A Legacy In Full
Marco Bielsa named Fernando Muslera to Uruguay's 26-man World Cup roster on Sunday, pulling the 39-year-old goalkeeper out of retirement for a fifth tournament appearance. Muslera, who retired from international soccer in 2024 after 133 caps, returns as Uruguay's most capped goalkeeper in World Cup history.
The roster also features Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, Barcelona center back Ronald Araújo and Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte. Uruguay enters the tournament ranked No. 17 in the world and will face Spain, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde in Group H.
The list looks clean on paper; the hard part is everything that happens after it is printed.
The Numbers That Last
Muslera's recall at 39 is unusual—most top-level goalkeepers retire younger—but his prior international record made the decision straightforward for Bielsa.
Luis Suárez, Uruguay's all-time leading scorer with 69 goals in 143 appearances, was not called up. The 39-year-old striker retired from international duty in September 2024 but recently said he wanted to return. He has six goals and four assists in seven starts for Inter Miami this season.
The Game That Followed
That Suárez remains out despite clear interest and current form is the sharpest edge in this squad announcement.