Uruguay have an extraordinary football history like no other nation in the world. A small South American country with a population just shy of three and a half million, Uruguay dominated world football in the 1920s, winning almost every possible tournament, accumulating in becoming the first ever FIFA World Cup winners in 1930.

La Celeste were crowned world champions once more twenty years later, beating Brazil at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro in the 1950 World Cup Final, in what was the highest attended match in World Cup history and one of the biggest upsets in sport.

As a result of their unique history, Uruguay have consistently produced some of the world’s best players. The following list features some of the stars of their two World Cup triumphs, as well as some more familiar modern greats of the game.

15

Martin Caceres

Career Span: 2006-Present

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Martin Caceres’ career has seen him represent some of Europe’s biggest sides. After coming through at Defensor Sporting, Caceres went on to play in La Liga and earned a move to Barcelona, where he won the Champions League, and later Juventus, where he picked up six Serie A titles, with five of those coming consecutively, but injuries prevented him from reaching even greater heights at times.

He was one of Uruguay’s most dependable players across an international career spanning close to twenty years. Capable of playing anywhere across the defensive line, he earned more than 100 caps and helped his country win the 2011 Copa America. He also went to four World Cups, the last of them being the 2022 World Cup as a 35-year-old.

14

Ruben Sosa

Career Span: 1984-2004

Ruben Sosa was one of South America’s most exciting attacking talents during the late 1980s and early ’90s. The forward represented Uruguay for more than a decade, winning the Copa America in both 1987 and 1995, and finishing as runner-up in 1989, a tournament in which he was named the best player. Blessed with pace, creativity and a thunderous left foot, Sosa built a fantastic goal catalogue and built a reputation as one of his country’s most dangerous attackers.

At club level, Sosa started out at Danubio before making the move to Europe via Real Zaragoza, where he won the Copa del Rey. His best years, though, came in Italy, where he shone for both Lazio and Inter Milan. Capable of scoring spectacular goals just as easily as he created them for others, he became a fan favourite wherever he went, and is still remembered as one of the finest Uruguayan forwards, before the likes of Diego Forlan, Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez came along.

13

Federico Valverde

Career Span: 2014-Present

Kai Pfaffenbach via Reuters

Federico Valverde has already secured his place among Uruguay’s finest modern footballers, despite still being in the middle of his prime. At club level, the Penarol academy product has turned into one of the best midfielders on the planet at Real Madrid, where he’s often found patrolling the middle of the park after starting out as a right-sided midfielder. He’s won three La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies with Los Blancos, and has earned the honour of being their vice-captain. However, with the reduced usage of Dani Carvajal, Valverde is often the one who leads Madrid out.

The role of vice-captain is also one that he carries for his country, representing Uruguay across several Copa America tournaments and World Cups, racking up over 75 caps and winning the FIFA Silver Ball in Qatar. Whether he’s breaking up attacks or driving forward with the ball at his feet, Valverde has developed into one of the best midfielders in the world and consistently proves it.

12

Fernando Muslera

Career Span: 2005-Present

Fernando Muslera has enjoyed one of the longest international careers in Uruguayan football history. The goalkeeper has earned well over 130 caps and played a key role in the side that won the 2011 Copa America, going on to represent his country at five separate World Cups, the most recent coming after he reversed his international retirement to answer the call once again. For almost two decades, he’s been the reassuring presence between the sticks that’s helped Uruguay maintain its reputation for consistency at major tournaments.

His club career has been just as impressive. After making his name at Lazio in Italy, Muslera moved to Galatasaray, where he spent 14 years and became one of the most decorated players in the club’s history, racking up eight Super Lig titles and 11 domestic cups, before eventually moving on to Estudiantes in Argentina.

11

Diego Godin

Career span: 2003-2023

Arguably one of the most underrated defenders of his generation, Diego Godin is beloved, not only of Uruguay supporters, having won the Copa America with his nation in 2011, but with Atletico Madrid fans too, where he enjoyed the peak of his career between 2010 and 2019.

