Federico Valverde under fire after Uruguay's elimination from the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 World Cup ended for Federico Valverde and his Uruguayan team after losing 1-0 to Spain in the final match of the group stage. As one of the leaders of the South American team, Valverde came under heavy fire from critics, including from Spanish sources.  The last 12 months have been difficult for Valverde. While his on-field performances were solid, off-the-field matters cast a shadow over his career. He became involved in a row with former Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso and also had a row with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni after a heated exchange in May. In the context of his disappointing performances at the World Cup, journalist Manolo Lama criticized the Real Madrid midfielder on Tiempo de Juego: "It was a year in which he did not want to warm up, did not want to play as a full-back, made life difficult for Xabi Alonso. Tell him that it is enough." Valverde will want to respond to criticism in the upcoming season. Recent months have been full of attention towards Valverde, and this will only increase given that he has replaced Dani Carvajal as Real Madrid captain. New coach Jose Mourinho supports the 27-year-old, whom he will entrust with a key role in his plans for the 2026/27 season. Valverde will certainly want to dispel any doubts about him. With Mourinho behind him, it wouldn't be surprising if he had a stellar season as Real Madrid captain - something the club's fans are certainly hoping for as they look to the future. --- ## Related Articles 1. [World Cup 2026](https://azkalsgoal.com/fil/news/hamon-kay-egypt-bukas-ang-suso-kung-makakalaro-si-salah-sa-laban-vs-australia-sa-world-cup-2026) 2. [World Cup 2026](https://azkalsgoal.com/fil/news/bellingham-at-kane-nanguna-sa-panalo-ng-england-kontra-panama-para-sa-unang-pwesto-sa-group-l-ng-world-cup-2026)