How on Earth has Diego Forlan Can't be in the last Three for the Ballon d’Or 2010 ?

                             Diego Forlan i salute You
Barcelona players Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Lionel Messi are the three nominees for the FIFA Ballon d'Or World Player of the Year 2010 award. Midfielders Iniesta and Xavi a bit helped Spain win its first World Cup title, while Argentine forward Messi Failed to Score In Fifa World cup.. But He Played a major role in Barcelona's Spanish title defense.
Messi likely makes the list because of his play with FC Barcelona while Xavi and Iniesta Nothing did Best in World Cup with Spain. How they Both are in Last Three Nominees for the Fifa Nallon d'Or World Player Of The Year... Nobody Knows Why ? Xavi didn't Deserve and Iniesta in last Three Nominees Just becuz he did One Goal In The World Cup Final...

Why they Forgot Diego Forlan who almost Beat Octopus In The Match For 3rd Place (Uruguay vs Germany) in Fifa World Cup ?(You know what i'm talking about if you remember Last 10 sec.of this Match )

Why they Forgot Diego Forlan Who One Handedly take his team On The Spot Light and End the Tournament at 4th Place after 1970 When Uruguay team End the FIFA Tournament in Mexico ? 

Lionel Messi admitted that he does not expect to retain the award he won last year.
Lionel Messi Said: 
“I want the winner of the Ballon d’Or to be someone in our locker room.”
He acknowledged that his fellow nominees Carles Puyol, Dani Alves and David Villa are all quality players but when asked the question who he thought was the favorite to win the award was,  
He Replied: 
 “Xavi and Iniesta, who scored in the final. He was the best player in the tournament, even though Diego Forlan was chosen.

“I think the World Cup will have a lot of weight on the final decision.”

Diego Forlan

 What a year for this man. Diego Forlan not only spearheaded Atletico Madrid to Europa success but he was the World Cup’s player of the tournament – his ‘Golden Ball’ award justifies that.
Uruguay oozed their way through to the World Cup semi-finals only to be beaten by a resilient Dutch side. Forlan himself scored a spectacular goal to level up proceedings before the interval but were subsequently downed come the end of the game.
Forlan finished joint top goal scorer in the competition with five goals – but his lack of assist saw the ‘golden shoe’ make its way to Germany with Thomas Muller.
His contribution was staggering. With David Suazo in towe the South Americans finished ahead of heavyweights Brazil and Argentina.
His contribution for his club however saw them pick up silverware as they brought the UEFA Europa League to the Spanish capital for the first time.
In 2010 FIFA World Cup 2010 Diego Forlán became the first player since Lothar Matthäus in 1990 to score three goals outside the penalty area in one tournament In FIFA World History.
Forlán is the fourth South American player that has received the Golden Ball in the FIFA World Cup tournament. 
His goal in the semi-final against Liverpool and his brace in the final against Fulham saw Los Rojiblancos lift the coveted title in Hamburg.Pretty much playing at the peak of his career, it’s been the best year of Diego Forlan’s professional life. Will he top it off by being named the world’s best player for 2010 ?

Diego Forlán is The Only Grand Master Player for The Long range goal... 

The FIFA Ballon d’Or, the combination of FIFA World Player of the Year and France Football Ballon d’Or, is the honour for the best player of 2010. Therefore, the World Cup is not the only thing that matters in the final decision. It is important to note here that Diego Forlan won two trophies last season; the Copa Del Ray and UEFA Europa League also won Golden Ball at FIFA World Cuo 2010.
Wesley Sneijder meanwhile won a famous treble with the Serie A, which included the Serie A title, league cup and the Champions League. On the contrary, the three players Barcelona nominees only won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup in the current year.

For Ballon d’Or Why FIFA World Cup's Result is Nothing Against All European Soccer Leagues ? 

Atletico Madrid Striker Diego Forlan Insists Players Remain In Support Of Coach Quique Sanchez Flores

Diego Forlan maintains support for Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores.

 Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan insists that the players’ relationship with coach Quique Sanchez Flores remains as strong as ever, and they are collectively committed to turning their season around.
Los Colchoneros are currently experiencing a poor run of form, with the 2-0 defeat to Levante on Saturday evening their third loss in a row, prompting president Enrique Cerezo to brand the performance one of the worst in recent memory.
Speaking to the media this afternoon, however, the Uruguayan affirmed his faith in Flores, saying: “We have to accept criticism when things like this happen. The coach is very experienced, and we listen to him.
“There are things that appear in the press, but the relationship with the coach is as strong as ever, and this has not changed. In the league, we still have options. Sometimes, the fans do not have patience but this is understandable. Most of us have been through this. We must be calm.”
Forlan also admitted that he expected wholesale changes to the way the team operates tactically in the next match, adding: “There are many games and it is true that we have been outplayed. This is not the fault of the defence - we are a group. We must keep improving.” 

Shawn Michaels and Diego Forlan on Facebook

Atletico Madrid Striker Diego Forlan: Our Main Goal Is To Qualify For The Champions League

 Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan has underlined the club's ambitions this season and says that their main target is to qualify for the Champions League

Atletico won the Europa League last season and also reached the final of the Copa del Rey but failed to finish in the top four in the Spanish Primera Division.

However, Forlan believes that they can finish in the Champions League spots in this campaign.

"We would love to qualify for the Champions League, that is the goal," he said, according to Goal.com Spain.

The 31-year-old is also a candidate for the FIFA Ballon d'Or award due to his heroics in the Europa League and the 2010 World Cup with Uruguay.

"Being in the list of finalists is amazing. But it is not easy [to win the award] with all the great players out there."

Forlan: Names and history mean nothing

 It has been long and demanding year for Diego Forlan. The blond striker has had an energy-sapping schedule of matches, long-haul flights, functions and interviews to attend to over the last 12 months.

And though a little tired after so much exertion, he can at least take satisfaction from a thoroughly rewarding year. In addition to helping Atletico Madrid win the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA European Super Cup, the Uruguayan goal machine also inspired his country to fourth place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, where he pocketed the adidas Golden Ball as the player of the tournament.

Having achieved so much for club and country, Forlan fully merits his place on the shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2010. And as he explains in an exclusive interview with FIFA.com, he is delighted just to be there: “It’s incredible to be on the list of nominees, which is not an easy thing to achieve when you consider all the players there are.”

As far as the 31-year-old is concerned, the performances the 23 short-listed candidates all put in at South Africa 2010 will have a big bearing on who finally receives the prestigious accolade. “The World Cup is the biggest event in football,” he said.

Yet, typically for this selfless team player, his happiest memory of those unforgettable four weeks is the never-say-die performance he and his team-mates gave against Ghana in a dramatic quarter-final. “That’s the game that stands out for me because of what we experienced on the pitch and what we achieved,” Forlan revealed. “The team played so well that day and we were all enjoying what was a very special occasion. I think you could see that on the pitch.”

The scorer of five goals in the competition, Forlan has little doubt that eventual world champions Spain deserved their prize: “They were worthy winners, because they showed what a great team they are and they won in style. There’s not much between teams these days. There were some big nations who had some disappointing results and that just goes to show that if you’re not on top of your game, then names and history count for nothing. To win matches you have to go out and play them.”

Forlan’s Uruguay were not found wanting in that respect, and his inspirational efforts drew praise from some famous names. Among them was his esteemed countryman Enzo Francescoli, who had this to say to FIFA.com in an exclusive interview during the world finals: “If he keeps playing like this, then he’s going to end up the best player Uruguay have had for a long time, and that includes me.”

Modest to a fault, Forlan blushes at El Príncipe’s words of praise: “I’m just trying to do the best I can, and if that means I eventually go down in history then that’s great. But I’m not trying to beat anyone. We are who we are.”

In the wake of Uruguay’s run to the semi-finals in South Africa, the striker was as determined as anyone to ensure Oscar Tabarez stayed on as coach. “I just felt the coach had to carry on with the project he’d been working on,” said the Charrúa talisman. “He’s done a great job since he took over and it would have been a shame if his work had been cut short. There’s a feeling of complete confidence now because he knows the set-up inside out, from the players in the team right now to the young ones who’ll be pushing through in the future. It was important that he stayed on.”

The next major objective for Tabarez and his charges is Copa America 2011 in Argentina, where they have been drawn against fellow South Africa 2010 participants Chile and Mexico, as well as Peru.

