Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, who suffered a left ankle injury from a tackle by Atletico Madrid’s Lee Kang-in, has been ruled out of Uruguay’s national team roster. Valverde will also miss the upcoming match against South Korea on September 28.
The Uruguay Football Association announced on Tuesday that Valverde would be absent from the September international fixtures due to injury. They have called up Palmeiras midfielder Emiliano Martinez as his replacement. Uruguay is set to play a series of friendlies against Japan on September 24, South Korea on September 28, and India on October 6.
Valverde was in the starting lineup for Real Madrid’s La Liga match against Atletico Madrid on September 20 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitan Stadium in Madrid, Spain. This was the seventh round of the 2026-27 season.
The incident in question occurred late in the first half. Lee Kang-in attempted to tackle Valverde, catching his left ankle in the process. The referee did not issue a card to Lee at the time, and Valverde managed to finish the game.
However, the extent of the injury became clear after the match.
Real Madrid released a statement through their official channels on Tuesday, revealing that medical examinations confirmed Valverde had sustained a grade 3 sprain in his left ankle. The club added that they would continue to monitor his recovery.
A grade 3 sprain indicates severe ligament damage. Local reports suggest that Valverde could be sidelined for approximately 2 to 3 weeks.
As a result, Valverde will not join the Uruguay national team and will miss the friendly match against South Korea scheduled for September 28 at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Meanwhile, Lee Kang-in’s tackle has sparked controversy since the final whistle. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho criticized the incident immediately after the game, arguing that it should have resulted in a red card. The debate over the referee’s decision continues to rage in Spain.
