Place of birth Rosario, Uruguay Name Diego Godin Career start 2003 Years Team Weight 73 kg | Number 2 Height 1.86 m Playing position Role Footballer | |
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Full name Diego Roberto Godin Leal Date of birth (1986-02-16) 16 February 1986 (age 29) Current teams Uruguay national football team (Defender), Atletico Madrid (#2 / Defender) Similar People Koke, Juanfran, Jose Gimenez, Gabi, Diego Simeone Profiles | ||
World Cup Moments: Diego Godin
Diego Roberto Godín Leal ([ˈdjeɣo ɣoˈðin]; born 16 February 1986) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Atlético Madrid and the Uruguay national team as a central defender.
Contents
- World Cup Moments Diego Godin
- Early years Villarreal
- Atltico Madrid
- International career
- Club statistics
- Club
- International
- Individual
- References
He spent most of his professional career in Spain, representing Villarreal and Atlético Madrid and winning six major titles with the latter.
An Uruguayan international since 2005, Godín appeared for the country at two World Cups and four Copa América tournaments, winning the 2011 edition of the latter competition.
Early years / Villarreal
Born in Rosario, Godín started his professional career with C.A. Cerro at the age of 17. After his good performances, he was transferred to top division powerhouse Club Nacional de Football, where he quickly became captain due to his maturity and professionalism.
In August 2007, Godín signed a five-year deal with La Liga side Villarreal CF, scoring in just his second game, a 2–3 away loss against CA Osasuna on 7 October, and participating with 24 matches in the club's 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.
Atlético Madrid
On 4 August 2010, after experiencing his best season at Villarreal – 36 games, three goals – Godín joined fellow league team 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 made his official debut for the Colchoneros on the 27th, playing the entire 2–0 win against Inter Milan for the season's UEFA Super Cup.
On 1 November 2013 Godín signed a new contract with Atlético, keeping him at the club until 2018. "I'm delighted to prolong my stay with the club. This is my home", he said. He scored four league goals during the campaign, including one on the last matchday on 17 May 2014 against FC Barcelona which equalized 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.
International career
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; he represented the nation at the 2007 Copa América, playing in the opening 0–3 defeat to Peru before losing his place in the team to Andrés Scotti in La Celeste's run to fourth place.
Godín was selected for the squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa: he started in the opening match against France (0–0) in Cape Town, and played in a further four matches for the eventual semi-finalists.
In 2011, Godín featured in Uruguay's successful 2011 Copa América campaign, making one appearance as a substitute in a 3–0 defeat of Paraguay in the final. He also participated in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, partnering Diego Lugano in defence in four of the team's five matches as they reached the semi-finals.
Godín was selected by coach Óscar Tabárez for the 2014 World Cup and captained the team in three of its four matches due to Lugano's absence through injury. On 24 June, he headed the game's only goal against Italy in the final group match, sending the country through to the knockout stage.
In May 2015, Godín was named as captain for Uruguay's defence of the Copa América during the 2015 continental tournament in Chile. He was also picked for the Copa América Centenario squad, heading home from a Carlos Sánchez long cross in the opener against Mexico where both teams ended with ten players (1–3 loss). He gained his 100th cap in the following match, a 0–1 defeat to Venezuela at the Lincoln Financial Field.