“It’s definitely one of the toughest groups there is,” opined Forlan. “The two teams who went to the World Cup have a lot of quality, and though Peru have been struggling a little in the last few years, they could bounce back at any moment. They’ve got some very good players and a reputation for playing good football too. It won’t be easy and we’ll have to take it one game at a time, but it’s a competition we’d love to win. And I’m looking forward to going to Argentina too because I’ve got a good relationship with the fans there.”

Prior to taking on Latin America’s finest, however, Forlan has a long domestic season to negotiate with Atletico Madrid. “We’d love to qualify for the Champions League. That’s the objective,” he stated. “As for winning the Copa del Rey or the Europa League again, we’ll just have to see how we get on.”

In the meantime, Atleti’s task will be to try stay in the frame at the top of La Liga, which is once again being dominated by Barcelona and Real Madrid: “The top two have got a big advantage over the rest and it’s not easy for the teams below to keep pace.”

Forlan knows all about that, having set an equally fast pace for his peers to follow throughout 2010.

Atletico Madrid Striker Diego Forlan: 2010 Has Been A Magical Year

 Atletico Madrid’s prolific striker Diego Forlan has confessed that he has enjoyed a “magical and unforgettable” 12 months at club at international level.

The Uruguayan led his nation to the semi-finals of the World Cup, netting five times in the process and also collecting the Golden Ball accolade as the tournament’s best player.

He also experienced success with Los Colchoneros, lifting the Europa League title and also defeating European champions Inter in the Super Cup, and at an award ceremony hosted by Spanish publication AS, he collected a special award for his achievements.

Attending the event personally, he reflected on the events by saying: “2010 was a magical year and was unforgettable. It was a joy to see the happiness of the fans, and this is for them, too.”

Forlan will return to training with his colleagues ahead of this week’s Europa League tie with Aris Thessaloniki at the Vicente Calderon, with victory sending the holders into the next round.

Atletico Madrid Striker Diego Forlan Coveted By Flamengo – Report

 Flamengo are aiming to celebrate their 100th birthday in style, aiming, according to L’Equipe, to complete a major coup on the transfer market by landing Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan.
Forlan has compete in Europe for the vast majority of his career, turning out notably for Manchester United and Villarreal prior to his move to the Spanish capital.
Though his spell in England was infamous due to his poor form, he rediscovered his goal scoring touch in Spain and has a remarkable record in La Primera Division.
In the international game, the 31-year-old has also caught the eye, most prominently in the 2010 World Cup, when he was outstanding for his country and ultimately won the Golden Ball award, presented to the outstanding player of the tournament.
For all his success, however, Forlan has never hidden his desire to return to the South American domestic game, with interest from Flamengo potentially opening the door a little.
A move is a great deal from fruition and indeed may largely be a dream on the part of the Rubro-Negro. There are still more than two years left on Forlan’s contract with Atleti, and the Spaniards will not be keen to allow a key member of their squad to depart for pittance.
There have been reports in Spain of late that the attacker is unsettled, but he has moved to rubbish these in recent times, affirming his commitment to his present employers.

Diego Forlan is not interested in leaving Atletico Madrid

 Diego Forlan has stated that he would love to retire at Atletico Madrid after cooling reports he could return to the Premier League.

The Uruguay striker, who shone at last summer's World Cup finals, has been strongly linked with a move back to England.

But the former Manchester United striker is ready to snub the reported interest of Tottenham and Liverpool.

"I would love to retire at Atletico Madrid," he told Marca.
"But the board are the ones who decide and we must remember that.
"I have a contract and I'm very happy, and always answer the same when there are rumours. I've never said I wanted to leave.
"If offers come in, it's necessary to see what is best for the club and best for me.
"I have certain plans for the future, but things change and it is difficult to know what will happen, but I want to continue in Europe for as long as possible."

