Maximiliano Araujo was carted off the field in a neck brace during the early stages of Uruguay’s final Copa America group stage game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Monday.

The Liga MX player moved centrally for an attacking corner kick and pursued an inswinging delivery from Nicolas de la Cruz. An initial collision between Ronald Araujo and Tim Ream saw the injured player lose balance and land on the top of his head, snapping his neck back in an alarming motion.

Uruguayan players then frantically signaled the attention of medical staff, who attached the brace to Araujo’s neck, and he was able to deliver an encouraging thumbs-up signal to the crowd before departing the pitch. Cristian Olivera entered the game for Araujo while Ream, who also went down injured after the incident, returned to his feet minutes later.

Araujo was subbed off in the 28th minute ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
Araujo’s injury comes after the versatile, left-sided player made a thunderous arrival to his first Copa America. The Montevideo native has started all three of Uruguay’s group-stage games and was particularly impressive in the tournament opener against Panama, steering a thunderous left-footed strike into the top-right corner to give his nation an early 1-0 lead.

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