Uruguayan media savage Ugarte as Man United midfielder flops in World Cup draw with Cape Verde

Manuel Ugarte endured a torrid evening as Uruguay were held 2-2 by Cape Verde in their second Group H fixture at the 2026 World Cup on Sunday, leaving Marcelo Bielsa’s side on the verge of an early exit and the Manchester United midfielder facing a withering verdict from his home media.

Uruguay had already been held 1-1 by Saudi Arabia in their opening match, meaning a second dropped result has placed them in a precarious position. Qualification from a group that appeared manageable on paper now hinges on a result against Spain.

Cape Verde took the lead through a stunning Kevin Pina free-kick before two late first-half goals put Uruguay ahead at the break. Helio Varela levelled for the African side in the 61st minute, and Ugarte was substituted nine minutes later having failed to win a single one of his five ground duels.

Montevideo Portal issued a damning player rating for the 23-year-old, writing: “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. 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.”

The publication did acknowledge one positive contribution, noting that the cross which led to Uruguay’s second goal came from Ugarte’s feet — a rare bright moment in an otherwise difficult night.

El Observador also highlighted the midfielder’s struggles, describing a broader creative vacuum in the Uruguayan side. One report noted that a weak Ugarte volley at the half-hour mark prompted Luis Suarez, watching from a hospitality box, to hold his head in his hands as the crowd grew restless. A second piece was blunter still: “Zero ideas, zero football, zero creativity. Nothing was coming out of the midfield. Uruguay was an anarchic team.”

The performance adds further uncertainty to Ugarte’s club future. The midfielder, who joined United from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, endured a difficult debut Premier League season at Old Trafford and is widely expected to leave the club this summer.