Godin took his first steps in Europe with Villarreal before making the move to the capital. It was there, under fellow South American Diego Simeone, that Godin won one La Liga title, a Copa del Rey and the Europa League on two occasions. His career then took him to Italy, first with Inter Milan and then Cagliari before a return to South America, eventually retiring in 2023.

10

Alcides Ghiggia

Career span: 1945-1967

Uruguay’s last surviving member of their 1950 World Cup-winning team, Alcides Ghiggia passed away on the 16th of July 2015, 65 years on from the crowning moment of his career.

Ghiggia, a diminutive right winger gifted with pace and trickery, provided the final blow in one of greatest upsets in World Cup history, rifling in at the near post what was the winner as Brazil were defeated by unlikely underdogs Uruguay on home soil.

It came to be one of the greatest moments in Uruguay’s sporting history, and one of Brazil’s lowest points, with many Selecao supporters still mourning O Maracanaco (The Great Maracana Disaster) almost 74 years on.

At club level, Ghiggia spent five years with Penarol, winning two Uruguayan Primera Division titles. In Italy, who he later represented at international level, Ghiggia enjoyed eight seasons with Roma, where he is a Hall of Fame member, before joining AC Milan and winning Serie A in 1961/62.

9

Edinson Cavani

Career Span: 2005-2026

There aren’t many who’ve worn the Uruguay shirt with the consistency of Edinson Cavani. The striker finished his international career with 136 caps and 58 goals, second only to Luis Suarez in the country’s history, and was part of the side that won the 2011 Copa America and reached the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup. He was one of the most complete forwards of his generation, and his international career stretched well over 15 years before he eventually called it a day.

His club career took him through some of Europe’s biggest leagues. After prolific spells with Palermo and Napoli in Italy, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain, where he became the club’s all-time top scorer before Kylian Mbappe eventually overtook him. From there he had stints with Manchester United and Valencia, before returning to South America with Boca Juniors to finish his career, a career that includes 25 trophies and over 450 goals.

8

Diego Forlan

Career span: 1997-2018

A true icon of Uruguayan football, Diego Forlan’s individual efforts at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will live long in the memories of supporters.

The blonde-haired number 10 single-handedly led his nation to the semi-finals, where they lost out to the Netherlands. A then 31-year-old Forlan finished as the tournament’s top goalscorer, also winning the Golden Ball for best player and goal of the tournament for his volley from range against Germany in the third-place play-off.

Despite notable spells with Manchester United and a season at Inter, it was in Spain with Villarreal and Atletico Madrid that he was most impactful. Forlan won the European Golden Shoe for the most goals scored in Europe’s top divisions on two occasions, first in his debut season at Villarreal in 2004/05 and then again in 2008/09 with Atletico.

7

Enzo Francescoli

Career span: 1980-1997

Nicknamed El Principe (The Prince), Enzo Francescoli is regarded as one of the most gifted playmakers of his generation, playing the majority of his career with Argentinian side River Plate. His performances for River Plate saw him named 1984 South American footballer of the Year, after just one full season at the club.

Francescoli, who is of Italian and Basque origin, was central in Uruguay’s Copa America wins in 1983, 1987 and 1995, winning Player of the Tournament at the first and last of those Copa America triumphs. A technical and creative midfielder, Francescoli made 73 appearances for his country, making him, at the time of his retirement, Uruguay’s most capped outfield player.

After three seasons with River Plate, Francescoli moved to France with RC Paris and then Marseille, where he won the French first division in 1989/90, and was named France Foreign Player of the Year. His career then took him to Italy with Cagliari and Torino before a move back to his beloved River Plate.

6

Jose Nasazzi

Career span: 1918-1937

Jose Nasazzi is a name that will forever be written into the history books of football, becoming the first man to ever lift the Jules Rimet Trophy at the inaugural World Cup in 1930. Nicknamed El Gran Mariscal (The Grand Marshal), Nasazzi was named the tournament’s best player as Uruguay brushed aside Yugoslavia in the semi-finals before emerging victorious over neighbouring Argentina in an enthralling final.

The Montevideo-born defender also tasted success in years either side of their World Cup triumph, winning gold at the 1924 and 1928 Olympic Games as well as the South American Championships (now Copa America) on four occasions.