Manuel Ugarte was given a scathing review from Uruguayan media after the Manchester United star's side drew 2-2 with Cape Verde at World Cup 2026
Manuel Ugarte #5 of Uruguay looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Uruguay and Cabo Verde
Manuel Ugarte was singled out after Uruguay's World Cup 2026 draw against Cape Verde(Image: Getty)
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Manuel Ugarte has come under fire from media in Uruguay following a 2-2 draw with Cape Verde that has dented his country's World Cup 2026 knockout ambitions. The Manchester United midfielder's squad had already been pegged back in their opening fixture and are languishing on just two points.
Progressing from Group H appeared straightforward on paper for Uruguay, but Marcelo Bielsa's side now face the prospect of an early departure. They were unable to unlock Saudi Arabia and shared the spoils 1-1 when the sides clashed last Monday. On Sunday, it was a stubborn Cape Verde outfit that proved formidable opposition.
The island nation took the lead through a spectacular Kevin Pina free-kick before two late first-half strikes ensured Bielsa's men went into the interval ahead. Helio Varela secured Cape Verde a share of the points in the 61st minute to Uruguay's frustration.
Ugarte, whose prospects at Old Trafford remain uncertain after an underwhelming season, held down his team's midfield until the 70th minute when he was replaced. However, the Uruguayan press have delivered a damning assessment of his display, branding him a glaring liability and suggesting he ought to have been taken off sooner.
Montevideo Portal
The United midfielder, who looks set to depart this summer, failed to win a single one of his five ground duels against Cape Verde and Montevideo Portal pulled no punches in their assessment of his performance.
Manuel Ugarte (5) of Uruguay in action during the 2026 FIFA World Cup First Stage Group H match between Uruguay and Cape Verde at the Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) in Miami Gardens
The midfielder was criticised by Uruguayan media(Image: Getty)
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In its player ratings, the publication wrote: "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."
El Observador
Fellow outlet El Observador was equally swift to shine a spotlight on Ugarte's dismal display, placing greater emphasis on the overall hopelessness of a Uruguay side who now likely need a result against Spain to advance from the group stage.
Manuel Ugarte #5 of Uruguay speaks with teammates during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H match between Uruguay and Cabo Verde at Miami Stadium on June 21, 2026 in Miami Gardens
Ugarte was replaced in the 70th minute(Image: Getty)
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One report reads: "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."