From his native Uruguay to Argentina's Atlético Independiente, where he became the top goal scorer, he took a huge leap to England's Manchester United, and, after playing for Villarreal C. F. he landed in Atlético de Madrid, where he's currently basking in glory. "Cachavacha" Forlán astonishes his fans and ranks high in the wish list of teams that are looking for new players.

Diego Martín Forlán Corazo was born on May 19, 1979 in Montevideo. It seems as though he was born to play soccer, because his father, Pablo Forlán, played for Uruguay in the 1966 and 1974 editions of the World Cup. Moreover, his maternal grandfather, Juan Carlos Corazo, played for Atlético Independiente, a team that embraced Diego and provided the stepping-stone for his move to Europe.

His soccer career began after a life-changing event: when he was 10 years old, his sister suffered an accident, so young Diego gave up his ambition to become a tennis player so he could play professional soccer and earn enough money to cover his sister's expensive medical treatments.

He's well known for being a nice guy, family-focused and obliging, and fame and fortune have not made him ostentatious or arrogant. When he moved to Manchester, he adapted his house so his handicapped sister could comfortably move about on her wheelchair.

He became notorious in Manchester for stripping his shirt after netting a goal. But the best was yet to come and it was in Spain's Villarreal where his performance in 2004-2005 earned him the right to share the Golden Boot with Thierry Henry.

He was transferred to Atlético de Madrid in mid-2007 and the following year he earned the European Golden Boot once again. These achievements have heightened his fans' expectations and those of critics who feel Diego is inconsistent and that sometimes his passion seems stagnant. Voicing an opinion is much easier than putting on a jersey and proving your worth on the field, just like "Cachavacha" Forlán does with pride and passion.