Famous Uruguayan Men

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Uruguay might be the ultimate paradise for the jet-set crowd to unwind and lap up the beauties and bounties around, but that is not the sole feather in Uruguay’s hat. You will be rather surprised to know that this country, better lauded by the outside world for its architecture, barbecue, healing springs, and football, has also been home to some avant-garde men. That is right? Did you know that the birth the birth control pill was invented by a Uruguayan? Did you know that mammogram was first done in the Uruguayan city of Montevideo? Did you know that safety device for extraction of blood was also the brain child of a Uruguayan? With a wad of creative and resourceful lot in its kitty, Uruguay has always held its heroes — be it its authors, athletes, politicians, artists and other men of varying accomplishments in great esteem. Unearth all about the lives of some famous Uruguayan men in their biographies below. Exploring their timeline, trivia, and lesser-known facts will be worthy enough.
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 1 
Luis Suarez
(Uruguayan Professional Football Striker)
Luis Suarez
78
Birthdate: January 24, 1987
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Salto, Uruguay

Controversy’s favorite child Uruguayan professional Luis Suarez has been in the news for an infamous handball and also for biting opponents. He now plays for Atlético Madrid and has previously represented Barcelona and Liverpool, winning 19 trophies in his career to date. He is Uruguay's leading goalscorer of all time.

 2 
Edinson Cavani
(Uruguayan Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Striker)
Edinson Cavani
33
Birthdate: February 14, 1987
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Salto, Uruguay

Uruguayan footballer, Edinson Cavani, is the second-most highest scorer among Uruguayan internationals, next only to Luis Suarez. During his time in Italy, he was called El Matador for his composure while scoring goals. Although considered one of the best strikers of his generation, Cavani has been criticized for his relatively poor performance in important games.

 3 
José Mujica
(Former President of Uruguay)
José Mujica
21
Birthdate: May 20, 1935
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Montevideo

José Mujica is an Uruguayan retired politician. From 2010 to 2015, Mujica served as the president of Uruguay. A well-known philanthropist, Mujica won the hearts of many for his donation of 90 percent of his monthly salary to charities. Due to his generosity and austere lifestyle, José Mujica has often been referred to as the world's humblest head of state.

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 4 
Diego Forlán
(Football player)
Diego Forlán
12
Birthdate: May 19, 1979
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
 5 
Diego Godín
(Footballer)
Diego Godín
11
Birthdate: February 16, 1986
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Rosario, Uruguay
 6 
Martín Cáceres
(Uruguayan footballer)
Martín Cáceres
8
Birthdate: April 7, 1987
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Montevideo
 7 
Fernando Muslera
(Plays as a Goalkeeper for Turkish Club Galatasaray and the Uruguay National Team)
Fernando Muslera
12
Birthdate: June 16, 1986
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Buenos Aires, Argentina
 8 
Eduardo Galeano
(Uruguayan Journalist & Writer Best-Known for His Works ‘Las venas abiertas de América Latina’ & ‘Memoria del Fuego’)
Eduardo Galeano
4
Birthdate: September 3, 1940
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
Died: April 13, 2015

Eduardo Galeano was a Uruguayan novelist, journalist, and writer. Regarded as one of the most respected writers of Uruguay, Galeano was honored by the Global Exchange with the prestigious International Human Rights Award in 2006. In 2010, he was awarded the Stig Dagerman Prize.

 9 
Diego Lugano
(Association football player)
Diego Lugano
2
Birthdate: November 2, 1980
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Canelones
 10 
Sebastián Coates
(Association football player)
Sebastián Coates
2
Birthdate: October 7, 1990
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Montevideo
 11 
Álvaro Recoba
(Football player - Attacking midfielder, forward)
Álvaro Recoba
5
Birthdate: March 17, 1976
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
 12 
Mario Benedetti
(Journalist, Novelist and Poet)
Mario Benedetti
2
Birthdate: September 14, 1920
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Paso de los Toros, Uruguay
Died: May 17, 2009

Mario Benedetti was a Uruguayan novelist, journalist, and poet. Widely regarded as one of the 20th century's most important writers in the Spanish-speaking world, Benedetti was a key member of the Generation '45. Benedetti's works were published in 20 languages and he also contributed to the weekly newspaper, Marcha, where he served as the literary director from 1954 to 1973.  

