Top 10 greatest Uruguayan footballers of all time

Uruguay have produced some of the finest footballing icons in the world for over a century now.

Uruguay, the first-ever host and winner of the FIFA World Cup back in 1930, have recently grabbed a lot of attention as La Celeste knocked out five-time world champions Brazil in the quarter-finals of Copa America 2024. The joint most successful team in Copa America history, Uruguay began their tournament in the most convincing fashion as they thrashed Bolivia 5-0, Panama 3-1, and got the better of the USA until a ten-man Uruguayan side went on to defeat Brazil in penalties to book their semi-final berth against Colombia.

But Uruguay’s dominance in world football dates back almost a century when they clinched gold medals in the Summer Olympics of 1924 Paris and 1928 Amsterdam before hosting the first-ever edition of the FIFA World Cup and lifting the coveted silverware for the first time in 1930. For over a century, Uruguay have blessed the world with some of the most iconic footballers, who have left an indelible mark in the hearts and souls of football fans from all across the planet.

From Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan to Edinson Cavani, in this feature story, we look at the top ten greatest footballers from the South American nation that have taken the world of football by storm.

10. José Nasazzi

José Nasazzi’s name will forever be etched in the history books as he became the first-ever captain to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy in 1930. The son of Italian immigrants, Nasazzi was born in Montevideo, the same place where he would go on to become the world champion 29 years later in front of his compatriots on home soil.

He was nicknamed “El Gran Mariscal,” which refers to “The Great Marshal” in Uruguayan. He was not only an extraordinary leader but also a skilful player, who was adjudged the best player at the FIFA World Cup 1930 and twice in the South American Championship, in 1923 and 1935. Apart from leaving his mark for his nation, José Nasazzi also made more than 300 appearances for his club, Bella Vista.

9. Diego Godín

Diego Godín is regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, who won LaLiga with Atlético Madrid in 2013-14 and Copa America for his country in 2011. Godín was inducted into the UEFA Champions League squad of the season three times in 2014, 2016, and 2017 for his heroic displays in the biggest competition of European club football.

Godín is one of the all-time Colchoneros legends having made a total of 277 appearances for Atlético Madrid over nine years. During the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Jack Watson described Godín as “the best central defender in the world.” He is also one of the most intelligent centre-backs of his generation, highly praised for his leadership, positioning, and calm composure in high-pressure situations.

Also read: Top 10 greatest Spanish footballers of all time

8. Juan Schiaffino

The IFFHS poll ranked Juan Schiaffino as the best Uruguayan footballer of all time and the 17th greatest player of the twentieth century. It had been more than two decades since the inaugural world champions played the ultimate game on this planet at the finals of the FIFA World Cup in 1930.

Schiaffino played a crucial role in propelling his nation to the finals of the FIFA World Cup in 1950, facing a formidable opponent in the form of Brazil, the home team, which was in sublime form. But he was in no mood to retreat, as Uruguay needed nothing less than a win to clinch the World Cup trophy after 20 years. After Brazil drew first blood, it was him who equalized well within time to keep his team alive in the finals until Alcides Ghiggia netted the winner with 11 minutes remaining on the clock.

7. Ladislao Mazurkiewicz

One of the greatest Uruguayan goalkeepers of all time, Ladislao Mazurkiewicz was part of the 1967 Uruguay team that won the Copa America. His heroics between the sticks saw him guarding the net for the FIFA World Cup All-Star team in 1970. He was also conferred the best goalkeeper of the tournament as his valorous display of football propelled the Uruguayan side to the semi-finals.

The Uruguayan custodian will always have a special place in the hearts of Peñarol loyalists, as he not only made 183 appearances for the Montevideo-based outfit but also later became their gaffer in 1988 after winning the Primera División five times with Peñarol.