Forlán, en el Foro Marca: “Me encantaría jubilarme en el Atlético de Madrid”

“Se me pone la piel de gallina al recordar la final de Copa”

 Diego Forlán acudió al Foro Marca Ballesteros en la tarde del miércoles 25 en una abarrotada Fundación Lázaro Galdiano. Fue recibido al grito de guerra que se utiliza en el Calderón, el ya clásico ‘u-ru-gua-yo’ y estuvo arropado por su familia, su novia Zaira y su hermano Pablo con su esposa, su representante, Daniel Bolotnicoff y por una amplia representación del Club Atlético de Madrid, encabezada por su Presidente, Don Enrique Cerezo. Acompañando al Presidente estuvo Don Lázaro Albarracín, Vicepresidente del Área Social, así como el cuerpo técnico casi al completo, con Quique Sánchez Flores, Fran Escribá, segundo entrenador, y Emilio Álvarez, preparador de porteros.
También acudieron ex jugadores como Adrián Escudero, Luis Pereira o Pedro Pablo, ahora delegado del primer equipo. El Presidente de la Fundación Atlético de Madrid, Don Enrique Collar, acudió junto al Director de dicho organismo, Don Germán Robles. Y fuera del Atlético de Madrid estaban en las primeras filas el que fuera seleccionador nacional y entrenador del Atlético, Don Vicente Miera, así como el maestro de periodistas Don José María García y el boxeador Javier Castillejo.

El acto fue conducido por la periodista Olga Viza y en la mesa, junto a Forlán, se sentaron Don Enrique Cerezo, Don Eduardo Inda, Director del diario Marca y Don José Antonio Abellán, periodista y ‘rojiblanco reconocido’, como fue presentado.

Don Eduardo Inda fue el encargado de abrir el acto y elogió la figura de Diego Forlán. Dijo del charrúa que “es uno de los cinco mejores delanteros centro del mundo, sino el mejor. Es un caballero dentro y fuera de la cancha. El ‘Súperatleti’ de Quique no se podría entender sin Diego Forlán”. A continuación fue Don Enrique Cerezo el que tomó la palabra para comentar que “este auditorio parece un cine en pequeño y qué mejor marco para que esté en él un jugador de cine como Forlán. Es un magnífico jugador y una persona excelente. Es para estar orgullosos y satisfechos de tenerle con nosotros. Con él nos une a los atléticos una relación especial y es, junto a otros jugadores, la columna vertebral del equipo. Ha colaborado en darnos los dos últimos títulos. Es un jugador de los pies a la cabeza”.

2010 Was The Year For Diego Forlan

English:
This was the year of Diego Forlan, after winning the Europa League, European Super Cup and winning the Golden Ball as best player in the World Cup, now the GQ magazine has chosen the Best Athlete of 2010. This recognition adds to the awards won by Uruguayan so far this year and raised to the level of soccer star.Award to be presented at the Annual Gala Awards GQ Men of the Year 2010 at the Palace Hotel on Monday November 22 to 21 hours. GQ Awards enjoy international prestige and it is one of the most influential magazines in the world and that annually awards the film personalities, literature, sports, art, music, fashion, etc. .
Antonio Banderas, Pedro Almodovar, Lio Messi, Fernando Torres, Iker Casillas and Robinho are only some of which have been recognized by GQ. We believe the choice is entirely correct because it is a player who has shown great ability in the world of South Africa to lead Uruguay to a historical classification and then to put Atletico Madrid to the backs to take the championships achieved.The only thing left to say now is that if this recognition will be worth some points to get the much coveted Golden Ball FIFA Meanwhile, you enjoy it Congratulations!
Spanish:Éste ha sido el año de Diego Forlán, luego de ganar la Europa League, la Supercopa de Europa y haber ganado el Balón de Oro como mejor jugador del Mundial de Sudáfrica, ahora la prestigiosa revista GQ lo ha elegido el Mejor Deportista del 2010. Un reconocimiento que se suma a los galardones obtenidos por el uruguayo en lo que va del año y lo eleva a la categoría de estrella del futbol.
 Premio que se le entregará en la Gala Anual de los Premios Hombres del Año GQ 2010 en el hotel Palace el lunes 22 de noviembre a las 21 horas. Los Premios GQ gozan de prestigio internacional ya que se trata de una de las revistas más influyentes en el mundo y que anualmente premia a las personalidades del cine, de la literatura, del deporte, del arte, de la música, de la moda, etc.
 Antonio Banderas, Pedro Almodóvar, Lio Messi, Fernando Torres, Iker Casillas y Robinho son solo algunos de los que han recibido el reconocimiento de GQ. Creemos que la elección es totalmente acertada por tratarse de un futbolista que ha demostrado su gran capacidad en el mundial de Sudáfrica al conducir a Uruguay a una clasificación histórica y posteriormente al ponerse al Atlético de Madrid a las espaldas para llevarlo a los campeonatos conseguidos.

