The Untold Story of Darwin Nunez: From Poverty to Football Stardom

Many football fans recognize Darwin Nunez as a top striker, but there’s an untold story behind his rise to fame. The history of this Uruguayan forward is one of a poor boy who often went to bed hungry due to his family’s struggles. This story isn’t about Charles Darwin’s Theory but rather about Nunez, the once-shy kid with an extraordinary determination to succeed.

That determination was fueled by his older brother’s sacrifice. His brother gave up his own football career to support Darwin, hoping to lift their family out of poverty. Unfortunately, a persistent knee injury forced him off the field, leaving him in tears and Darwin doubting his own future in football.

Despite these challenges, this article tells how Darwin, the son of Silvia Ribeiro and Bibiano Núñez, overcame adversity. No one is prouder of Darwin’s achievements than his older brother, Junior Nunez, who sacrificed his own dreams for Darwin’s success. Junior chose to work and support the family so Darwin could pursue his football dreams, which ultimately became the family’s greatest hope now realized.

Our Darwin Nunez Biography tells you Facts about his Childhood Story, Early Life, Parents – Silvia Ribeiro (Mother), Bibiano Núñez (Father), Family Background, Love Life, Personality, Lifestyle and Net Worth.

To whet your autobiography appetite on how engaging our version of Darwin Nunez’s Biography would be, we present to you his early life and rise gallery. Judging by the photo below, you’ll agree with me that this Uruguayan Goal Machine has come a long way in life.

Merely looking at him, you can tell that the Uruguayan is a GOAL Beast. This guy has got outstanding movement, power, mentality, an eye for goals and making cool assists. In fact, Darwin Núñez going to Benfica in a record transfer is no surprise to us.

Despite the many accolades to his name, we found that not many soccer fans have read an in-depth version of Darwin Nunez’s Biography. Thanks to our love for the beautiful game, we have prepared it for you. So, without wasting much time, let us begin.

Darwin Nunez Childhood Story:

For Biography starters, the Striker bears the full names Darwin Gabriel Núñez Ribeiro. He was born on the 24th day of June 1999 to his mother, Silvia Ribeiro and father, Bibiano Núñez, in Artigas, Uruguay.

Darwin Nunez came to the world as one of two children (himself and an elder brother) born out of the marital union between his parents, who are pictured below.

Have you noticed that Darwin took after his Mum (Silvia Ribeiro) in terms of their smile and facial resemblance?

Darwin Nunez’s Early Life and Growing Up Years:

Starting off, the young Darwin was born as a shy kid, a boy with an extraordinary force to succeed in life. Truth be told, the silence and shyness of Núñez did make up for his big ambition to get his family out of hardship.

The footballer spent his early life in the shanty area of Artigas, a city in Northern Uruguay. Darwin grew up with his one and only brother (his hero), who goes by the name Junior Nunez.

Darwin Nunez Family Background:

The tale of the forward is one that denotes rags to riches – like many footballers whom we have written about – the likes of Angel D Maria, Romelu Lukaku, Jamie Vardy etc. These soccer stars rose from poverty to greatness.

Put simply, Darwin Nunez hails from a poor neighbourhood and an impoverished family background.

The footballer’s parents, starting with his Mum, was a bottle hawker and seller. Silvia Ribeiro did that to make her family survive the realities of the early 2000s.

On the other hand, Darwin Nunez’s Dad (Bibiano Núñez) is a construction worker who earned very little in his job.

In truth, there was always no guarantee that monies from his workplace would take care of his family members (both nuclear and extended).

Back then, when Bibiano Núñez had no money, everyone depended on Darwin Nunez’s Mum (Silvia Ribeiro) to feed the family.

This is when she would set out to the streets of Artigas to collect bottles. By selling them, Darwin and his brother Junior would eat.

The saddest experience of his childhood was the numerous occasions when Darwin would go to bed with an empty stomach.

In an interview, while describing how his family faced poverty (similar to the Lukakus), the Striker once said,

“Yes, there were many nights when I went to bed on an empty stomach. But my mother, she went to bed hungry more often than anyone. She always made sure that my brother and I ate first. She sacrificed her own meal so that we could have ours. I will never forget where I came from.”

Darwin Nunez Family Origin and Ancestry:

First and foremost, the footballer’s nationality is Uruguay, and his ancestors are of Spanish origin. We refer to his maternal and paternal grandparents, who came from Spain to settle in North Uruguay.

Darwin Nunez’s Family hails from the poorest neighbourhood of Artigas. Their home is just on a floodplain close to the Cuareim River. Darwin Nunez’s parents could afford rent in this impoverished neighborhood because it was the most affordable option.

