World preliminaries: Argentina 0-2 Uruguay suffered its first defeat! Messi locked his throat + free kick in the frame Nunez scored
At 8 o'clock on November 17, Beijing time, in the 5th round of the 2026 World Cup South American qualifiers, Argentina lost 0-2 at home to Uruguay, ending the 4-game winning streak and suffering the first defeat in this World Preliminaries, but still at the top of the standings. Messi cut Oliveira away from a red card, a free-kick hit the crossbar, Barcelona defender Araujo volleyed in to break the deadlock, and Liverpool striker Nunez sealed the win with a solo shot.
Highlights of the game
1. Messi won the Ballon d'Or for the 8th time and received a commemorative disc from the Argentine Football Federation before the game.
2. This match is Di Maria's last home game for Argentina, who previously announced that he will retire from the national team after the 2024 Copa America and that next year's Copa America will be played in the United States, while Argentina will not have another home game before the Copa America.
3. Barcelona defender Araujo became the first player to score Argentina's goal after Mbappe in the World Cup final, and Martinez's record of not conceding a goal in the national team came to an end, stopping at 753 minutes.
4. Argentina is unbeaten in 14 games in all competitions, and the 4-game winning streak in this World Preliminary Tournament was ended, and the last time it lost was 1-2 Saudi Arabia in the first round of the group stage of the World Cup last year.
Wonderful review
In the first minute, Nunez knocked down Messi in a scramble and was whistled for a foul.
In the 10th minute, Araujo made a long pass from the backfield, Nunez got a one-on-one shot, and a low right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area went wide of the far post.
In the 13th minute, Messi passed Oliveira and fired a left-footed shot from the top of the arc that was too straight and was confiscated by Rochette.
In the 20th minute, De Paul and Oliveira had a verbal altercation, and the players of the two teams clashed, Messi also rushed up, and used his right elbow to put Oliveira on it, followed by a "throat lock" action, but the referee did not play a card.
In the 23rd minute, Messi took a left-footed free kick at the top of the arc and shot directly at the goal, which was blocked by the human wall.
In the 35th minute, Messi broke through with the ball from the backfield, and after passing several people, he was brought down by Araujo.
In the 37th minute, Alvarez stopped the ball in the penalty area and turned around, and his left-footed volley missed.
In the 41st minute, Viña stole Molina, sent a cross from the left side, and Araujo volleyed a right-footed volley into the net from the right side of the penalty area, 0-1!
In the 45th minute, Messi crossed a free kick from the right, and Romero grabbed a point in front of the goal, but was saved by Rochette on the ground.
In the 53rd minute, Di Maria came on as a substitute and staged the national team's home curtain call.
In the 57th minute, Messi took a left-footed free kick in front of the penalty area, and the ball hit the upper edge of the crossbar and popped up the bottom line!
In the 62nd minute, Maximiliano Araujo was crushed by De Paul's leg and was carried off the pitch on a stretcher crying bitterly.
In the 78th minute, Messi shared the ball, and Di Maria's left-footed outside instep cross from the right side of the penalty area was saved by Rochette.
In the 80th minute, Oliveira pulled Messi for a foul and received a yellow card.
In the 83rd minute, Di Maria crossed from the left corner, Lautaro nodded the ball in front of the goal, and was saved by Rochette.
In the 87th minute, Messi's front court was cut off, De La Cruz counterattacked and sent a straight stopper, Nunez burst into the penalty area, and calmly pushed into the net with his right foot, 0-2!
Player ratings
Statistics
Line-up
Argentina (433): 23-Martinez, 2-Molina, 13-Romero, 19-Otamendi, 3-Tagliafico (80'8-Acuña), 7-De Paul (64'14-Palacios), 17-Enzo, 20-McAllister (46'20-Lautaro), 10-Messi, 9-Alvarez (80'16-Lo Celso), 15-González (53'11-Di Maria)
Uruguay (433): 1-Rochete, 4-Araujo, 3-Cáceres, 16-Oliveira, 17-Viña (46'2-Higimenez), 15-Valverde, 5-Ugarte, 7-De La Cruz, 11-Pellistri (88'14-Canobio), 19-Nunez (91'22-Venus), 13-Maximiliano Araujo (62'6-Bentancur)