 13 
Horacio Quiroga
(Uruguayan Playwright, Poet and Short Story Writer)
Horacio Quiroga
5
Birthdate: December 31, 1878
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Salto, Uruguay
Died: February 19, 1937

Horacio Quiroga was a Uruguayan poet, playwright, and short story writer. He is best remembered for depicting jungles and characters with mental illnesses in his stories. Horacio Quiroga is credited with influencing the works of Gabriel García Márquez and Julio Cortázar.

 14 
Jorge Drexler
(First Uruguayan Composer to Win an Academy Award)
Jorge Drexler
3
Birthdate: September 21, 1964
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay

Son of German immigrants who escaped the Holocaust, Jorge Drexler was born in Uruguay. Inspired by his physician parents, Dexler, became an otolaryngologist, but his love for music turned him into a Latin pop sensation. His song Al Otro Lado Del Rio from The Motorcycle Diaries won him an Oscar.

 15 
Paolo Montero
(Association football player)
Paolo Montero
2
Birthdate: September 3, 1971
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Montevideo
 16 
Tab Ramos
(Soccer player)
Tab Ramos
1
Birthdate: September 21, 1966
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
 17 
Walter Gargano
(Association football player)
Walter Gargano
1
Birthdate: July 23, 1984
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Paysandú
 18 
Angel Bonanni
(Actor)
Angel Bonanni
5
Birthdate: February 7, 1972
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay

Angel Bonanni is an Israeli model and actor. He is known for playing important roles in popular American TV series like Absentia and Condor. One of the most popular models in Israel, Bonanni has appeared in fashion campaigns for major designers like Donna Karan and Jean Paul Gaultier. He has also appeared in magazines like Harper’s Bazaar.

 19 
Alcides Ghiggia
(Association football player, Association football manager)
Alcides Ghiggia
3
Birthdate: December 22, 1926
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Montevideo
Died: July 16, 2015
 20 
José Gervasio Artigas
(Politician, Military general)
José Gervasio Artigas
3
Birthdate: June 19, 1764
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
Died: September 23, 1850

José Gervasio Artigas was a Uruguayan military general, political leader, and statesman. Considered a national hero in Uruguay, Artigas played a major role in the Latin American wars of independence against the Hispanic Monarchy. Apart from monuments and statues that have been erected in his honor, several public places have also been named after José Gervasio Artigas.

 21 
Marcelo Zalayeta
(Association football player)
Marcelo Zalayeta
1
Birthdate: December 5, 1978
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Montevideo
 22 
Walter Pandiani
(Association football player)
Walter Pandiani
1
Birthdate: April 27, 1976
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Montevideo
 23 
Enzo Francescoli
(Football player)
Enzo Francescoli
4
Birthdate: November 12, 1961
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
 24 
Erwin Schrott
(Bass-baritone)
Erwin Schrott
2
Birthdate: December 21, 1972
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: tevideo, Uruguay

Erwin Schrott is a Uruguayan opera singer best known for his bass-baritone voice. Over the years, Schrott has played important roles in popular operas like Macbeth and Don Giovanni. He has performed in famous venues such as the Vienna State Opera and the Royal Opera House. Erwin Schrott has also received prestigious awards for his work.

 25 
Gustavo Rojo
(Actor)
Gustavo Rojo
2
Birthdate: September 5, 1923
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
Died: April 22, 2017

Gustavo Rojo was an Uruguayan film producer and actor who appeared in over 160 television shows and films between 1938 and 2016. He made his theater debut in his mother Mercedes Pinto's play in the late 1920s. After moving to Mexico along with his family in the 1940s, Rojo started appearing in telenovelas, such as No creo en los hombres.

 26 
Gus Poyet
(Football manager)
Gus Poyet
4
Birthdate: November 15, 1967
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
 27 
Gonzalo Rodríguez
Gonzalo Rodríguez
2
Birthdate: January 22, 1971
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Montevideo
Died: September 11, 1999
 28 
Diego Laxalt
(Association football player)
Diego Laxalt
3
Birthdate: February 7, 1993
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Montevideo
 29 
Juan Alberto Schiaffino
(Footballer)
Juan Alberto Schiaffino
3
Birthdate: July 28, 1925
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
Died: November 13, 2002
 30 
Maximiliano Pereira
(Footballer)
Maximiliano Pereira
2
Birthdate: June 8, 1984
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Montevideo
 31 
Jayson Granger
(Basketball player)
Jayson Granger
3
Birthdate: September 15, 1989
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
 32 
Nicolás Lodeiro
(Association football player)
Nicolás Lodeiro
4
Birthdate: March 21, 1989
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Paysandú
 33 
Rodrigo Zalazar
(Football player - Midfielder)
Rodrigo Zalazar
1
Birthdate: August 12, 1999
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Albacete, Spain
 34 
Fede Alvarez
Fede Alvarez
4
Birthdate: February 9, 1978
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Montevideo

Fede Alvarez is a Uruguayan filmmaker best known for directing American films like Evil Dead and Don't Breathe. Alvarez achieved international prominence after the release of Evil Dead, which grossed $97 million against a budget of $17 million. Fede Álvarez is also known for directing popular short films like Ataque de pánico!