In this part of Uruguay, people fight every day to bring bread to their households.

More painfully, when nature rages and the Cuareim River rises, many families, including the footballer’s, suffer from flooding and lose their properties.

Darwin Nunez Education:

The youngster went to school (from 7 am to 3 pm), most of the time without having food to eat.

Like many other kids whose parents could buy their kids snacks, Nunez’s Dad and Mum could not afford him a light meal.

Darwin survived by having his school friends share their food with him. Back then, when he left school, he would immediately go for football training.

Darwin Nunez Football Story:

The aspiring star also learnt football from his older brother, Junior. Whenever he fails while learning, the ambitious Lad gets up twice.

He came to think of quitting football. But he decided to fight. Sadly, Junior abandoned football due to an unknown family issue.

Early on, Darwin Nunez vowed to improve his family’s standard of living when football made him rich. The footballer declared the following in his childhood;

“If I keep working, I’m going to achieve that and make my parents proud. They did everything for me, even when I didn’t have a pair of shoes for football.”

Darwin Nunez’s Early Life with La Luz Academy:

After honing his skills with street football, the younger, at some point, felt ready to try out at a football academy.

Following a successful trial, Darwin Nunez joined his hometown club La Luz. Here is the youngster without his jersey – as he just got registered with the club.

Darwin credits his first-ever football coach (the man above) for teaching him how to play football and helping him look after his family in times of their need.

Sadly, he lost him later on to the cold hands of death. That didn’t stop Darwin Nunez from celebrating him whenever he scores. He once said, while speaking about his old friend,

“I dedicate a goal to heaven, to a great friend who will always be in my heart. When I was 6 years old, he taught me to play football. He gave my mom work and always looked out for my family. I point my hands to the sky and say, ‘I will carry you forever in our hearts.'”

In the shortest space of time, Darwin became the academy’s best player.

Being miles apart from his teammates in terms of skill sets, Darwin Nunez felt the need to try out a more competitive academy. During that time, he also developed a cute smile.

San Miguel de Artigas:

The community’s own football academy was deemed the most competitive and the best choice for Darwin.

Not just that, San Miguel de Artigas Academy had a way of projecting young kids to bigger clubs in Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital.

Darwin Nunez’s destiny changed on a blessed day (the year 2013) when José Perdomo, a Uruguayan football legend and scout, visited his academy playground. He watched all the kids play from the side of the pitch.

In that game between San Miguel de Artigas and Bella Unión, a skinny booty caught his attention. Suddenly, he began to keep track of Darwin’s movement and how he destroyed his opponents.

When the game ended, José Perdomo did not hesitate. He went straight to the home of Darwin Nunez’s parents, seeking their permission to take their son to Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay.

Darwin Nunez Biography – The Road to Fame Story:

At the age of 14, the rising star finally said goodbye to his family as he was ready to make the biggest journey of his life.

There were tears of joy between his mum and himself at the Artigas bus terminal – where he boarded a bus heading to Montevideo.

As someone who grew up in a village setting, Darwin had this logical fear of Uruguay’s capital.

Approaching Montevideo at night – for the first time, a logical fear gripped his heart. Darwin Nunez had never in his life seen so many city lights. In his words,

The bus dropped me off at Tres Cruces. I feared because I have never seen a city all my life.

José Perdomo and some Peñarol staff were waiting for me.

They put me up in the little house, the Peñarol accommodation Complex, where football kids from villages resided.

The U-Turn:

Did you know?… Darwin Nunez began feeling homesick just after his arrival to the city. He just couldn’t be himself despite his new club (Peñarol) making him feel comfortable. Days after days, Darwin began to have the feeling of returning to Artigas – back to his family. According to him,

I didn’t just know what was happening to me. I felt so sick and didn’t want to stay in the city.

After assessing the situation, Club Atlético Peñarol decided to allow the poor boy to go meet his family – with an agreement that he would return a year later.

That saw Darwin returning back to his old team (San Miguel de Artigas) and his family.

While there, he began building his mind for a positive return to the Peñarol, a club that waited patiently on their priciest young prospect.

At the age of 15, Darwin, after his parents’ approval, returned back to Montevideo – this time, very refreshed.

The Peñarol Good Start:

José Perdomo took the youngster to have trials with Peñarol, the club that considered him as their legend. To the joy of Darwin Nunez’s family, their boy passed with flying colours and got integrated into the famed academy.

Darwin Nunez continued with the club’s academy under the guidance of his coach, Juan Ahuntchaín.

Within two years (age 16). the humble, hardworking goal machine was considered very mature and good enough to sign his professional contract.

