Valverde has been named in Uruguay's World Cup squad as the undisputed star of the team under coach Marcelo Bielsa, arriving at the tournament as the first-choice penalty taker and one of the most complete midfielders in world football.
Analysis:
Valverde delivered another outstanding campaign with Real Madrid, contributing eight goals and 12 assists alongside 62 tackles and 35 interceptions across 46 appearances in all competitions, underlining his status as one of the most dynamic and influential midfielders in European football. His thunderous long-range shooting, ability to cover ground in both directions, arrive late into the box and deliver in the biggest moments make him the heartbeat of Uruguay's midfield and the player around whom manager Marcelo Bielsa builds his entire system. For Uruguay, Valverde is the difference-maker capable of winning matches on his own in a tournament where individual moments of brilliance can prove decisive, and his combination of defensive output, creative contribution and direct goal threat makes him one of the more complete and dangerous midfielders in the entire competition this summer.