Lo único que queda por decir ahora es que si este reconocimiento le valdrá algunos puntos para conseguir el tan ansiado FIFA Balón de Oro. Mientras tanto, que lo disfrute ¡Felicidades!

Atletico offer Spurs-target Forlan to Real: report

MADRID — Atletico Madrid have offered to sell Diego Forlan, voted the best player at the World Cup, to crosstown rivals Real for 18 million euros, a Spanish sports newspaper said Wednesday.
The news could come as a disappointment to Tottenham and Juventus, who are both reportedly interested in signing the Uruguayan striker, although it is not clear whether Real would be interested in the 31-year-old.
The daily Marca said the offer did not come to Real Madrid directly but through an authorized intermediary for Atletico.
The proposed price tag of 18 million euros (25 million dollars) would be just half of his buyout clause, and is negotiable, it said.
"Atletico intends to sound out the possibility of Forlan's transfer in January for one reason above all: the request of its coach Quique Sanchez Flores," said Marca, which did not quote any sources in the report.
Forlan has had a disappointing start to this season, scoring just three league goals, the last on September 11.
Marca said Real "for the moment is not considering buying Diego Forlan," but at the club "they have learnt to never say never."

Real coach Jose Mourinho said last month that he had no plans to sign more players during the winter transfer window.
Forlan left Manchester United - where he had two inconsistent seasons - in 2004 for Villarreal, who then sold him to Atletico in 2007 for 21 million euros.
He has since been an integral part of the Atletico side, which won the UEFA Europa Cup last season with the Uruguayan scoring both goals in the club's 2-1 defeat of English side Fulham in the final.
The player has twice won the award as the Spanish Primera Liga's top scorer and twice won the European Golden Boot.
He was also awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the 2010 World Cup after grabbing five goals in tournament, in which Uruguay finished in fourth place.
Forlan indicated in an interview with Marca last month that he could leave Spain for the English Premiership if the right offer comes along.

Diego Forlan: The goals will soon arrive

 Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan has insisted he is not fretting about his barren spell in front of goal.
The Uruguayan has twice won the European Golden Shoe during six prolific seasons in Spain with Villarreal and Los Rojiblancos, and this summer he finished as joint-top scorer at the FIFA World Cup™ with five goals.
However, after netting three times in his first two La Liga outings this season, Forlan has found himself stuck in a rut and failed to score in any of his last 12 appearances for Atletico.
You don't forget how to score goals and I'm not thinking day in, day out that I haven't scored. You need to be calm and nothing else.
Diego Forlan

The 31-year-old has rarely gone so long without a goal, but he is taking it all in his stride, telling AS: "Now the chances are not going in, but soon they will.

"You need to continue trying and I'm determined to do that. You don't forget how to score goals and I'm not thinking day in, day out that I haven't scored. The goals will soon arrive."

The former Manchester United man, who hit the post and was also denied by a last-ditch block during Sunday's 2-0 derby defeat by Real Madrid, added: "You need to be calm and nothing else.

"In the game against Madrid I had two or three chances, and the other day against Almeria the same thing happened. I feel bad for having lost the derby, but on a personal level I feel fine."

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo concerned with Diego Forlan exit talk..

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has brushed aside talk of a transfer for under-fire hitman Diego Forlan.
The striker has struggled to flex his muscles this season, leading to speculation he has become unhappy with life in Spain, amid reports that Inter and Liverpool are after him.
However, any quick exit in January is unlikely and indeed Cerezo believes his man can improve.
"I hope to see [Diego] Forlan get back to his best," Cerezo told AS.com."Players can play where they like, but I don't know their intentions.
"In any case, the voices about him leaving have disturbed me."
After winning the Golden Ball in last summer's World Cup after bagging five goals Forlan has made a slow start to the season scoring just three times in eight outings.

