him to be deployed in a more creative role, in which he could play-off of other players and drop into deeper positions to link-up the midfield with the attack, making him a capableassist provider.[55][85][86][93][94][95] In addition to his footballing skills, Forlán was also praised for his leadership, longevity and determination throughout his career.[86][96][97]
On 20 December 2019, Forlán was appointed as manager of his former clubPeñarol.[98] He was sacked on 1 September 2020, after winning just four of his eleven games in charge.[99] On 17 March 2021, he was appointed as manager ofAtenas of theUruguayan Segunda División. On 16 September 2021, after a 2–1 loss toRampla Juniors, he was released.[100]
Diego Forlán was a promising junior tennis player and has continued to play after his retirement from professional football in 2019.[101] Since July 2023, he has been competing on the ITF Masters professional tennis tour, and is a ranked player in the 35+, 40+, and 45+ age categories.[102] In June 2024, Forlán attracted media coverage after reaching the quarterfinals of theITF MT1000 Lima 45+ tournament in Peru, winning three matches in straight sets.[103]
Forlán is a founding member of Fundación Alejandra Forlán, an organization headed byhis sister that promotes safer driving.[115] In 2009, Forlán appeared in a music video forCoti starring alongside Argentine footballerMaxi Rodríguez.[116] In 2021, Forlán began playing amateur football for theOld Boys Club, the alumni team ofThe British Schools of Montevideo.[12]
Forlán announced on 9 March 2011 on his officialTwitter page that he and Argentinian model/actressZaira Nara were engaged to be married.[117] In June 2011, however, Forlán and Nara announced they were breaking their engagement. No reason was released for the breakup.[118] Between 2011 and 2012, Forlán dated Uruguayan model/television personalityVictoria Saravia.[119]
Forlán married Paz Cardoso on November 2013 and together, the pair have three sons and a daughter.[120][121][122][123][124]
^Thomas Müller,David Villa,Wesley Sneijder and Diego Forlán each scored five goals in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Müller won theGolden Boot by virtue of having more assists (three) than the rest (each had one). Villa won the Silver Boot due to having played fewer minutes than Sneijder, and Sneijder won the Bronze Boot due to having played fewer minutes than Forlán.
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