The first player to truly belie the myth the only way from Manchester United is down is Diego Forlan. A committed if profligate striker in two-and-a-half years in Manchester, Forlan was potent in Spain for Villarreal and Atletico Madrid, where he earned the Pichichi award for La Liga's top scorer in 2005 and 2009, coupling the golden boot in each year with the European Golden Shoe.
At the 2010 World Cup, Forlan added the Golden Ball and Golden Boot to his hand luggage when he left South Africa, where he was the only player who consistently mastered the infamous Jabulani ball as Uruguay reached the semi-finals. Forlan entered that tournament on the back of a matchwinning performance in the Europa League final, the start of Atletico's renaissance, and in the next year Uruguay's own resurgence was rewarded with the Copa America.
Yet Forlan is most synonymous with United, principally due to one unforgettable afternoon on Merseyside in December 2002. Forlan took 26 games to score for United (via a penalty) and he had three goals in 40 appearances prior to arriving at Anfield. Forlan scored twice at the Anfield Road End, where he confronted overzealous stewards who shoved him away from the euphoric United supporters.