Ballon d'Or 2010 : The Nominees for 2010 Ballon d'Or Award

Monday 5th July, 2010: FIFA announced via its website. “A new chapter in football was opened with the news that France Football’s Ballon d’Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award have been merged. FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter signed an agreement with Amaury Group President Marie-Odile Amaury… meaning that the world’s best player will from now on be awarded the FIFA Ballon d’Or each year “

Speaking in Johannesburg South Africa FIFA’s president Sepp Blatter expressed his joy and illuminated the prestige of the award.“we’re going to combine our talents and experience to create a single reward for the world’s best player. It will be known as the FIFA Ballon d’Or.”

Tuesday 26th October : Nominees list released by FIFA for the first ever recipient of the award. As expected, it is filled with players who stared for their teams in the highest echelon of Club Football: UEFA champions league and soccer’s ultimate price and crown jewel: The World Cup.
Monday 6th December, 2010: The top three players with the most votes will be announced by FIFA and France Football Magazine.
January 10, 2011: In Zurich Switzerland at a gala, the winner will be announced to the world. The verdict rests on football experts from the FIFA’s Football Committee, the Technical and Development Committee, the Committee for Women’s Football , the FIFA Women’s World Cup, as well as by a group of experts from France Football magazine.

Spain 
Xavi Alonso (Real Madrid)
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
Andreas Iniesta (Barcelona)
David Villa (Barcelona0
Xavi (Barcelona)
Carles Puyol (Barcrlona)
Gernany
Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid)
Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)
Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich)
Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)
Brazil 
 Daniel Alves (Barcelona)
Julio Cesar (Inter Milan)
Maicon (Inter Milan)

Netherlands
Arjen Robben (Beyern Munich)
Wesley Sneijder (Inter Millan)
Uruguay
Diego Forlan (Athletico Madrid)
Cote d’Ivoire 
Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Cameroon
Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan)
Portugal  
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Argentina 
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Ghana
Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland)

The eventual winner will be the player who has achieved success in three fronts. Foremost, they should have had a strong showing for their club in the latter stages of the club season that just concluded just before the start of the World Cup in South Africa.there should have additionally transferred their league form into the world cup with their national sides- it helps if their national side is highly ranked in the FIFA World team rankings.
Considering the list is still long, I chose to be more frugal in my choices and bet on the following six in ranking order
1:Diego Forlan
2: David Villa
3: Cristiano Ronaldo
4: Lionel Messi
5: Daniel Alves

Which player is your pick for soccer’s equivalent of MVP? Leave your suggestion in the comments below. 

Atlético Madrid 2-1 Fulham (UEFA Europa League 2009 2010 Final)

Forlán double gives Atlético glory


Diego Forlán struck twice, the second four minutes from the end of extra time, to decide the first UEFA Europa League final.


Diego Forlán struck with four minutes of extra time remaining as Club Atlético de Madrid ended a 48-year wait for major continental silverware, beating Fulham FC 2-1 in the inaugural UEFA Europa League final.

There had been little to choose between the sides throughout. Forlán and Simon Davies exchanged first-half goals then, as fatigue set in, they matched each other for endeavour. Yet as those around him tired the Uruguayan international gained energy. With the lottery of a penalty shoot-out looming, he did just enough to divert Sergio Agüero's cross into the far corner via Brede Hangeland. The wait was over.

 If this was to be the night Fulham introduced themselves to the big stage after 131 years in the shadows, there were few obvious signs of nerves. They started confidently, expansively, passing from the back. That almost proved their undoing on 12 minutes, as Agüero pounced on a loose Danny Murphy pass just inside the Fulham half. He fed Forlán with only Mark Schwarzer to beat from the angle but the striker, in such fine form, fluffed his lines – his low shot across goal hitting the upright.

