José María Giménez de Vargas was born on 20 January 1995 in Toledo, Uruguay. He came up through Danubio's youth system before Atlético Madrid signed him in 2013 at eighteen. He has spent his entire senior career at the club, accumulating 380+ appearances and becoming, alongside compatriot Diego Godín, one of the defining centre-backs of the modern Atlético era.
Giménez's trophy haul includes La Liga in 2013–14 and 2020–21, the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League, the 2018 UEFA Super Cup, the 2012–13 Copa del Rey, and the 2014 Spanish Supercopa. He has been Atlético's third captain and is contracted through 2028. His leadership and aerial dominance pair particularly well with Diego Simeone's deep-defending structure.
He captains Uruguay and has appeared at three FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022) and multiple Copa Américas. He scored the winning goal against Egypt in Uruguay's 2018 World Cup opener and was named to the 2019 Copa América Team of the Tournament.
A 1.85 m right-footed centre-back, Giménez is known for his physicality, aerial dominance, anticipation, and aggressive but disciplined tackling. Long-running niggles around hamstring and groin issues have at times limited his minutes, but when fit he remains one of the most respected pure defenders in La Liga.