Darwin Nunez drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia in their opening group-stage game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the former Liverpool forward - who is linked with a shock return - played a small role
01:06, 16 Jun 2026
Darwin Nunez and Uruguay struggled in the first half against Saudi Arabia
Darwin Nunez and Uruguay struggled in the first half against Saudi Arabia(Image: Getty Images)
Darwin Nunez endured a disappointingly quiet World Cup opener as rumors surrounding a stunning return to Liverpool run rife.
Over the weekend, a Uruguayan journalist claimed that Nunez is on the verge of a surprise return to Anfield, with a deal already in place - although he also suggested any official confirmation is unlikely to come for several weeks. While the report has been played down, Liverpool fans might be intrigued by the prospect.
Last summer, Nunez left the Reds to join Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal in a transfer believed to be worth around $62 million. His exit followed shortly after the club wrapped up the $106 million acquisition of Hugo Ekitike.
Ekitike is absent at the World Cup due to a torn Achilles injury, but Nunez is in the United States. He made the squad and represents one of Uruguay’s finest attackers despite a difficult run of form.
Entering the game against Saudi Arabia, Nunez had gone 13 games without a goal for Uruguay. His club form was equally as fruitless; he scored just six goals and added four assists for Al Hilal.
Any Reds fans who tuned in to see Nunez in action and at his sharp best were left bitterly disappointed. Nunez failed to make an impact, barely touching the ball before he was substituted at halftime by coach Marcelo Bielsa with Saudi Arabia leading 1-0 thanks to Abdulelah Al-Amri’s goal.
Nunez has been linked with a move away from Saudi Arabia for some time. Back in February, he was rumored to be on his way out after being dropped from the club's 25-man squad.
With the World Cup in full swing, Uruguayan outlet Carve Deportiva has reported that Nunez will return to Liverpool once the tournament concludes. It has also been noted that Nunez remains entirely focused on Uruguay's World Cup campaign, making any transfer announcement before his nation's run in the United States comes to an end highly improbable.
Darwin Nunez failed to get into the game and was withdrawn at halftime
Darwin Nunez failed to get into the game and was withdrawn at halftime(Image: Getty Images)
Both memorable highs and frustrating lows marked Nunez's time at Anfield. Upon leaving the club, he departed with a record of 40 goals and 26 assists across 143 appearances, as well as a Premier League and League Cup winners' medal to his name.
Having arrived from Benfica in the summer of 2022 in a deal worth approximately $101 million, Nunez failed to replicate the form he showed in Portugal while at Liverpool. But some fans lamented his exit, and he paid tribute to the Liverpool fans following his exit last summer.
“Thank you, Liverpool,” Nunez wrote. “Three years on, it's time to say goodbye. I'll take with me countless memories that will live with me forever. I leave with a full heart, thanks to the love of a crowd that never let me down and always had my back - through the highs and through the lows.
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“Liverpool will always be part of who I am. I'll miss you more than words can say. To all my staff and teammates - thank you, and all the very best for the future.”
Nunez’s Uruguay is next in action against Cape Verde at Miami Stadium on Sunday, June 21.