Fulham heeded the warning, finding a more natural rhythm and, midway through the half, a long-range shot from Davies to warm David de Gea's hands. Agüero was knocking on the door in more subtle style at the other end, ever a threat cutting in from the left flank. His contribution to the opener, though, was less refined. José Antonio Reyes outstripped Dickson Etuhu on the right, lofting a pass for Simão to direct into Agüero's path. The striker miscued his effort but it fell perfectly for the lurking Forlán, who made no mistake this time.
But Fulham have performed so many Lazarus acts this term that they could reasonably have the feat renamed in their honour, and within five minutes it was all square. Bobby Zamora did well to turn inside Luis Perea on the left though the opening it brought had all but closed when the ball rolled to Zoltán Gera. The Hungarian international steadied himself and crossed towards the far post where Davies lashed in.
After surviving more Atlético pressure as half-time approached, Fulham emerged for the restart a renewed force. The Spanish side were indebted to the reactions of De Gea, the goalkeeper wary to the threat of Gera after a brilliant Murphy pass, then beating away Davies' shot after the ball dropped fortuitously for the winger. In between Zamora, a major injury doubt before the game, had made way for Clint Dempsey – it failed to stem the Fulham tide, though as the game became more and more fractious Atlético got on an even keel.

Extra time was increasingly inevitable, a test for any side let alone two who have played over 60 games of the season. Forlán has played the majority for Atlético but ominously for Fulham he looked fresh – Quique Sánchez Flores's greatest regret must have been that his No7 was not on the end of his own surging run and cross on 105 minutes as Eduardo Salvio and Agüero both failed to capitalise. And then, with penalties approaching he was where it mattered; nearly half a century after Atlético beat ACF Fiorentina to claim their first major European honour, they have a second.
Before Match

Goals Highlights

After Match

Diego Forlan Hopeful Injury To Atletico Madrid Team-Mate Sergio Aguero Is Not Serious

Atletico Madrid attacker Diego Forlan optimistic that inury to strike partner Sergio Aguero is not serious.

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan is hopeful that the injury suffered by South American strike partner Sergio Aguero during the 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao is not a serious one.

The diminutive forward went down clutching his knee in the second half, and had to be stretchered off the pitch, clearly in some pain. Brazilian Diego Costa replaced him.

Forlan, who netted the opening goal with a well-placed shot into the corner following excellent build-up play from his attacking compatriot, hopes that ‘Kun’ does not face an extended spell on the sidelines.

He told journalists: “We will need to wait and see. Hopefully [Aguero’s injury] is nothing serious, and the sooner we have him back on the field the better.

“We won the match, but we suffered a lot for it. The truth is I do not think we deserved to suffer so much. We played well, but the game eventually got more complicated than it should have.”

Forlan also added that his goal celebration was a tribute to Diego Rodriguez, a player for Nacional who died on Saturday at the age of 22 as a result of his injuries sustained in a car crash.

New Video of Mr.WrestleMania & Mr.FutbaMania

Mr.WrestleMani & Mr.FutbaMania
Created by HBK MANO

Mr. Shawn Michaels & Mr.Diego Forlan

Diego Forlán, il miglior atleta dell'anno nell'Uruguay

Miglior giocatore del Mondiale, miglior gol di Sudafrica 2010, la fidanzata più sexy della Liga spagnola e adesso il Charrúa de Oro, il Premio al Miglior Sportivo dell'Anno consegnato dal Circolo dei Giornalisti Sportivi dell'Uruguay. Se c'è qualcosa che resiste a Diego Forlán, non l'abbiamo ancora incontrato.

Per il calciatore dell'Atletico Madrid, che con la sua squadra è pure campione dell'Europa League e che nella stessa finale contro il Fulham è stato considerato il miglior giocatore della partita, è il secondo Charrúa de Oro consecutivo e per ritirarlo ha interrotto le vacanze a Miami con la fidanzata Zaira Nara. Che il premio sia importante per Forlán lo si è capito dall'organizzazione del suo arrivo. All'aeroporto di Montevideo lo aspettavano il padre e il fratello, per portarlo direttamente al Cantegril Country Club di Punta del Este, mentre la sorella Alejandra era in loco per ritirare il premio in caso di problemi.

"Per me è un onore ricevere questo premio, nel mio Paese. Ho avuto la fortuna di ricevere altri premi fuori, ma il fatto che mi arrivi dall'Uruguay per me è un privilegio" ha detto Forlán, ricevuto alle porte del Country Cluyb da decine di fans. Tra loro adolescenti che gli proponevano il matrimonio e un bambino che è riuscito a burlarsi della sicurezza per buttarsi tra le sue braccia.