 35 
Martin Mendez
(Bassist)
Martin Mendez
0
Birthdate: April 6, 1978
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay

Martin Mendez is a Uruguayan Swedish bassist best known for his association with the popular Swedish progressive metal band, Opeth. He is the second-longest serving member of Opeth. Apart from Opeth, Martin Mendez has also played for several other bands like Proxima, Vinterkrig, and Fifth to Infinity.

 36 
Tabaré Vázquez
(39th and 41st President of Uruguay (2005 - 2010, 2015 - 2020))
Tabaré Vázquez
9
Birthdate: January 17, 1940
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
Died: December 6, 2020

Tabaré Vázquez was a Uruguayan politician who served as the 39th and 41st president of Uruguay from 2005 to 2010 and from 2015 to 2020 respectively. The first socialist president of Uruguay, Vázquez's first presidency strengthened the country's diplomatic ties with Argentina and Brazil. In 2006, Tabaré Vázquez was honored by WHO for implementing strict tobacco control laws in Uruguay.

 37 
Diego Aguirre
(Football player, Football manager)
Diego Aguirre
1
Birthdate: September 13, 1965
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
 38 
Rafael Viñoly
(Architect)
Rafael Viñoly
2
Birthdate: June 1, 1944
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
 39 
Sebastián Abreu
(Association football player)
Sebastián Abreu
5
Birthdate: October 17, 1976
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Minas
 40 
Santiago Vescovi
(Basketball player)
Santiago Vescovi
1
Birthdate: September 14, 2001
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
 41 
Alfredo Evangelista
(Boxer)
Alfredo Evangelista
2
Birthdate: December 3, 1954
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
 42 
Bruno Fornaroli
(Association football player)
Bruno Fornaroli
2
Birthdate: September 7, 1987
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Salto
 43 
Carlos Páez Rodríguez
(Writer, Motivational speaker, Businessperson)
Carlos Páez Rodríguez
2
Birthdate: October 31, 1953
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Montevideo

Carlos Páez Rodríguez is a Uruguayan motivational speaker and writer. Nicknamed the man of the iron spirit, Rodríguez is best known for surviving a plane crash and spending 72 days in the Andes, during which the survivors resorted to cannibalism to keep themselves alive. The story inspired a film titled Alive where Carlos Páez Rodríguez was played by Bruce Ramsay.

 44 
Jorge Fossati
(Association football manager, Association football player)
Jorge Fossati
0
Birthdate: November 22, 1952
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
 45 
Pablo Cuevas
(Tennis player)
Pablo Cuevas
5
Birthdate: January 1, 1986
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Concordia, Argentina
 46 
Juan María Bordaberry
(President of Uruguay (1972 – 1976) and Minister of Agriculture (1969 – 1972))
Juan María Bordaberry
0
Birthdate: June 17, 1928
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
Died: July 17, 2011

Juan María Bordaberry was a Uruguayan politician best remembered for his service as the President of Uruguay from 1972 to 1976. He served as constitutional President from 1972 to 1973 and then as the chief of a civilian-military dictatorship until 1976. An important politician, Bordaberry also served as the Minister of Agriculture from 14 October 1969 to 1 February 1972.

 47 
Rodrigo Mora
(Association football player)
Rodrigo Mora
0
Birthdate: October 29, 1987
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Rivera
 48 
Marcelo Buquet
(Actor)
Marcelo Buquet
1
Birthdate: October 4, 1963
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
 49 
José Batlle y Ordóñez
(Former President of Uruguay Who Served for Three-Terms Between 1899 and 1911)
José Batlle y Ordóñez
0
Birthdate: May 21, 1856
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay
Died: October 20, 1929

José Batlle y Ordóñez was a Uruguayan politician best remembered for his service as the President of Uruguay on two occasions. He held the president's office from 1903 to 1907 and again from 1911 to 1915. He was also appointed as the acting president in 1899. Batlle is credited with modernizing the country by introducing extensive welfare state reforms.

 50 
Esteban Batista
(Basketball player)
Esteban Batista
0
Birthdate: September 2, 1983
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay