Diego Godín

He made his official debut for the Colchoneros on the 27th, playing the entire 2–0 win against Inter Milan in the UEFA Super Cup.

Diego Roberto Godín Leal (born 16 February 1986) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Porongos.

Regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, he started out at Cerro and three years later was transferred to Primera División side Nacional.

A Uruguay international from 2005 to 2022, Godín is the country's all-time most-capped player.

In 2005, at the age of 19, Godín made his debut for Uruguay in a friendly defeat against Mexico in Guadalajara.

His first international goal came in another exhibition game, with Serbia and Montenegro in May 2006.

In August 2007, Godín signed a five-year deal with La Liga side Villarreal, scoring in just his second game, a 3–2 away loss against Osasuna on 7 October, and participating in 24 matches in their best league placement ever (second).

He consolidated his starting position in the subsequent seasons, mostly partnering Argentine Gonzalo Rodríguez in the heart of the back four.

He represented the nation at the 2007 Copa América, playing in the opening 0–3 defeat to Peru before losing his place to Andrés Scotti in Uruguay's run to fourth place.

On 4 August 2010, after experiencing his best season at Villarreal – 36 games, three goals – Godín joined Atlético Madrid on a five-year contract, after the two clubs agreed an initial fee believed to be around €8 million or £6.6 million.

He represented the national side at four World Cups and six Copa América tournaments, winning the 2011 edition of the latter competition.

Godín was born in Rosario to Julio Godín and Iris Leal.

Aged 4, during a family gathering, he nearly drowned after trying to catch fish in a river, but eventually swam to shore without the help of anybody.

Godín started his professional career with Cerro at the age of 17.

After his good performances, he was transferred to Primera División powerhouse Nacional, where he quickly became captain due to his maturity and professionalism.

He then spent the majority of his career in Spain, representing Villarreal and Atlético Madrid and winning eight titles with the latter club, including the La Liga championship in the 2013–14 season.

He also played in Italy with Inter Milan and Cagliari, in Brazil with Atlético Mineiro and in Argentina with Vélez Sarsfield, retiring in 2023.

Godín signed a new contract with Atlético on 1 November 2013, keeping him at the club until 2018.

He scored four league goals during the campaign, including one on the last matchday on 17 May 2014 against Barcelona which equalised the game at 1–1 to earn his team its first league title in 18 years.

A week later, again through a header, he repeated the feat in the final of the UEFA Champions League to put his team ahead, but Real Madrid eventually won 4–1.

In 2015, Godín rejected a transfer to Manchester City, managed by his former Villarreal boss Manuel Pellegrini.

On 28 October 2017 he became the foreign player with most appearances for the club, surpassing fellow stopper Luis Perea after his 315th against Villarreal; he was nominated for the 2016 and 2018 Ballon d'Or awards.

On 20 February 2019, Godín scored the second goal in 2–0 home victory over Juventus in the Champions League round of 16.

On 7 May, the 33-year-old announced he would be departing the Metropolitano Stadium after a nine-year tenure and, on 1 June, he symbolically handed over the captain armband to Koke in the 1–1 draw against Sevilla.

On 1 July 2019, Inter Milan announced they had signed Godín for free on a three-year deal.

It was reported that he had already agreed to a pre-contract the previous January.

He made his debut in Serie A on 1 September, coming on for Antonio Candreva for the final 11 minutes of a 2–1 win at Cagliari.

In a season in which Inter finished one point behind champions Juventus, Godín scored his first Nerazzurri goal on 13 July 2020 in a 3–1 home victory over Torino.

On 21 August he equalised against Sevilla in the 2020 UEFA Europa League Final in Cologne, a 3–2 loss for his side; only five other men had scored in the finals of European football's two top tournaments.

On 24 September 2020, Godín joined Cagliari on a three-year contract.

He played his first match for them on 4 October, in a 5–2 away defeat to Atalanta where he also scored.

Godín left on 12 January 2022 by mutual agreement.

On 12 January 2022, the 36-year-old Godín agreed to a one-year deal with Atlético Mineiro.

He scored on his debut on 6 February, a 3–0 win over Patrocinense in the Campeonato Mineiro.

On 20 February, he started in the 2022 Supercopa do Brasil which Atlético won after beating Flamengo in a penalty shootout.

In April 2022, Godín said that one of the reasons for which he had returned to South American football was to play the Copa Libertadores, his return marking the first time he appeared in the tournament after a 15-year hiatus.

On 20 June, after failing to break into the starting team and aiming to play at the upcoming World Cup for Uruguay, he announced his departure in mutual terms.

On 21 June 2022, Godín joined Vélez Sarsfield on a one-and-a-half year contract.

He announced his retirement on 27 July 2023, playing his last match when his team visited Huracán on the last round of the season.

Godín came out of retirement in February 2024, signing for Uruguayan amateurs Porongos.