Darwin Núñez Biography Darwin Gabriel Núñez Ribeiro born June 24, 1999 is a professional Uruguayan footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and the Uruguay national team.Núñez began his career in the youth academy of Peñarol, making his way to the first team in 2017. In August 2019, he transferred to Spanish Segunda División club Almería for a club-record fee. He joined Benfica in 2020 for €24 million, marking the most expensive transfer in Portuguese football history. During his second season, he was the top scorer in the Primeira Liga, netting 26 goals in 28 matches, and earned a spot in both the Primeira Liga Team of the Year and was named Player of the Year. Liverpool signed him in 2022 for €75 million (£64 million).
Darwin Núñez Biography 2025
Darwin Gabriel Núñez Ribeiro is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and the Uruguay national team. Núñez came through Peñarol’s youth academy, being promoted to the first team in 2017.
Born: 24 June 1999 (age 25 years), Artigas, Uruguay
Current teams: Liverpool F.C. (#9 / Forward), Uruguay national football team (#11 / Forward)
Height: 1.87 m
Parents: Bibiano Núñez, Silvia Ribeiro
Darwin Núñez Biography 2025 Details
| Full name | Darwin Gabriel Núñez Ribeiro | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 24 June 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Artigas, Uruguay | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Category | Football Biographies | ||
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Early Life
Darwin Gabriel Núñez Ribeiro was born on June 24, 1999, in Artigas, in the Artigas Department of Uruguay. He grew up in a financially struggling family; his father, Bibiano Núñez, worked as a builder, while his mother, Silvia Ribeiro, sold milk bottles. Núñez played for local clubs La Luz and San Miguel before being scouted at 14 by former Uruguay international José Perdomo, prompting him to move alone to Montevideo to join Peñarol. Initially struggling with homesickness, Núñez returned home to be with his family before rejoining Peñarol a year later. At 17, he suffered a cruciate ligament injury that sidelined him for over a year and required two surgeries. During his recovery, his older brother Junior left the club and abandoned football to support the family, telling him, “You’re better suited than I am.”
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What is Darwin Núñez’s Net Worth and Salary?
Darwin Núñez is a Uruguayan professional footballer with an estimated net worth of $40 million. He plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and the Uruguay national team. Núñez developed his skills at the youth academy of Club Atlético Peñarol and moved to Spanish Segunda División club Almería in 2019 before joining Benfica the following year for a record transfer fee. In 2022, Liverpool signed him for €75 million.
His individual accolades include winning the Bola de Prata for top scorer in the Primeira Liga, as well as being named both Player of the Year and a member of the Primeira Liga Team of the Year. Núñez has represented Uruguay at various youth and senior levels, including participation in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2025 Copa América.
Personal Life
In January 2025, Darwin Núñez and his partner, Lorena Mañas, welcomed their first child. In addition to his native Spanish, Núñez is fluent in Portuguese.
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Early Career
Núñez made his first-team debut for Peñarol on November 22, 2017, in a 2–1 loss to River Plate in the Primera División. He scored his first professional goal on October 13, 2018, in a home win against Fénix. On August 29, 2019, he signed a five-year contract with Almería for a club record fee of around $4.5 million, plus an additional $1.5 million in variables. He ended his only season with Almería as the joint-fourth top scorer in the league with 16 goals.
Benfica
On September 4, 2020, Benfica acquired Núñez for a club-record transfer fee of €24 million, where he signed a five-year contract. He made an immediate impact, scoring a hat-trick in a UEFA Europa League match on October 22, followed by his first Primeira Liga goal shortly after. In the 2021–22 Champions League quarter-finals, Núñez netted two crucial goals against Liverpool, drawing significant attention, including praise from Liverpool’s manager Jürgen Klopp. He finish the season with an impressive tally of 26 goals in 28 league matches, earning the Bola de Prata for top scorer in the Primeira Liga, and was recognize as Player of the Year while helping Benfica secure the league title.
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Liverpool
On June 13, 2022, Benfica sold Núñez to Liverpool for €75 million, plus €25 million in add-ons, making it Liverpool’s record transfer. He quickly adapted to his new club, scoring on his debut against Fulham and providing an assist for Mohamed Salah. On October 12, he netted his first Champions League goal in a 7–1 victory over Rangers. Despite facing criticism for missed chances early in the season, he made 42 appearances and scored 15 goals across all competitions. Unfortunately, an injury kept him out of the 2025 EFL Cup final, where Liverpool triumphed over Chelsea, but fans acknowledged his contributions throughout the tournament.
International Career
Núñez rose through the ranks of the Uruguay youth team, participating in the 2019 South American U-20 Championship and the FIFA U-20 World Cup, where the team reached the round of 16. He received his first senior national team call-up in September 2019 and made his debut against Peru on October 16. Though he was part of the final squad for the 2021 Copa América, an injury kept him from playing. He later represent Uruguay in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where the team was eliminate in the group stage. In June 2025, he was call up for the 2025 Copa América in the United States and scored his first international hat-trick in a friendly against Mexico shortly before the tournament.
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Summary
Darwin Gabriel Núñez Ribeiro, born on June 24, 1999, is a Uruguayan professional footballer playing as a forward for Liverpool and the Uruguay national team. He began his career at Peñarol before transferring to Almería and later Benfica, where he became the top scorer in the Primeira Liga. Núñez joined Liverpool in 2022 for €75 million, making him one of the most expensive signings in football history.