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Uruguay football legend Diego Forlan makes professional tennis debut at 45

Diego Forlan, the 45-year-old Uruguayan football legend and winner of the Golden Ball at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, who retired from professional football in 2019, made his official tennis debut on the ATP Challenger Tour at the Uruguay Open yesterday. Forlan partnered with Federico Coria in doubles, but the pair faced a challenging match, losing 1-6, 2-6 in under an hour.

Forlan’s tennis debut follows a decorated football career. He played for notable clubs including Manchester United, Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, and Inter. While at Villarreal, he won the Pichichi Trophy as La Liga’s top scorer during the 2004/05 season, and later replicated this success at Atletico Madrid. Internationally, Forlan scored 36 goals for Uruguay between his debut in 2002 and his retirement from international football in 2015.

The former striker achieved remarkable success at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, finishing as the joint top scorer with five goals, earning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, and scoring the goal of the tournament. His legacy as one of Uruguay’s greatest footballers remains intact, and his move into tennis showcases his enduring drive for competition.



 Author: Paul Kemp

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