In a tҺrilling encounter, Uruguay ended Argentina’s impressive 14-match winning streak, which dated back to the 2022 World Cup. The match took place in Buenos Aires as part of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Ronald Araujo opened the scoring for Uruguay, and Darwin Nunez sealed the victory with a goal in the 87th minute.

Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions, had not suffered a defeat since their loss to Saudi Arabia in the opening match of the 2022 tournament held in Qatar. The defeat against Uruguay served as a valuable test for Argentina, according to their captain, Lionel Messi. He acknowledged the intensity and difficulty posed by the Uruguayan team, particularly their physicality and speed in midfield. This made it challenging for Argentina to maintain possession and dictate the game.

Notably, this was the first time Messi failed to score for Argentina since their group-stage victory over Poland in the World Cup. Araujo’s goal also ended Argentina’s run of not conceding a goal since the World Cup final against France, spanning over eight matches.

Uruguay’s appointment of former Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa as head coach in May has already had a discernible impact on the team, as highlighted by Messi. Bielsa’s recognizable style of play is evident in Uruguay’s approach, and Messi praised the talented generation of players at Bielsa’s disposal.

Despite the defeat, Argentina maintains their position at the top of the standings in the World Cup qualifiers, having accumulated 12 points from five matches. Uruguay follows closely behind with 10 points, solidifying their position as strong contenders in the competition.