Manuel Ugarte was singled out for harsh criticism by Uruguayan media following Uruguay's 2-2 draw with Cape Verde at the 2026 World Cup, a result that has severely dented their knockout stage hopes. The Manchester United midfielder, who was substituted in the 70th minute, failed to win a single ground duel and was described as a glaring weakness.
Uruguay's World Cup struggles continue
Uruguay entered Group H as favourites on paper, but after two matches they sit on just two points. A 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia was followed by Sunday's stalemate against Cape Verde, leaving Marcelo Bielsa's side needing a result against Spain to advance. Cape Verde took the lead through a stunning Kevin Pina free-kick, but two late first-half goals put Uruguay ahead before Helio Varela equalised in the 61st minute.
Media savagery for Ugarte
Montevideo Portal's player ratings pulled no punches: 'Manuel Ugarte. Very sloppy with the ball. Against an opponent with very physical and fast players, he struggled a lot. When they dropped back, he wasn't the right person to control the ball, which made him uncomfortable. Nevertheless, the cross that led to the second goal came from his feet. Once again, he was one of the team's biggest weaknesses and should have been substituted much earlier. He's not there, he just wasn't there.'
Ugarte lost all five of his ground duels against Cape Verde, according to match statistics, highlighting his ineffective display. His future at Manchester United remains uncertain after an underwhelming season, with reports suggesting he could leave Old Trafford this summer.
El Observador echoes criticism
El Observador was equally damning, focusing on Uruguay's overall midfield dysfunction. One report noted: 'At 30 minutes, Mathias Olivera began to drift wide on the left to create space. Two minutes later, he sent in a cross that, after a deflection, ended with a weak volley from Ugarte. The television broadcast showed Luis Suarez in one of the boxes holding his head and the crowd began to grow impatient.'
A second report added: 'Zero ideas, zero football, zero creativity. Nothing was coming out of the midfield. Uruguay was an anarchic team. Everyone wanted to contribute, but without the help of a team-mate. Bielsa's team once again relied on that great tendency towards improvisation, something very dangerous and totally unnecessary in football. Thus, Uruguay then displayed a compulsion to repeat itself. It was a kind of Sisyphus myth: lifting the stone, only for it to roll back down.'
What next for Uruguay and Ugarte?
Uruguay must now beat Spain in their final group match to have any realistic chance of progressing. Ugarte, who has been a regular under Bielsa, faces an uncertain club future as Manchester United reportedly consider offers. His World Cup performance has done little to enhance his reputation ahead of a potential summer transfer.
