# Cristhian Stuani
**Cristhian Stuani** (Cristhian Ricardo Stuani Curbelo, born 1986 in Tala, Canelones, Uruguay) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a striker and captains [Girona FC](https://www.edgepedia.org/girona-fc) in Spain, where he is the club's all-time leading scorer. He won 50 caps for the Uruguay national team between 2012 and 2019, scoring 8 goals, and appeared at two FIFA World Cups and three [Copa América](https://www.edgepedia.org/copa-america) tournaments.[1](https://www.auf.org.uy/cristhian-stuani/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / born | Cristhian Ricardo Stuani Curbelo, 1986, Tala, Canelones, Uruguay[1](https://www.auf.org.uy/cristhian-stuani/) • [2](https://www.transfermarkt.us/cristhian-stuani/profil/spieler/59323) |
| Position | Striker (delantero); captain of Girona FC[1](https://www.auf.org.uy/cristhian-stuani/) • [3](https://cadenaser.com/cataluna/2026/07/28/stuani-renova-amb-el-girona-hi-ha-moltes-raons-per-a-creure-en-aquest-equip-sercat/) |
| Uruguay record | 50 caps, 8 goals, 2,114 minutes; debut 14 November 2012 vs Poland, last match 15 November 2019 vs Hungary[1](https://www.auf.org.uy/cristhian-stuani/) |
| Major tournaments | World Cups 2014 and 2018; Copa América 2015, Centenario 2016, and 2019[1](https://www.auf.org.uy/cristhian-stuani/) |
| Girona record | 262 official matches and 129 goals in eight seasons, the club's all-time top scorer[4](https://cadenaser.com/cataluna/2025/06/30/acord-total-entre-el-girona-i-stuani-radio-girona/) |
| Promotions | Decisive in Girona's promotion to La Liga in 2022[4](https://cadenaser.com/cataluna/2025/06/30/acord-total-entre-el-girona-i-stuani-radio-girona/) • [9](https://www.gironafc.cat/en/news/were-still-together-cristhian) |
| Contract | Renewed in July 2026 through at least 2027, his tenth season with the club[3](https://cadenaser.com/cataluna/2026/07/28/stuani-renova-amb-el-girona-hi-ha-moltes-raons-per-a-creure-en-aquest-equip-sercat/) |
## Early career in Uruguay, Italy, and Spain
Stuani began in Uruguayan football with Danubio, with a spell at Bella Vista in 2007 between two periods at the club (2005 to 2006 and 2007 to 2008).[1](https://www.auf.org.uy/cristhian-stuani/) He moved to Italy for one season with Reggina in 2008 to 2009, then settled in Spain, where he played for Albacete (2009 to 2010), Levante (2010 to 2011), and [Racing de Santander](https://www.edgepedia.org/racing-de-santander) (2011 to 2012) before joining [RCD Espanyol](https://www.edgepedia.org/rcd-espanyol) in 2012.[1](https://www.auf.org.uy/cristhian-stuani/) • [5](https://as.com/us/us/2020/06/01/futbol/1591021275_501939.html) At Espanyol he scored 12 goals in his final season before transferring to [Middlesbrough](https://www.edgepedia.org/middlesbrough) in 2015, where he scored goals that helped the club win promotion to the Premier League.[6](https://www.bola.net/profile/cristhian_ricardo_stuani_curbelo/)
## Uruguay national team
Stuani debuted for the senior national team on 14 November 2012 in a match against Poland.[1](https://www.auf.org.uy/cristhian-stuani/) His first international goal came on 10 September 2013 against Colombia in 2014 World Cup qualifying.[6](https://www.bola.net/profile/cristhian_ricardo_stuani_curbelo/) Over seven years he earned 50 caps, split among 26 friendlies, 14 World Cup qualifiers, 6 World Cup matches, and 4 Copa América matches, and scored 8 goals, one every 264 minutes.[1](https://www.auf.org.uy/cristhian-stuani/) He was part of the squads at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and the Copa América editions of 2015, 2016 (Centenario), and 2019.[1](https://www.auf.org.uy/cristhian-stuani/) His last international match was a friendly against Hungary on 15 November 2019.[1](https://www.auf.org.uy/cristhian-stuani/)
## Girona
Stuani arrived at Girona in the summer of 2017, coinciding with the club's first-ever promotion to Spain's Primera División.[7](https://www.gironafc.cat/jugadors/stuani) He scored the team's first two goals in the top flight, both in the opening match of the 2017-18 season against [Atlético Madrid](https://www.edgepedia.org/atletico-madrid), whose coach [Diego Simeone](https://www.edgepedia.org/diego-simeone)'s side could not recover from the two goals Stuani scored within two minutes in the first half.[8](https://as.com/futbol/2019/11/09/primera/1573324031_454571.html) That debut [La Liga](https://www.edgepedia.org/la-liga) season produced 21 goals.[9](https://www.gironafc.cat/en/news/were-still-together-cristhian)
