The early elimination of Uruguay in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup left an even more painful consequence. Two days after the defeat against Spain, it was confirmed that Manuel Ugarte suffered a ligament tear in his left knee, an injury that will keep him off the field for several months.
The Manchester United midfielder was injured at 43 minutes into the first half of the match against the Spanish team. In an action where he went to press along with Rodrigo Bentancur and Mathías Olivera on Pedri, he tried to halt his momentum, but his left knee gave out. Ugarte was left lying on the grass with evident signs of pain and had to be carried off the field on a stretcher, being replaced by Nicolás De la Cruz.
Initially, the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) had reported that preliminary studies showed a ligament injury and that the definitive diagnosis would be made in conjunction with the Red Devils. Now, this Sunday the tests finally confirmed the ligament tear, so the player will travel in the coming hours to England to continue treatment under the medical supervision of his club.
The AUF statement on Ugarte's injury
Although the recovery time has not been announced, estimates suggest that this type of injury has a recovery period of 9 to 12 months, so he will likely not play again until next year.
The injury comes at a complex time for the 25-year-old midfielder. After the World Cup, the United coach, Michael Carrick, was not going to consider him for the team, and he needed to find a new destination. Although there were inquiries from clubs in Spain and Italy, with this situation, any negotiations will depend on the recovery timeline.
After the diagnosis was revealed, Ugarte shared an extensive message on his social media to express his feelings. "Having the toughest injury a footballer can have in one of the most important matches for my country and having ended this way without being able to support my teammates until the end on the field and without leaving the country represented as it deserves is something that will be marked in my life", he wrote.
Ugarte's post on Instagram
Despite the harsh blow, the Uruguayan left a message of strength regarding his recovery: "Hitting rock bottom will make me stronger in every way, and I feel that this is the case. Without a doubt, when life wants you to stop, it makes it known in some way. It’s up to me to take the positive from this. To succeed in life is to start over every time one falls".
The midfielder also thanked the support received from Manchester United, the Uruguayan national team, his family, and those who sent him messages in recent hours. Finally, he closed with a promise that excites both his club and La Celeste: "I will come back stronger."
