José María Giménez

José María Giménez is expected to be in Uruguay's 26 for the 2026 World Cup, a centre-back for Marcelo Bielsa with the final squad due by 2 June 2026. The Atlético Madrid defender is 31 at kick-off and brings 99 senior Uruguay caps and eight international goals into the squad. He is a dominant aerial presence at the back, and this would be his fourth World Cup after 2014, 2018 and 2022.

Uruguay face Spain, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia in Group H, opening against Saudi Arabia at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on 15 June. Bielsa's side finished fourth in CONMEBOL qualifying to reach the tournament, securing their place on 4 September 2025, and Giménez is expected to be among the defenders when the 26 is named.

Giménez is a centre-back whose game is built on aerial dominance, recovery pace and front-foot defending, stepping in to win the ball high up the pitch. He times his challenges in one-on-one situations and is strong in both penalty boxes, with eight international goals showing the threat he carries when Uruguay attack corners and free-kicks.

Bielsa's side defend man-to-man and drive forward quickly once they win possession, and a centre-back comfortable marking tightly and stepping up the line fits that direct, aggressive approach.

At £24m, Uruguay sit in Tier 2 on the Goal Rush card, inside the game's £200m card budget. Their Group H draw against Spain, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia shapes the early matchdays for a second-band pick.

Giménez gives the £24m Uruguay pick its centre-back layer: aerial defending, 99 caps, and eight international goals from a defender profile. His contribution is defensive first, with the grounded set-piece threat that comes from a centre-back who has scored eight times for Uruguay.