Darwin Núñez

Darwin Gabriel Núñez Ribeiro (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈdaɾwin ˈnuɲeθ]; born 24 June 1999) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal and the Uruguay national team.

Núñez came through Peñarol's youth academy, being promoted to the first team in 2017. In August 2019, he joined Spanish Segunda División club Almería for a club record fee. Benfica signed him in 2020 for a club-record transfer worth €24 million, the most expensive signing in Portuguese football history. In his second season, he won the Bola de Prata for top scorer in the Primeira Liga with 26 goals in 28 games, being named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year and Primeira Liga Player of the Year. Liverpool then signed him in 2022 for a transfer worth €75 million (£64 million). After winning the 2024–25 Premier League, he was sold to Al-Hilal for €53 million (£46 million).

After representing Uruguay at various youth levels, Núñez was called up to the senior national team for his first time in 2019. He scored on his international debut against Peru. After missing the 2021 Copa América due to an injury, Núñez represented Uruguay at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Copa América.

Early life

Darwin Gabriel Núñez Ribeiro was born on 24 June 1999 in Artigas, Artigas Department. He was born into an impoverished family, in which his father Bibiano Núñez was a builder and his mother Silvia Ribeiro was a hawker of milk bottles. Núñez played for local clubs La Luz and San Miguel before being scouted at the age of 14 by former Uruguay international José Perdomo, and then moving by himself to the capital city Montevideo to join the ranks of Peñarol.