Darwin Nunez marked his return to the pitch over the weekend, participating in a charity game held in his hometown, Artigas, Uruguay. 

A toe i𝚗jury had sidelined Nunez from the final three games of the season at Liverpool, and he was not included in Marcelo Bielsa’s initial Uruguay squad for upcoming friendlies against Nicaragua and Cuba. Despite his absence being unrelated to fitness issues, Bielsa opted for an experimental squad to test new players.

Taking advantage of the break before pre-season on Merseyside starts on July 8, Nunez returned to Uruguay. In a charity match in Artigas on Sunday, he contributed to collecting food and clothes for impoverished families in the area. Nunez, donning the No. 9 shirt, received enthusiastic applause from a large crowd at the Estadio Matias Gonzalez.

The game featured a team put together by Nunez facing Club Atletico Artigas, and tickets were available in exchange for food donations or a coat. Expressing his happiness after the game, the 23-year-old shared his joy at seeing people supporting the benefit match and expressed his love for returning to his homeland to contribute to charitable efforts.

Nunez, who left Uruguay for Portugal in 2019 after his breakthrough at Penarol in Montevideo, mentioned that he hadn’t played at the Estadio Matias Gonzalez in six years. He expressed hope to return to Artigas after retiring, playing there, and enjoying time with his family.

This philanthropic event showcased Nunez’s commitment to his community and highlighted the positive impact he continues to make both on and off the pitch.