page_title: Diego Godín
section_title: Atlético Madrid
hierarchical_section_title: Diego Godín / Club career / Atlético Madrid
caption_attribution_description: English: Diego Godín
context_page_description: Diego Roberto Godín Leal is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Italian club Inter Milan and the Uruguay national team.
  Commonly cited as one of the best defenders in the world, he started his professional career with Cerro and three years later was transferred to Primera División side Nacional. He since spent most of his professional career in Spain, representing Villarreal and Atlético Madrid and winning eight titles with the latter club, including the La Liga title in the 2013–14 season.
  A Uruguay international since 2005, Godín appeared for the country at three World Cups and five Copa América tournaments, winning the 2011 edition of the latter competition.
context_section_description: 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 UEFA Super Cup.
  Godín signed a new contract with Atlético on 1 November 2013, 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 equalised 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.
  In 2015, Godín rejected a transfer to Manchester City, managed by his former Villarreal boss Manuel Pellegrini. On 28 October 2017 he became the foreign player with most appearances for the club, surpassing fellow stopper Luis Perea after his 315th against Villarreal; he was nominated for the 2016 and 2018 Ballon d'Or awards.
  On 20 February 2019, Godín scored the second goal in 2–0 home victory over Juventus F.C. in the Champions League round of 16. On 7 May, the 33-year-old announced he would be departing the club after a nine-year tenure and, on 1 June, he symbolically handed over the captain armband to Koke in the 1–1 draw against Sevilla FC.
caption: Godín in action for Atlético in 2018
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