A painful end to Uruguay’s World Cup

Manuel Ugarte is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee ligament injury during Uruguay’s 1-0 defeat to Spain at the 2026 World Cup.

The Manchester United midfielder was carried off shortly before half-time at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, after appearing to twist awkwardly while closing down Spain midfielder Pedri.

According to The Guardian’s report on Ugarte’s injury, United have confirmed knee ligament damage, but have not yet stated whether the injury involves the anterior cruciate ligament or the medial collateral ligament.

“Assessment of the injury is ongoing to determine the best course of treatment and the rehabilitation timescale,” Manchester United said in a statement.

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The timing made the injury even more difficult. Uruguay needed a result against Spain to keep their World Cup hopes alive, but Alex Baena’s first-half goal sent Marcelo Bielsa’s side out of the tournament.

Ugarte shares emotional message

Ugarte later posted an emotional message on X, reflecting on the severity of the moment and the pain of leaving the pitch in one of Uruguay’s most important matches.

“Suffering the most serious injury a footballer can face in one of the most important matches in my country’s history, and seeing it end this way without being able to stay on the pitch and support my teammates until the final whistle, is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life,” he wrote.

The 25-year-old also thanked both Uruguay and Manchester United for their support after the injury.

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“I’m incredibly grateful to @Uruguay and @ManUtd for being there for me from the moment it happened. A huge thank you as well to my family, my friends, and everyone who has sent me messages of support during this time. I’ll be back stronger,” Ugarte added.

As reported by The Times in its article on the injury’s impact on United’s plans, Ugarte’s own wording has raised fears of a serious ACL injury, though United have not publicly confirmed the exact diagnosis.

United wait for full diagnosis

For Manchester United, the injury comes at a difficult moment. Ugarte joined the club from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, but his time at Old Trafford has yet to fully gather momentum.

The Guardian reported that he started eight Premier League matches in the 2025-26 season and only once in United’s final 16 league games. That had left his future uncertain before the World Cup, with speculation around whether United could reshape their midfield this summer.

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Those plans may now have to change. If the injury proves to be an ACL rupture, Ugarte could face many months of rehabilitation. If it is less severe, the recovery period may be shorter, but United are not yet in a position to provide a timeline.

Uruguay’s football federation has also said the evaluation process is continuing.

“We will continue working together through the evaluation process to later confirm the full extent and severity of the injury,” the federation said.

A tournament to forget for Uruguay

Ugarte’s injury was the final blow in a miserable World Cup campaign for Uruguay.

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As described by Sky Sports in its match report from Uruguay against Spain, Baena’s goal settled the match after an error from veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. Uruguay finished third in Group H with two points and failed to qualify for the knockout stage.

The night ended in further frustration when Agustín Canobbio was sent off in stoppage time for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsí.

For Ugarte, though, the result became secondary to the injury. His World Cup ended on a stretcher, and his next challenge will be away from the pitch.

The midfielder’s message made clear that he is already thinking about the recovery ahead. For club and country, the wait now is for a diagnosis that will determine how long that road back will be.

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