Also read: Top 10 greatest Dutch footballers of all time

6. Enzo Francescoli

Nicknamed “El Principe,” referring to “The Prince,” Enzo Francescoli is highly regarded as one of the greatest playmakers of his generation. He was the only player from Uruguay to be inducted into the elite list of top 125 greatest living footballers in 2004. His legacy became so popular in South America that Argentinian internationals, Enzo Pérez and Enzo Fernández, were named after him.

He made his debut for the senior Uruguay team while competing in a friendly tournament in India. Uruguayan gaffer Omar Borras was so impressed with Francescoli that he went on to praise him in public, saying, “Everyone talks about Platini and Maradona, but our Francescoli has everything to be the highlight of the World Cup.”

5. Edinson Cavani

Edinson Cavani, who is popularly referred to as “El Matador,” meaning “The Bullfighter,” is unarguably one of the finest strikers from Uruguay. He participated in ten major footballing tournaments for La Celeste, including four FIFA World Cup appearances, five Copa America tournaments, and one FIFA Confederations Cup.

He won the Copa America title with Uruguay in 2011. Cavani is an all-time PSG legend, as he was part of the Ligue 1 title-winning squad on six occasions. He was the top Ligue 1 goalscorer for two consecutive seasons in 2016 and 2017, after netting 35 goals and 28 goals respectively.

4. Alcides Ghiggia

If you remember the 1950 FIFA World Cup final story, we told you, you must have become a big fan of Alcides Ghiggia. It was July 1950 when a crowd of 173,000 people gathered to witness Brazil being crowned as the World Champions on their home soil. Brazil just needed a draw, whereas anything less than a win for Uruguay wouldn’t suffice for La Celeste.

It was the highest attendance finals ever in the century-old history of the FIFA World Cup. The entire city of Rio de Janeiro erupted in jubilation after Friaca put the host ahead. But Uruguay did retaliate well within time as Schiaffino equalized in the 66th minute before Ghiggia scored the historic winner in the 79th minute of the match. He was also inducted into the AS Roma Hall of Fame in 2014 and was part of the IFFHS Uruguayan Men’s Dream Team.

3. Diego Forlán

The Golden Ball winner of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Diego Forlán made over a century of appearances for his national side and was a part of the 2011 Copa America winning team. 2010 was a breakthrough year for the Uruguayan legend as he went on to win not only the Golden Ball but was also the joint top scorer in the FIFA World Cup 2010 along with winning the Goal of the Tournament.

He made a total of over 63 appearances for Manchester United and won the FA Cup, Community Shield, and Premier League with the Red Devils before signing for Villarreal and winning the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2004. After making over 100 appearances for Atlético Madrid, he in his last playing days featured for Mumbai City FC in the 2016 ISL season, where he captained his side to finish at the top of the table.

2. Obdulio Varela

We still couldn’t get over that historic 1950 World Cup-winning campaign of Uruguay. How can we forget their captain, Obdulio Varela, who led his side to become the World Champions for the second time in nearly two decades? He was nicknamed “El Negro Jefe” or “The Black Chief” and remains one of the biggest sporting heroes in Uruguay.

The 6-foot-tall midfield sensation from Montevideo also won the Copa America and Copa Escobar Gerona for Uruguay in 1943. His heroics also propelled Peñarol to Uruguayan First Division triumph six times from 1944 to 1954.

1. Luis Suárez

The streets of Salto and Montevideo still reminisce about “the save of the tournament” from a striker. Luis Suárez, who stopped the ball from crossing the goal line with his hand in the 120th minute of the match, saw him leaving the pitch with teary eyes as only a miracle could save Uruguay from exiting the competition as Ghana were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes of the game.

But a miracle did happen as Ghana missed the penalty and Uruguay went on to defeat Ghana to seal their semi-final berth. This handball incident made Suárez a saviour and a hero in the eyes of fellow Uruguayans.

Apart from that incident, the Uruguayan legend has given some of the most iconic moments in football history as the MSN trio (Messi-Suárez-Neymar) led FC Barcelona to complete a treble by winning the UEFA Champions League, LaLiga and Copa Del Rey in the 2014-15 season.

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