Edinson Cavani’s journey from the rugged hills of northern Uruguay to becoming a football icon is as captivating as it is inspiring. For him, the mindset of a lethal striker was shaped in his childhood, where late-night hunting trips armed with a .243 calibre rifle honed his sharpshooting skills on wild boars and bush pigs. This early passion for hunting translated seamlessly onto the football field, where scoring goals became his new pursuit.
The Boy and Man Behind El Matador: A Complete Overview of Edinson Cavani
Known affectionately as “El Matador,” Cavani is not just a phenomenal player; his humility shines through his actions, exemplified by his willingness to pass on his number 7 Manchester United jersey to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Born to Luis and Berta, and raised in a devout Evangelical Christian household, Edinson’s upbringing laid a solid foundation for his character. He is a loving husband to Jocelyn Burgardt and a devoted father to Silvestre Cavani. Surprisingly, his early interests also included ballet dancing, showcasing a diverse personality that extends beyond the football pitch. Much of his inspiration came from his idol, Argentine legend Gabriel Batistuta, whose influence played a significant role in Cavani’s development as a player.
This article explores the compelling story of Edinson Cavani, chronicling his life before fame, his family heritage, and the many fascinating aspects of his journey both on and off the field. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the remarkable life of this Uruguayan football legend.
Edinson Cavani Childhood Story – Early Life:
For his Biography starters, Edinson Roberto Cavani Gómez was born on Valentine’s Day, that’s 14th day of February 1987, in Salto, Uruguay, to Luis Cavani (father) and Berta Gómez (mother).
Edinson Cavani in his Childhood.
Coincidentally, his national teammate Luis Suárez was born in the same city (Salto), just a month earlier in January. Edinson was born as the last child of a family of only three male children.
Edinson Cavani’s love for football blossomed at a young age, largely due to the steadfast support of his dedicated parents, who made sure he was always well-fed and dressed. Despite the challenges of growing up in the vibrant urban landscape of Salto, he flourished and embraced the sport he adored.
The countless hours spent playing on cramped street pitches laid the foundation for his remarkable technique and mental resilience. Frequently facing older and tougher opponents, Cavani learned to navigate rough play, which helped shape his competitive edge and determination on the field.
Cavani did so at the age of 9 in 1996, bringing an end to unofficial matches with the ‘old cargoes’ as he calls them in his area.
Right from his early years, Cavani looked to be on the path to stardom. However, once he moved to Danubio, he took a while to adjust. Thankfully, he adapted and soon became one of the best youngsters in the youth academy.
Edinson Cavani Biography – Rising to Fame:
He signed his first official youth contract with Danubio, one of Montevideo’s premier youth academies known for producing talented players such as Álvaro Recoba and Diego Forlán.
Starting his professional football career later than many, Edinson Cavani faced challenges, but his family’s football background provided the support he needed. With both his father and older brother also footballers, Cavani had strong guidance.
Cavani progressed through Danubio’s youth academy, ultimately making his first-team debut in 2006. His dedication and physical strength quickly paid off, as he emerged as a pivotal player, netting nine goals during his inaugural season and contributing significantly to the team’s success in winning the Apertura 2006 championship. This achievement marked the beginning of his rise to prominence on the national stage.
The early career years of Edinson Cavani.
On January 31, 2007, Cavani’s move to Palermo was finalized for €4.475 million. He made his debut just weeks later, on March 11, 2007, during a home league match against Fiorentina. Then, in July 2010, he signed a five-year contract with Napoli, a significant turning point in his career. From that moment on, his journey in football truly took off.
Edinson Cavani Family Facts:
Now, let’s tell you some facts about the Uruguayan footballer’s household. Without further ado, let’s begin.
About Edinson Cavani’s Father:
His Dad, Luis, played football at an amateur level as a young man.
Edinson Cavani’s Dad – Luis Cavani.
Luis is a hardworking father who gave his household (3 sons and a wife) the best they could ever dream of.
He was particularly closer to his last son, Edinson, who taught the antics of football and supported his career from its foundation. Luis takes huge credit for his boy’s rise.
However, paternal pride never seemed more aching than when he talked about both Edinson’s gift and his generosity.
According to Luis, “Me and Edinson used to go fishing in a beautiful lake 30km from our home. We’d take the old truck where I used to work and fish from the side. There were very big flash boats there, which is owned by the super-rich.
