The shock for Nunez

Striker Darwin Nunez faces the prospect of a long-term layoff despite not being injured before the start of the 2026 World Cup.

Nunez is causing concern.

In the early hours of April 14th, Nunez's Al Hilal were eliminated from the AFC Champions League after a 2-4 penalty shootout defeat against Al Sadd (the match ended 3-3 in regular time).

Nunez was unavailable for this match due to suspension. In his last appearance against Al Wahda on February 16th, the former Liverpool star scored a brace but received his third yellow card of the season, meaning he would be suspended for the next game.

Al Hilal's elimination from the AFC Champions League has severely impacted Nunez's playing time. This is the only competition in which the Saudi Arabian club has registered him to play. Previously, coach Simone Inzaghi removed Nunez from the Saudi Pro League squad to make room for other foreign players.

Nunez participated in the friendly match against England in March. Photo: Reuters .

According to calculations, Nunez will spend nearly four months without playing at club level before making his debut for the Uruguayan national team at the 2026 World Cup next June. This is a worrying figure for both Nunez and the Uruguayan coaching staff.

During the FIFA Days in March, Nunez still had the opportunity to play for the Uruguayan national team in friendly matches against England and Algeria, albeit only coming on as a substitute.

Before the 2026 World Cup kicks off on June 15th, Uruguay is expected to have two more preparatory matches at home. This is an ideal opportunity for Nunez to regain his match fitness.

The interruption in playing time could significantly impact Nunez's form, especially considering Uruguay has high expectations for their star striker at the world's biggest football tournament.

World Cup 2026 - When time is not on the side of the big teams. The preparations for the biggest tournament of the year vary greatly among the national teams. Some teams feel reassured and expectant, but this is accompanied by endless worries.

Source: https://znews.vn/cu-soc-voi-nunez-post1643343.html