The Moment of doubt:

Before taking the big professional leap, Núñez went through one of the most difficult moments of his life. He was scoring lots of goals, and suddenly, a disastrous injury made everything fall apart. Darwin Nunez broke his cruciate ligaments. In his words,

I remember that in a split ball I jumped and when I fell I bent my whole knee and the pain nearly killed me.

The emotional blow was so strong that poor Darwin began thinking about quitting football. This decision to end his career came after he underwent surgery.

Sadly, Darwin spent a year and a half without stepping on the football field. Here is the young lad at the hospital.

Darwin Nunez’s family (notably his nephew) stayed with him, giving him strength while he endured those difficult moments.

The Family Sacrifice:

It is pertinent to note that Darwin Nunez’s brother, Junior, had joined Peñarol at the time of his injury. However, the Nunez family problems made him abandon his career.

A decision he made so that his younger brother (Darwin) would have the opportunity to continue the fight he started.

Junior abandoned his career out of the need to find a job that would help him put food on the family table. During that time, his household relied heavily on his Dad’s little income.

According to research, there was also the need to take care of relatives. So if Darwin’s brother had continued football, his entire household would suffer.

Working in Uruguay’s capital city to bring money back home was the preferred option.

Speaking about the sad experience of his brother quitting his career, Darwin said this about his Junior’s decision.

“My brother was training with the first team from Peñarol. One day, I was heading to Artigas with the intention of quitting football when he called me and urged me to stay. Junior told me I had a future in football and that he was the one who would leave the sport. He sacrificed his career for me because of the unfortunate circumstances we faced.”

Junior’s decision was heartbreaking for Darwin. However, it gave Darwin the opportunity to face football while his brother took care of his family. This is a sacrifice the Striker never forgets.

Darwin Nunez Biography – Success Story:

Following the full recovery from his cruciate ligament, the Forward got summoned to train with the first team – precisely on the 10th of September 10, 2015. Sadly, things didn’t go exactly as Darwin had hoped for.

Moments after recovery, he returned to the first team under the interim coach Fernando Curutchet team. At a certain point, they spoke, and the coach told him of his intention to make him have his full debut.

After debuting against Club Atlético River Plate of Uruguay, the pain in Darwin Nunez’s knee reappeared. It got so serious to the point that he got forced to leave the field – which he did with heavy tears.

At this moment, poor Darwin Nunez began to feel that he won’t go far in football. Some of the teammates and coaching staff felt the same. Following the injury, the youngster underwent another surgery again – this time on the kneecap.

Luck at Last:

Just after his second operation and subsequent recovery, the rising star got back to doing what he knows best – football. At this time, nothing was powerful enough to stop his shine and constancy.

In no time, the rising forward got convinced he would surely make it big in his career.

To the joy of his family, Darwin began scoring great goals for Peñarol.

The goal-scoring prowess of the Uruguayan forward helped his Carboneros side win big in his first season as a senior player. Darwin Nunez helped his Peñarol side to win these trophies.

The success at the club level got Núñez a call to be part of Uruguay’s under-20 team for the South American Championship.

He contributed to his team’s third-place finish and was also part of the squad that secured fourth place at the 2019 Pan American football Games.

European scouts from Spain were already on his trail after monitoring his progress at the club and national levels.

At the time Núñez scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 routing of Boston River (Peñarol’s rivals), his suitors triggered a purchase.

The European Dream:

On 29 August 2019, Spanish Segunda División side UD Almería announced the signing of Darwin Núñez on a five-year deal.

The Old Continent immediately favoured the striker as he continued to score for both national colours. Watch some of Darwin’s goals at this time.

Having begun earning monies in football, Darwin thought of no other thing than fulfilling his old promise to his parents. To the joy of his Dad and Mum, their beloved son bought them a house in Artigas.

Benfica Call:

Before COVID-19 struck, Darwin had his name on the wish list of several of Europe’s top clubs. Among all contenders, it was Benfica who finally won the race for his signature. The club acquired him for a club-record fee of €24 million on the 4th day of September 2020.

In less than a year with The Eagles, Darwin turned himself into one of the club’s most important assets.

Becoming both a serial Goal Scorer and Assist Maker made the very best of Europe’s top club to circle around him like sharks.

Without a doubt, the football world is set to witness another version of Edinson Cavani. Darwin Nunez is a complete forward who has got what it takes to become the World’s best in his position. The rest, as we say of his Biography, is history.

Who is Darwin Nunez Dating?

For any South American Footballer, becoming successful in Europe is herculean. More so, behind every successful striker, there is a WAG.

At this juncture, we ask the question: Who is Darwin Nunez’s Girlfriend? Does he have a wife or Baby mama?

