Maximiliano Araújo

Maximiliano "Maxi" Javier Araújo Vilches (born 15 February 2000) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a left-back or left wing-back for Primeira Liga club Sporting CP and the Uruguay national team.

Club career Araújo is a youth academy graduate of Montevideo Wanderers. He made his professional debut for the club on 11 March 2018 in a 2–1 league win against Montevideo City Torque.

At the end of December 2019 it was confirmed, Araújo had signed a deal until the end of 2023 with Liga MX club Puebla.

On 27 August 2024, Araújo joined Primeira Liga club Sporting CP on a five-year contract. On 5 November 2024, Araújo scored his debut goal in the UEFA Champions League against Manchester City in a 4–1 victory. On 4 August 2026, he extended his contract until 2030.

International career As a youth international, Araújo has represented Uruguay at the 2019 South American U-20 Championship, 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, 2019 Pan American Games and the 2020 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament.

On 21 October 2022, Araújo was named in Uruguay's 55-man preliminary squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, he was not included in the final squad, which was announced three weeks later. In June 2023, he received his first call-up to the senior team for friendly matches against Nicaragua and Cuba. He made his debut on 14 June in a 4–1 win against Nicaragua.

On 31 May 2026, Araújo was named in Uruguay's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On 15 June, in Uruguay's opener against Saudi Arabia, Araújo scored his first World Cup goal with equalizer to ensure a 1–1 draw. In Uruguay's second group-stage match against Cape Verde, he registered a goal and an assist, becoming the first Uruguayan player to achieve this feat at a World Cup since Juan Mujica in 1970.

Personal life He is the elder brother of fellow professional footballer César Araújo. In June 2026, unverified claims circulated on social media, primarily in India, alleging that Araújo had family origins in Portuguese Goa and that his grandfather had emigrated to Uruguay. However, these claims were not supported by reliable sources and were publicly denied by people close to him.

Career statistics Club

International

Taça de Portugal: 2024–25

Uruguay Copa América third place: 2024

Individual Primeira Liga Team of the Season: 2025–26