Savious: Diego Forlan scored the winning goal against Ecuador which meant Uruguay qualified from their group automatically

Though some fans may struggle to remember them, Diego Forlán did have his moments at Manchester United – a spectacular volley in the dying minutes to beat Chelsea, and two goals to beat Liverpool at Anfield.

However, he never truly settled at Old Trafford, famously taking 27 games and eight months to score his first goal for the club after arriving for £6.9 million in 2003, and the arrival of Wayne Rooney hastened his departure.

Since then, though, he has carved a reputation as one of Europe’s best strikers, consistently finding the net for Villarreal and latterly Atlético, finishing as top scorer in the Primera Liga and winning the European Golden Boot twice.

Forlan has the World Cup in his blood. His father Pablo played for Uruguay in the 1966 and 1974 World Cups, while his grandfather played for Argentinian club Independiente, where the younger Forlán began his career in 1998.

He was Uruguay’s top scorer in the World Cup qualifiers with seven goals, including a hat-trick against Peru and an injury-time winner against qualification rivals Ecuador that ultimately proved the difference between a play-off place and elimination.

Next summer offers him a shot at restitution after a poor World Cup in 2002, which saw Uruguay eliminated at the group stage.