I remember Edinson was said …’ dad, the day I triumph at football, I’m going to get you a truck and big boat like theirs.
He was 11 at the time, he had these big dreams, and I would just laugh. But today, I have the biggest truck and boat in Uruguay,” he says, pointing at them.
“It’s hard to express with words the pride you feel when you see your son triumph in life, when you see him open up new paths, you see him loved by people, and you see he hasn’t changed his way of being, that he remains the same humble child who maintains a low profile and lives his life simply.
About Edinson Cavani’s Mother:
Berta Gómez is the name of Edinson Cavani’s mother. The Uruguay striker’s mother has once explained how his son’s hunger caused her to give up all activities just to provide him with much motherly care throughout his career path.
Edinson Cavani Mother- Berta Gómez.
Edinson Cavani’s Brother:
His elder brother is Walter Guglielmone. He is nine years older than Edinson Cavani, his little brother.
Just like Cavani, Walter is also a striker. He made 310 appearances and scored 109 goals for both club and country.
Edinson Cavani ‘s Brother- Walter Guglielmone.
Cavani’s immediate older brother’s name is Christian. He is also a striker and just a year older than him.
Edinson Cavani’s Brother – Christian.
The Edinson Cavani Family Life is indeed centred around football men and a supporting mother of the home. Quite similar to that of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Edinson Cavani Love Life with Maria Soledad Cabris Yarrús:
Edinson Cavani’s love story is full of ups and downs, quite similar to Anthony Martial’s and much opposite to that of Marcus Rashford, Roberto Firmino, and Gabriel Jesus. The full story is discussed in this article.
Cavani has always been in love with his childhood sweetheart, Maria Soledad Cabris Yarrús.
Edinson Cavani Love Story with Maria Soledad Cabris Yarrús.
They both got married and were blessed with two sons. Their first son, Bautista, was born on the 22nd of March 2011.
Edinson Cavani Family Photo.
His second son, Lucas, was born on the 8th of March 2013. Lucas, unlike Bautista, is very fond of his dad.
Edinson Cavani, however, has a strong relationship with his sons. He loves to take his boys to every victory celebration.
Edinson Cavani Sons – Lucas (left) and Bautista (Right).
Cavani Relationship Issues:
A piece of shocking news came in 2014 when Cavani announced that he and his wife were to get a divorce, following an initial split between the two the year before. Their marriage only lasted for two years.
This was a time when Cavani’s personal life went through a rough patch. A time he really suffered from a lack of confidence on the pitch.
They separated after it was revealed he was allegedly having an affair with a 22-year-old Italian woman, later identified as María Rosaria Ventrone (pictured below), from Caserta not far from Napoli, where Cavani played at the time.
It was this picture that led to the split up and divorce.
How Edi cheated on Wife – Untold Story.
His ex-wife (Maria) said the following about him before the divorce.
“I can’t trust this man. How can you trust a husband who leaves his wife just days after their child is born?
When our son Lucas was born, I found out he was with another woman. It was a huge shock when I saw the incriminating photo. He had convinced me to give birth in Uruguay, telling me it would be quieter than in Naples, where the press would constantly be after us.
His plan was to leave me there, knowing I’d be preoccupied with setting up our new life, so he could have more freedom. When I came back, I did everything I could to save our marriage.
I didn’t want to take my children away from their father, and I genuinely believed we could fix things. But it was no use. Edinson became a completely different person, someone I didn’t even recognize anymore.”
Maria ended up winning their divorce battle in court. The court, in the end, ordered Cavani to pay her €25,000 monthly, which is meant for herself and the kids.
Edinson Cavani – Moving on after Divorce:
After the divorce was finalized by mid-2013, all attention was paid to Ventrone, the lady behind their marital dissolution.
There was even a time when rumours circulated that Cavani was ready to take the next step and make things official with his former mistress. However, that didn’t happen. Their relationship eventually ended, and they went their separate ways.
Edinson Cavani moved on and entered a fresh relationship with beautiful Jocelyn Burgardt.
Edinson Cavani Love Story – Renewed.
Jocelyn Burgardt is a stunning, curvy model and Samba dancer from Uruguay. She has a degree in Cultural Management.
Edinson Cavani’s Girlfriend (Jocelyn Burgardt) after divorce.
