Diego Rossi Bio
Diego Martín Rossi Marachlián, born on 5 March 1998 in Montevideo, Uruguay, is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a winger or forward. He currently represents Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew, where he wears the number 10 shirt. Standing 1.70 meters tall, Rossi is recognized for his pace, composure, and consistent goal-scoring ability across multiple leagues.
Developed in the youth academy of Peñarol, Rossi made his professional debut in 2016 and quickly established himself as one of the most promising attacking talents in Uruguayan football. Across spells in South America, the United States, and Turkey, he has built a reputation as a composed finisher and a versatile forward capable of playing across the front line.
Early Life and Background
Diego Martín Rossi Marachlián was born and raised in Montevideo, Uruguay, where he discovered football at a young age. He began playing organized football at the El Queso school in Solymar, a coastal town near the capital. By the age of six, he had joined the Solymar Uruguay Sports Center, where he competed in the Interbalnearian League of Youth Football and quickly drew attention for his attacking instincts.
His performances at Solymar caught the eye of scouts from Peñarol, one of Uruguay’s most prestigious clubs, and he joined their academy at the age of 12. Youth coach Néstor Gonçalves is credited with discovering Rossi and inviting him to a friendly tournament in Alegrete, Brazil, an experience that helped him earn his first contract with the club. His development at Peñarol was rapid, as he regularly led the scoring charts in the club’s youth divisions.
Rossi is of Italian descent through his paternal side and Armenian descent through his maternal side. He has stated that his footballing idol is Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, whose career path he has often cited as inspiration.
Path to Soccer
Rossi’s path to professional soccer was shaped by prolific youth seasons at Peñarol. At 14, he was the top scorer for the club’s under-14 team in the Uruguayan seventh tier, netting 42 goals in 27 matches during 2012. The following year, he moved to Peñarol’s youth side in the Uruguayan sixth division, where he scored 25 times in 17 appearances, and he also helped the under-15 team win the Apertura Tournament and the Uruguayan U-15 Championship.
In 2014, he finished as the top scorer of the Uruguayan Premier Division Under-16 Tournament with 17 goals in the first half of the year, helping Peñarol claim the U-16 Clausura title. On 7 April 2015, he was invited to train with Peñarol’s first team alongside youth teammates Santiago Bueno and Federico Valverde. Manager Pablo Bengoechea promoted him to the senior squad for the 2015–16 season, and he balanced first-team practices with appearances in the club’s reserve and youth sides.
On 16 January 2016, Rossi made his professional debut for Peñarol in the Bandes Cup final, entering as a substitute in a 1–0 victory over Cerro Porteño. He made his full debut on 20 April 2016 in a Copa Libertadores group stage match against Sporting Cristal, and five days later scored his first professional goal against Rentistas after replacing Diego Forlán. Originally deployed as a striker in youth football, he was converted into a winger by manager Leonardo Ramos, a position change that allowed him to maximize his movement and technical ability.
Diego Rossi Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Rossi’s first full season in Peñarol’s senior setup was a learning year, as he split time between the first team and the reserve side. Despite the limited minutes, his performances were strong enough to attract international interest. He finished the 2015–16 campaign having established himself as one of Uruguay’s most exciting young attacking prospects.
During 2017, Rossi continued to develop with Peñarol while representing Uruguay at youth level. That same year, he was part of the Uruguay squad that won the South American U-20 Championship in Ecuador, a major achievement that raised his profile ahead of a transfer. By the end of 2017, he was ready for a move abroad, and on 14 December 2017, Los Angeles FC of Major League Soccer announced his signing as one of the expansion club’s first marquee additions.
Los Angeles FC Era (2018–2022)
Rossi made his MLS debut on 4 March 2018 against Seattle Sounders FC, scoring in the 11th minute to record the first goal in Los Angeles FC history. The strike was also the fastest goal by an expansion team in MLS history. He followed that with a brace and an assist in a 5–1 win over Real Salt Lake, immediately setting the tone for his LAFC career.
In August 2018, he scored a hat-trick in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal against the Houston Dynamo, although LAFC ultimately lost on penalties. During the 2019 season, Rossi scored in the opening match and netted a hat-trick in a 4–0 win over D.C. United on 6 April, helping LAFC win their first Supporters’ Shield for the best regular-season record in the league.
His standout campaign came in 2020, when he became the 13th MLS player and first LAFC player to score four goals in a single match, doing so in a 6–2 victory over LA Galaxy. He finished the pandemic-shortened season with 14 goals, winning the MLS Golden Boot as the league’s leading scorer, and was named to the MLS Best XI and the CONCACAF Champions League Best XI. In 2021, he continued as a regular starter before completing a loan move to Fenerbahçe in September of that year.
Fenerbahçe Era (2021–2023)
On 1 September 2021, Rossi joined Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe on loan with an option to buy, becoming the second Armenian-heritage footballer to play in the Turkish top flight. He debuted in Week 4 against Sivasspor, played the full 90 minutes, and made his Europa League debut four days later against Eintracht Frankfurt. His first assist came against Giresunspor, and he opened his Fenerbahçe goalscoring account in Week 7 with a volley against Hatayspor.
