Spain winger Nico Williams says he suffered one of the worst setbacks of his life after a muscle injury in Spain’s World Cup 2026 match against Uruguay, and he criticises Uruguay midfielder Nicolás de la Cruz over the challenge he believes caused it. Multiple outlets report that Williams describes the tackle as “completely unnecessary” and links it to frustration or emotion, saying it was avoidable. The Spanish Football Federation is cited as confirming a moderate injury to Williams’s right adductor muscle. Coverage also notes that Williams had previously battled pubalgia for months and had returned to full fitness before the tournament, making the new injury especially difficult. Deccan Chronicle adds that the injury could rule him out for the remainder of the tournament depending on Spain’s progress. BBC and Yahoo Sports similarly focus on Williams’s public comments and his disappointment after a 1-0 defeat that eliminated Uruguay from the competition. Williams indicates he plans to continue working toward recovery and return to play, while Spain is expected to monitor his condition closely before determining whether he can feature again, including in the knockout stages.