Forlan named best player at World Cup
July 12th, 2010 - 5:56 am ICT by IANSJohannesburg, July 12 (DPA) Uruguay striker Diego Forlan was Sunday night picked as the FIFA Golden Ball winner as best player of the 2010 World Cup by journalists accredited to cover the tournament.
The 31-year-old Forlan was chosen ahead of Spain’s David Villa, Wesley Sneijder of the Netherlands and current World Footballer of the Year, Lionel Messi.
Nicknamed “Cachavacha” after a comic character, Forlan netted five goals and inspired Uruguay to the semi-finals in South Africa after the team failed to qualify for the last World Cup in Germany four years ago.
He scored seven goals in 13 matches as Uruguay booked their qualification ticket to South Africa to underline his status as a top marksman.
A once aspiring tennis player, Forlan is a skilful centre-forward who has featured for several top teams, including Manchester United, Villarreal and Independiente of Argentina.
Football runs in the Forlan family as his father also represented the South American country at two World Cups, in 1966 and 1974, while his grandfather, Juan Carlos Corazzo, was Chile coach in 1962.
A graduate of the Penarol youth teams, Forlan moved to Manchester United in early 2002 after an impressive performance across the border at Independiente, but he struggled to live up to expectations in England.
A switch to Villarreal of Spain in August 2004 helped him rediscover his goalscoring touch as he netted 25 goals in his first season to finish as La Liga’s top scorer and also clinched the European Golden Shoe.
The former youth international has since extended his fine form in front of goal for both Atletico Madrid and the national team to make him one of the most feared strikers in the world game.
- Forlan becomes highest scorer for Uruguay - Oct 13, 2011
- Uruguay hoping for a repeat of history (Group A team profile) - May 26, 2010
- Corinthians interested in signing Uruguayan striker Forlan - Apr 19, 2012
- Uruguay seek to raise their level in South Africa 2010 (Team Profile) - Nov 25, 2009
- Dutch reach World Cup final; captaincy row roils Germans (Second Lead) - Jul 07, 2010
- Germany take third place with 3-2 victory against Uruguay (Roundup) - Jul 11, 2010
- FIFA shortlists 10 players for World Cup Golden Ball - Jul 11, 2010
- Uruguay announces World Cup team - May 30, 2010
- Dutch reach World Cup final after 3-2 defeat of Uruguay - Jul 07, 2010
- Dutch the latest to seek revenge on the Germans - Jul 07, 2010
- Muller bags Golden Boot and Young Player of the tournament awards - Jul 12, 2010
- Spain make history as hosts exceed expectations(Cup Review) - Jul 12, 2010
- Germany's Mueller wins Man of the Match - Jul 11, 2010
- Germany take third place with 3-2 victory against Uruguay (Second Lead) - Jul 11, 2010
- Uruguay must shed sorrow of defeat for playoff: Tabarez - Jul 07, 2010
Tags: argentina football, atletico madrid, ball winner, best player, comic character, corazzo, diego forlan, footballer of the year, golden shoe, grandfather juan carlos, impressive performance, marksman, s david, tennis player, top scorer, wesley sneijder, world cup in germany, world cups, world footballer of the year, world game