Nov, 20 2025
It was supposed to be a tune-up. Instead, it became a nightmare. Mexico and Uruguay played out a goalless, grinding 0-0 draw in Torreón, Mexico — a match that left fans restless and the national team’s medical staff scrambling after Hirving Lozano was stretchered off with a serious hamstring injury. The game, played on March 26, 2024 at Estadio Corona in Torreón, Coahuila, was meant to prepare for upcoming World Cup qualifiers. What it delivered instead was a chilling reminder of how quickly momentum can unravel in international football.
Midfield Gridlock and Frustrated Fans
The match was a battle of attrition. Neither side could unlock the other. Uruguay, known for their physicality and defensive discipline, parked the bus with surgical precision. Mexico, desperate for rhythm, overpassed and underdelivered. There were no red cards, no penalty appeals, no spectacular saves — just 90 minutes of midfield congestion and missed chances. The crowd of 28,412, mostly clad in green, grew quieter with every failed through ball. By the 70th minute, chants of "¡Vamos México!" had turned to sighs. Goal.com captured it best: "A midfield-heavy, uneventful game that left Mexico fans frustrated." The only spark came from Lozano, who danced past two defenders in the 23rd minute only to see his low drive blocked at the near post. He was Mexico’s best chance — and then, suddenly, he was gone.Chucky’s Injury: More Than Just a Hamstring
In the 37th minute, Lozano collapsed without contact while chasing a loose ball. He clutched his right thigh, face twisted in pain. The medical team rushed out. He didn’t walk off — he was carried. The substitution was made immediately: Gilberto Mora, 24, stepped in. But the real story wasn’t the sub — it was the injury. An Instagram post, later confirmed by multiple Mexican sports media outlets, cited internal medical reports: Lozano suffered a tear in his semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles — the two inner hamstring tendons critical for sprinting, changing direction, and explosive movement. These aren’t minor strains. They’re the kind of injuries that derail careers if mismanaged. Lozano, 28, has battled hamstring issues before — a 2021 setback kept him out of the Gold Cup, and a similar injury in 2022 forced him to miss Napoli’s final Champions League group stage match. The FMF’s head athletic trainer, Carlos Morales, confirmed Lozano underwent an MRI immediately after the match. No official report has been released, but sources close to the team say the tear is Grade 2 — moderate, with an estimated recovery window of four to six weeks. That timeline puts him in serious doubt for Mexico’s next two World Cup qualifiers: away to Jamaica on April 18 and home against Panama on April 23.
Who’s Next? The Tactical Nightmare
Lozano isn’t just a goal-scorer. He’s Mexico’s primary counter-attacking threat — the player who turns defense into offense in three strides. His absence creates a massive void. Mora, while energetic, lacks Lozano’s pace and clinical finishing. Manager Jaime Lozano now faces a dilemma: shift to a 4-4-2 with two strikers and sacrifice width? Or push Raúl Jiménez out wide, where his mobility is limited? The Uruguay match exposed more than Lozano’s injury — it revealed Mexico’s overreliance on him. Without his dribbling, the team looked directionless. The midfield trio of Andrés Guardado, Héctor Herrera, and Rodolfo Pizarro controlled possession, but couldn’t create. Only two shots on target. Zero goals. It’s the same problem that plagued them in the 2022 World Cup: too much control, too little creativity.What This Means for Mexico’s World Cup Qualifying Campaign
Mexico sits third in the CONCACAF qualifying standings, just one point ahead of Costa Rica. Losing Lozano isn’t just a blow to morale — it’s a tactical earthquake. The next two games are winnable, but not without him. The Jamaica match, in particular, is a must-win. A draw could open the door for the U.S. or Canada to surge ahead. The Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF) has already begun exploring alternatives. They’ve called up Uriel Antuna from Club América and Jonathan Rodríguez from Santos Laguna. Both are fast, but neither has Lozano’s international experience. Meanwhile, Uruguay — who played without star striker Darwin Núñez due to suspension — looked sharp defensively but equally toothless in attack. Their coach, Marcelo Bielsa, called the result "a moral victory," but admitted his team "lacked the final touch." For them, it was a point gained. For Mexico, it was a warning.
Historical Context: When Hamstrings Break Dreams
This isn’t the first time a hamstring injury has derailed a national team’s campaign. In 2014, Colombia’s James Rodríguez missed the World Cup final after tearing his hamstring in the semifinal. In 2018, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo played through a minor tear in the group stage — and nearly cost his team a knockout spot. Lozano’s injury isn’t as severe as those, but the timing couldn’t be worse. Mexico hasn’t lost a World Cup qualifier since 2017. But the team’s aging core — Guardado, Herrera, and Néstor Araujo — is running out of time. Lozano is one of the few players who can carry them. If he’s out for six weeks, Mexico’s path to Qatar 2026 gets significantly harder.Frequently Asked Questions
How serious is Chucky Lozano’s hamstring injury?
Lozano suffered a Grade 2 tear in his semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles — the two inner hamstring tendons. This is a moderate tear, not a complete rupture, but it typically requires 4–6 weeks of rest and rehab. He won’t be cleared for full training until at least mid-May, ruling him out of Mexico’s next two World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica and Panama.
Who could replace Lozano in Mexico’s attack?
Manager Jaime Lozano has called up Uriel Antuna and Jonathan Rodríguez as potential replacements. Antuna offers blistering pace but lacks clinical finishing; Rodríguez is more of a traditional striker. Neither has Lozano’s ability to beat defenders one-on-one or create space in transition — a skill Mexico desperately needs against fast, compact defenses like Jamaica’s.
Why did the match feel so uneventful?
Uruguay played with extreme discipline, dropping into a 5-4-1 shape and clogging the center. Mexico, meanwhile, overpassed in midfield and lacked a true playmaker. Without Lozano’s dribbling to stretch the defense, the team couldn’t generate width or penetration. Only two shots on target — a troubling sign for a team that averages 14 shots per qualifier.
Is this injury related to Lozano’s club workload at Napoli?
Possibly. Lozano played 47 matches across all competitions for Napoli last season — the most of his professional career. He’s been carrying a heavy minutes load since joining the Italian club in 2020. The FMF has raised concerns with Napoli’s medical staff about his training load, especially after he missed two Serie A games in February with thigh soreness. This injury may be the result of cumulative fatigue.
What’s next for Mexico’s World Cup qualifying campaign?
Mexico’s next two qualifiers are critical: away to Jamaica on April 18 and home against Panama on April 23. Without Lozano, they’ll need to rely on set pieces and defensive solidity. A win in Jamaica is non-negotiable. If they drop points, the U.S. and Canada could overtake them in the standings — and Mexico could miss automatic qualification for the first time since 1998.