Manuel Ugarte undergoes successful knee surgery, begins long road to recovery at Manchester United

Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte has successfully undergone knee surgery following a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 25-year-old is now beginning rehabilitation under the supervision of the club’s medical staff, with a recovery timeline stretching somewhere between 9 and 12 months.

How the injury happened

Ugarte suffered the injury during Uruguay’s group-stage match against Spain on June 27-28. The match ended in a 1-0 loss that knocked Uruguay out of the tournament.

Manchester United confirmed on June 28 that Ugarte had sustained a knee ligament injury and that the club was assessing next steps for treatment.

Ugarte himself acknowledged the gravity of the situation, describing it as “the most serious injury a footballer can face.”

What this means for Manchester United

The expected 9 to 12 month recovery window means Ugarte likely won’t feature until deep into the 2026-27 campaign at the earliest. Manchester United confirmed the injury and stated they were assessing the treatment and rehabilitation timeline, indicating the severity of the injury.

Ugarte joined Manchester United from Paris Saint-Germain at the start of the 2024/25 season and quickly became a regular starter for both club and country before his aspirations were halted by the injury.

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