First and foremost, there is no denying the fact that Darwin Nunez’s handsomeness would attract ladies that’ll tag themselves – as potential girlfriends or wife materials.

After hours of intensive research, we realized – that the Goal poacher, as of 2021, has decided NOT to give any clue about his relationship status. Thou rumours have it that he has a girlfriend.

Just maybe, Darwin Nunez’s Family must have advised him not to publicize his relationship – at least for the time being.

From what it seems, the Uruguayan Goal machine tags his Mum (Silvia Ribeiro) as his one and only female lover. This would likely be the case until she gives the go-ahead for him to seek a wife.

Darwin Nunez Personal Life:

Across Uruguay, Spain and Portugal, he is widely known as a man with good movement, power and mentality. Perhaps many have asked…, who is Darwin Nunez? … especially his personality outside the pitch.

First things first, he is a true family man in the making, someone who loves to have a perfect mix of home and workout culture.

Secondly, he is someone who puts lots of attention on his hairstyles. No wonder Darwin always looks good. A nice hairstyle, playing good football, coupled with his handsomeness, is what fans cherish about him.

Darwin Nunez Lifestyle:

Like many footballers, spending monies on holidays is a sure banker. Simply put, Darwin is a huge fan of seaside vacations. A fantastic holiday cannot be complete without enjoying a jet ski or flyboarding.

If it is not a water show-off, Darwin would rather enjoy his life in arid landscapes. Rather than showing a fleet of exotic cars and big mansions (houses) publicly, the Forward would prefer only to reveal details of his holiday life.

Darwin Nunez Family Life:

If a set of people sticks by your side throughout when you were or had nothing, they deserve to be with you throughout your time of success. In this section, we’ll break down more facts about Darwin Nunez’s parents and brother. We begin with his old man.

About Darwin Nunez’s Father:

Once he was certain that football was the future for his family, Bibiano Núñez promptly left his low-paying job in the construction industry in Artigas, Uruguay. Becoming a great mentor to his son has helped fuel his development. Bibiano currently manages Darwin’s career.

About Darwin Nunez’s Mother:

Posterity will never forget Silvia Ribeiro for her efforts in making sure her family survives hardship, even to the detriment of her health.

Asides from going to bed severally without food, Darwin Nunez’s mum was also the last resort of the family. Here is the look-alike mother and son. Gone are those days when she gathered bottles and sold them to supplement Bibiano’s poor income.

About Darwin Nunez’s Brother:

Junior is well respected in the family and the world at large. He is simply referred to as the big brother who paved the way for Darwin. Junior did that even though it meant killing his own football dreams. He is a clear definition of brotherly love.

Junior Nunez is very much involved in footballing affairs – especially one that relates to Uruguay’s national team support.

Darwin Nunez’s brother is pictured below, receiving an honour/recognition from Uruguian football supporters (Celeste del Alma) in his hometown of Artigas.

Darwin Nunez Facts:

In this concluding phase of our Biography, we’ll unveil to you more truths you might not know about the rising star in Uruguyian Football. Without wasting much time, let us begin.

Darwin Nunez Religion:

The Footballer bears the middle name Gabriel, which means – “God is my strength”. Darwin Nunez’s parents raised him in adherence to the Catholic Christianity faith, which constitutes 44.8% of Uruguay’s population.

Darwin Nunez Profile:

Still far from his peak, the striker’s stat is simply breathtaking. If you are looking to build a squad around FIFA youngsters, we recommend stars like Darwin partnering alongside an in-form Pedro Neto or Ole Watkins. Forget Luis Suarez; these boys would help transform your team.

Endnote:

Our version of Darwin Nunez’s Biography is a typical example of a rags-to-riches story. This article teaches us that through grit, determination and a little bit of luck, any aspiring footballer can overcome their hardship and achieve extraordinary success.

Furthermore, it behoves us to commend Darwin Nunez’s parents for their quest to break out of poverty. Remember, when monies from Bibiano Núñez’s construction job wasn’t enough to feed the family, his wife, Silvia Ribeiro, supported by collecting and selling bottles.

Darwin Nunez’s Bio also makes us understand the true meaning of Brotherly Sacrifice. Junior abandoned football for his brother because of the need to work, earn monies and take care of his family.

Like always, we says Thank You for staying with us up to this paragraph – in this amazing memoir about Darwin Nunez. Our team always strive for accuracy and fairness in the huge quest to deliver the Biography of Uruguayan Footballers.

Kindly contact us if you notice anything that doesn’t look right in our Darwin Nunez Life story write-up. Alternatively, share with us (your thoughts) about the fast-rising footballer in the comment section.