On 15 April 2022, Fenerbahçe announced the permanent signing of Rossi for a reported $6 million, and he agreed to a three-year contract. Across the 2022–23 season, he scored four goals in 33 league appearances and helped the club qualify for the Europa League group stage, where they finished first before being eliminated by Sevilla in the knockout round. He was part of the squad that won the Turkish Cup, his first major trophy with the club.
Columbus Crew Era (2023–Present)
On 2 August 2023, Rossi returned to MLS with Columbus Crew on a three-year contract. He debuted on 20 August against FC Cincinnati and scored his first goal for the club the following week in a 2–0 win over Toronto FC. During the MLS Cup playoffs, he recorded an assist in three straight games and scored the tying goal in the Eastern Conference Finals win over FC Cincinnati, finishing his truncated 2023 season with five goals and five assists and lifting the MLS Cup trophy.
In 2024, Rossi struggled to find the net early in league play but excelled in cup competition. He scored in both legs of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal against Tigres UANL and netted the winning goal in the semifinal against Monterrey, earning a place in the Champions Cup Best XI. He later played a key role in Columbus Crew’s Leagues Cup triumph, scoring braces against Sporting Kansas City, Inter Miami, and Philadelphia Union during the tournament, and finished 2024 with 21 goals across all competitions.
Driving Style and Strengths
Comfortable on either wing or through the middle, Rossi’s game is built around pace, work rate, calmness on the ball, and intelligent off-ball movement. He frequently drifts from wide areas into half-spaces and drops deep to receive possession, where his agility and close control allow him to take on defenders. He combines that dribbling threat with the vision and technique to deliver precise passes, making him a dual threat as both a scorer and a creator.
Notable Events and Milestones
Rossi’s career is marked by several signature moments, including scoring the first goal in Los Angeles FC history and winning the 2020 MLS Golden Boot. He helped LAFC claim the 2019 Supporters’ Shield, won the Turkish Cup with Fenerbahçe, and added an MLS Cup title and a Leagues Cup trophy with Columbus Crew. In September 2025, he scored a hat-trick in 39 minutes at Atlanta United before exiting with a hamstring injury, underscoring both his finishing quality and his importance to the Crew attack.
Diego Rossi Career Wins
Across his time with Peñarol, Los Angeles FC, Fenerbahçe, and Columbus Crew, Diego Rossi has collected a growing collection of team and individual honours. His trophy haul includes the South American U-20 Championship with Uruguay in 2017, the Supporters’ Shield with LAFC in 2019, the Turkish Cup with Fenerbahçe, the MLS Cup with Columbus Crew in 2023, and the Leagues Cup in 2024.
Los Angeles FC Highlights
During his four seasons with Los Angeles FC, Rossi was the club’s talismanic forward, helping the expansion side become one of MLS’s most competitive teams. He scored the first goal in club history in 2018, won the Supporters’ Shield in 2019, and finished as the 2020 MLS Golden Boot winner with 14 goals. He was also named to the MLS Best XI and the CONCACAF Champions League Best XI that year.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond LAFC, Rossi has found success in cup competitions. He won the Turkish Cup with Fenerbahçe during the 2022–23 season and added both the MLS Cup and the Leagues Cup with Columbus Crew in 2023 and 2024, respectively. On the international stage, he was part of Uruguay’s victorious squad at the 2017 South American U-20 Championship in Ecuador.
Diego Rossi Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Diego Rossi comes from a family with deep European roots. He is of Italian descent through his father’s side and Armenian descent through his mother’s side. He has a younger brother, Nicolás, who is also a professional footballer. Nicolás has pledged his international future to the Armenia national team, reflecting the family’s Armenian heritage.
Personal Life
Rossi has received invitations to represent the Armenia national team but has refused, choosing instead to represent Uruguay at senior international level. He has openly cited Luis Suárez as his footballing idol and has spoken about the importance of emotional consistency in his career. Details about his marital status and children are not publicly confirmed in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Rossi opened the 2025 MLS season in strong form, scoring a brace in a 4–2 home win over Chicago Fire FC. He added a penalty in the CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16 match against Los Angeles FC and scored both goals in a comeback 2–1 win at D.C. United. He continued his scoring run with the match winner in a 2–1 road victory over St. Louis City SC at Energizer Park.
On 13 September 2025, Rossi delivered one of the performances of the MLS season, scoring a hat-trick in 39 minutes at Atlanta United before being forced off with a hamstring injury. He missed three matches during recovery and returned to action on 4 October as a starter in an away match against Orlando City. He finished the 2025 campaign as Columbus Crew’s top scorer across all competitions with 19 goals.
Heading into the offseason, Rossi remains a central figure in the Columbus Crew attack and a leading candidate to feature for Uruguay in upcoming international windows. His combination of consistent finishing and big-game experience makes him a key contributor as the club looks to defend its domestic and continental titles in 2026.
