Uruguay Triumphs 2-1 as Argentina Begins Post-Messi Era

Uruguay defeated Argentina 2-1 on Friday behind a Leonardo Balerdi own goal and a strike from Maxi Araújo.

Uruguay defeated Argentina 2-1 in a friendly at La Bombonera on Friday, marking the hosts' first appearance since Lionel Messi's international retirement in October. Leonardo Balerdi opened the scoring with an own goal in the 48th minute, and Maxi Araújo doubled the Uruguayan lead in the 53rd minute. Julián Álvarez scored the lone goal for Argentina in the 73rd minute.

Under new coach Diego Forlán, Uruguay capitalized on an Argentina side that lacked its typical incisive spark in the final third. Despite maintaining polished possession, neither Nico Paz nor Thiago Almada successfully filled the void left by Messi. The match took place before a crowd that fell short of a sellout, though many fans wore the iconic No. 10 jersey which coach Lionel Scaloni chose to leave vacant for the fixture.

Scaloni, who recently signed a contract extension through 2030, characterized the loss as the start of a necessary rebuild. The manager noted that while the result was unfavorable, the team performed well during the second half. This match followed Messi's final official appearance in a 1-0 World Cup final loss to Spain, concluding a career that spanned 207 caps and 125 goals.

Argentina travels to Córdoba to face Costa Rica on Tuesday. On the same day, Uruguay will host the Dominican Republic. According to ESPN, Scaloni has not yet selected a permanent successor for the No. 10 shirt.