She has become a media sensation in both Italy and Uruguay. Unfortunately, there isn’t much detailed information available about her early life, except that she was born and raised in Bella Union, Artigas, Uruguay.
We’re still uncovering more about her background. However, one thing is certain—he brings her along to all his special moments, even on the pitch to celebrate with his team, fans, and fellow players.
Edi and Jocelyn Burgardt.
The Edinson Cavani Love Story has always been a focus of interest for the media, unlike Danny Drink Water and Ousmane Dembele, whose relationship life is still widely unknown at the time of writing.
Personal Life:
First things first, he has a very humble personality. A man who gave up the number 7 shirt for CR7. Also, someone who advised a fellow brother, Rodrigo Bentancur, to join Spurs, even though he was a rival with Man United.
Sharpshooter Edinson Cavani loves hunting as a hobby. Though it has always been football first, then hunting for Edi. He loves it, and he’s a good shot at both.
He has engaged in shooting trips several times with his dad in northern Uruguay. His hunting spree of wild boars and bush pigs did in the dead hours of night amid the hillside woods of north Uruguay.
Below is Mr Luis Cavani handling a.243 calibre rifle, which he had just used for his nocturnal hunting session with his son, killing two boars, six hares, and, apparently, some protected creature we are not allowed to reveal in this blog.
Edinson Cavani’s Family’s Hunting Story
According to his father,
“We always did it when Edinson was a kid, and we still do. We both love to spend time fishing and hunting.
Afterwards, we get only three hours of sleep at night. Edi’s never going to stop hunting in the woods!
As for fishing, he always says it calms him. This has always been a way of life for us, We love to pack our latest kills packed on sticks. Edison loves pig heads”… says Luis.
Edinson Cavani Religion:
The Legend is a devoted Evangelical Christian. He has been associated with Catholicism throughout his whole life. His Christian faith is proved below.
In the pic below, Edi was videoed praying with a member of the coaching staff. This was at the end of the 2011 Copa America football tournament final against Paraguay held at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on July 24, 2011.
His faith saw him through, and Uruguay won their match.
Edinson Cavani Religion and Faith- The Untold Story.
Edinson Cavani Idol:
First, he has the looks of Gabriel Batistuta, who he says is his football idol. As a child, Cavani idolized former Argentine striker and legend Gabriel Batistuta.
Like Batistuta, Cavani also wore his hair past his ears. Indeed, he has tried and succeeded in possessing every aspect of Batistuta’s look and style.
Why Edi idolized Batistuta- The Untold Story.
Cavani’s love of Batistuta made him follow the Italian league that Gabriel Batistuta played for in his first spell in Europe.
More so, it is based on the fact that as a kid, Cavani’s grandparents were said to have emigrated to Marinello, which is a few kilometres from Florence, where Batistuta’s Fiorentina is located.
His grandparents would most times go watch the legend play at Florentina. This is what instigated Cavani’s dream of following in Batistuta’s footsteps. Both have the same goal celebration, as displayed below.
Edinson Cavani, Gabriel Batistuta Similarities – The Untold Story.
Just like Gabriel Batistuta has done for Argentine, Cavani has left a great legacy in Uruguay. One which the likes of Darwin Nunez and Álvaro Rodríguez are gladly following.
Edinson Cavani Nickname:
The player is referred to as “El Matador”. The nickname denotes that of a lead striker who is always capable of taking the bull by the horns every time he steps out on the playing field!
The Myth Behind the Forward’s Nickname.
Edinson Cavani Cars:
Cavani loves beautiful low cars. He drives a red Ferrari 458.
Edinson Cavani owns a Ferrari 458 Italia, valued at over €200,000, capable of reaching a top speed of 325 km/h. Unlike many footballers, he has managed to stay out of trouble and has not been involved in any speeding incidents.
Appreciation Note:
Thank you for taking the time to read our version of Edinson Cavani’s Biography. Our team of content creators care about accuracy and fairness in our quest to deliver Uruguayan Football Stories.
Please stay tuned for more! The Life History of Facundo Pellistri and Facundo Torres will excite you. Let’s not forget Manuel Ugarte, the rising Defensive Midfielder of the Uruguayan national team. Kindly reach out to us via comment if you find anything that doesn’t look right in Cavani’s life story.
