While many in Mzansi will remember him as the 2010 FIFA World Cup player of the tournament, Uruguay legend Diego Forlan didn't get off to the best possible start in his new career as a professional tennis player. Here's a look!
The Story
The 2010 World Cup is often touted as one of the best editions of the global showpiece, with one of its most memorable parts being Forlán's impressive performances and his incredible technique in striking the famous Jabulani ball.
The Uruguay icon swept multiple awards at the competition, including the Golden Boot as joint top-scorer, the Goal of the Tournament, and the ultimate individual prize, the Golden Ball Award, after being named the best player at the World Cup all those years ago.
Now, 14 years after tearing it up in South Africa, Forlan has become a professional tennis player at the age of 45. He didn't take long to make his presence felt, making his professional tennis debut at the Uruguay Open in Montevideo this week.
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The former forward, who retired from football in 2019, played in a doubles match alongside his Argentine partner Federico Coria. However, his tennis career began with a 6-1, 6-2 defeat to the Bolivian duo Boris Arias and Federico Zeballos in front of a large home crowd.
Despite tasting defeat, the former Atletico Madrid and Manchester United player expressed his delight after making his first major appearance in a new sport, one that is completely different from his first love, football.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to play with Fede," said Forlan after the match, according to Clay Tenis.
"It's not easy for him to enter these tournaments with an amateur beside him. I hadn't even imagined, let alone dreamed of this. It's wonderful to have played against professionals – it takes courage to do it.
"The atmosphere on this court, which I love so much, was incredible; my friends, my family were here. It was very special, and I enjoyed it. I felt like a tennis player for a moment.
"I'll take with me a few volleys, a good smash and some forehands during the exchanges. Overall, I'm pleased."
Forlan is the seventh most-capped player in Uruguay's national team history, while his 36 goals for his country place him third on the list of top scorers, trailing only Luis Suárez (69) and Edinson Cavani (58), according to Transfermarkt.
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