**Promotions and top-flight years.** After Girona was relegated, Stuani stayed and led the attack in the second tier, finishing as the [Segunda División](https://www.edgepedia.org/segunda-division)'s top scorer (pichichi) on two occasions.[10](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2025-05-20/stuani-la-leyenda-de-la-leyenda-del-girona.html) He was decisive in the 2022 promotion, and in October 2022, at age 36, he converted an 80th-minute penalty that gave newly promoted Girona a 1-1 draw at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu stadium.[4](https://cadenaser.com/cataluna/2025/06/30/acord-total-entre-el-girona-i-stuani-radio-girona/) • [11](https://d3bgohd22u58bg.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/EP-31-OCTUBRE-2022-AzbyUj8aiK.pdf) He was also a key part of the squad that qualified for the [UEFA Champions League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-champions-league) in the 2023-24 season.[12](https://cadenaser.com/cataluna/2026/07/24/el-girona-i-stuani-acosten-posicions-per-tancar-la-renovacio-sercat/)
**Records at the club.** By mid-2025 he had played 262 official matches for Girona and scored 129 goals, making him the club's all-time leading scorer, and he had served as captain and leader on and off the field.[4](https://cadenaser.com/cataluna/2025/06/30/acord-total-entre-el-girona-i-stuani-radio-girona/) Girona extended his contract in June 2025 to June 2026 with an optional additional season, and again in July 2026 for one more season, taking him into a tenth campaign with the club.[4](https://cadenaser.com/cataluna/2025/06/30/acord-total-entre-el-girona-i-stuani-radio-girona/) • [3](https://cadenaser.com/cataluna/2026/07/28/stuani-renova-amb-el-girona-hi-ha-moltes-raons-per-a-creure-en-aquest-equip-sercat/) After Girona's relegation to the Segunda División at the end of the 2025-26 season, Stuani stated that the objective for the new season is promotion.[3](https://cadenaser.com/cataluna/2026/07/28/stuani-renova-amb-el-girona-hi-ha-moltes-raons-per-a-creure-en-aquest-equip-sercat/)
## Playing profile and standing
He has repeatedly extended his stay at Montilivi, Girona's stadium, and has said he wishes to retire there; club and press describe him as the most important footballer in the club's history.[3](https://cadenaser.com/cataluna/2026/07/28/stuani-renova-amb-el-girona-hi-ha-moltes-raons-per-a-creure-en-aquest-equip-sercat/) • [4](https://cadenaser.com/cataluna/2025/06/30/acord-total-entre-el-girona-i-stuani-radio-girona/)
## References
1. [Cristhian Stuani, Asociación Uruguaya de Fútbol (AUF)](https://www.auf.org.uy/cristhian-stuani/)
2. [Cristhian Stuani, Player profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.us/cristhian-stuani/profil/spieler/59323)
3. [Stuani renova amb el Girona, Cadena SER (28 July 2026)](https://cadenaser.com/cataluna/2026/07/28/stuani-renova-amb-el-girona-hi-ha-moltes-raons-per-a-creure-en-aquest-equip-sercat/)
4. [El Girona i Stuani allarguen la seva història d'amor, Cadena SER (30 June 2025)](https://cadenaser.com/cataluna/2025/06/30/acord-total-entre-el-girona-i-stuani-radio-girona/)
5. [¿Qué fue de Cristhian Stuani, mundialista con Uruguay?, AS USA](https://as.com/us/us/2020/06/01/futbol/1591021275_501939.html)
6. [Profil Cristhian Ricardo Stuani Curbelo, Bola.net](https://www.bola.net/profile/cristhian_ricardo_stuani_curbelo/)
7. [STUANI, Girona FC official site](https://www.gironafc.cat/jugadors/stuani)
8. [Machín, el Señor X, AS (9 November 2019)](https://as.com/futbol/2019/11/09/primera/1573324031_454571.html)
9. [We're still together, Cristhian!, Girona FC official site](https://www.gironafc.cat/en/news/were-still-together-cristhian)
10. [Stuani, la leyenda de la leyenda del Girona, El País (20 May 2025)](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2025-05-20/stuani-la-leyenda-de-la-leyenda-del-girona.html)
11. [El País newspaper, 31 October 2022 edition (Real Madrid 1-1 Girona)](https://d3bgohd22u58bg.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/EP-31-OCTUBRE-2022-AzbyUj8aiK.pdf)
12. [El Girona i Stuani acosten posicions per tancar la renovació, Cadena SER (24 July 2026)](https://cadenaser.com/cataluna/2026/07/24/el-girona-i-stuani-acosten-posicions-per-tancar-la-renovacio-sercat/)
13. [Portu, qué bueno que volviste, AS](https://as.com/futbol/primera/portu-que-bueno-que-volviste-n/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of South America › Uruguayan men's footballers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license