Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte has broken his silence after suffering a serious injury at the 2026 FIFA World Cup that left him at “rock bottom.”
Ugarte had to watch his nation exit the tournament after he was stretchered off during the first half of his side’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final Group H game.
The left knee ligament injury will require a lengthy recovery period and the player’s club, Manchester United, said they are currently assessing the best course of treatment for their midfielder.
A club statement said: “Manchester United can confirm that Manuel Ugarte has suffered a knee ligament injury whilst representing Uruguay in Friday’s World Cup group-stage match against Spain.
“Assessment of the injury is ongoing to determine the best course of treatment and the rehabilitation timescale.
“Everyone wishes Manuel a successful recovery and we will be supporting him every step of the way.”
Manuel Ugarte vows to come back stronger
Ugarte issued a statement via his Instagram account, where he vowed to come back stronger after the injury.
He said: “A few days have passed since everything happened.
“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.
“Hitting rock bottom will make me stronger in every sense, and I truly believe that’s the case here.
Without a doubt, when life wants you to stop, it finds a way to let you know.
“It’s up to me to take the positives from this. Success in life is about starting again every time you fall.”
He added: “I’m incredibly grateful to @aufoficial 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.”
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