Key points
- Uruguay won 2-1 at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires on Friday 13 November 2026, in what Argentine outlets called the team's first match since Messi retired.
- A Leonardo Balerdi own goal (48 minutes) and a Maximiliano Araújo goal (53) put Uruguay 2-0 up; Diario Popular said both came from set pieces.
- Julián Álvarez scored in the 73rd minute, according to TyC Sports, after a Gianluca Prestianni cross set up by Enzo Fernández.
- Minutouno reported many empty seats; no official attendance figure was available.
- Argentina face Costa Rica on 17 November, with reports split between Córdoba and La Bombonera as the venue.
Uruguay beat Argentina 2-1 in an international friendly at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires on Friday 13 November 2026. Argentine outlets including Diario Popular, Portal Ciudad and Minutouno described it as the national team's first match since Lionel Messi's retirement. Uruguay, coached by Diego Forlán, scored twice in five minutes early in the second half, and Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez pulled one back for Lionel Scaloni's side.
The match kicked off at 20:00 local time (23:00 GMT, 06:00 on Saturday in Jakarta), according to La Nación, which said it was the first of two Argentina friendlies in the last FIFA international window of the year. Minutouno reported a striking number of empty seats in the stadium. No official attendance figure appeared in the sources reviewed for this report.
How Uruguay built a two-goal lead
The first half ended 0-0, according to Minutouno's live coverage, which called it dull. Diario Popular said Argentina had the ball for much of the match. Álvarez had an early chance when Alexis Mac Allister played him through, but Uruguay goalkeeper Fiermarín saved his shot, Diario Popular reported.
Scaloni brought on Matías Soulé for Exequiel Palacios at half-time. Defender Leonardo Balerdi received the match's first yellow card early in the second half, Minutouno reported.
Uruguay went ahead in the 48th minute, the time given by TyC Sports and Minutouno. Diario Popular, which put the goal three minutes into the second half, described the sequence: a cross from De Arrascaeta was deflected by Darwin Núñez, Lisandro Martínez tried to head it clear and the ball struck the back of Balerdi's head and went in. TUDN described the own goal as coming after several rebounds.
Argentina goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli then saved from Núñez, according to Diario Popular. From the resulting corner, Maximiliano Araújo got in front of his marker at the near post to make it 2-0 in the 53rd minute. Diario Popular said both Uruguay goals came from set pieces (dead-ball situations such as corners and free kicks). Reports differ on Araújo's finish: Minutouno called it a header, while a TUDN video title said he scored with his back.
Álvarez goal and Argentina's late push
Argentina responded with more pressure. Diario Popular reported that Soulé put Nico Paz through one-on-one, but Fiermarín saved again.
Álvarez scored in the 73rd minute, according to TyC Sports and Minutouno's summary. Minutouno's own match text put the move at 72 minutes, as did Diario Popular, which gave it as the 27th minute of the second half. Minutouno said Enzo Fernández played a through ball to Gianluca Prestianni, whose low cross Álvarez turned in at the far post. The outlets disagree on the flank: Diario Popular said Prestianni attacked down the right, while TUDN said the move came down the left.
Prestianni had come on as a substitute. Diario Popular said his introduction gave Argentina more width, though the minute of the change was not given in the sources reviewed. Agustín Giay and Román Vega came on as full-backs in the closing minutes. Uruguay held on.
Minutouno said the finish resembled the goal with which Álvarez ended a scoring drought in Argentina's recent friendly against Burkina Faso. The outlet also linked to its own report that Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are interested in Prestianni. That has not been independently confirmed and should be treated as transfer speculation.
Argentina's line-up and recent form
Scaloni started Rulli in goal as captain, behind Gonzalo Montiel, Balerdi, Martínez and Facundo Medina, according to La Nación. Palacios, Mac Allister and Fernández played in midfield, with Nico Paz, Thiago Almada and Álvarez ahead of them.
Argentina arrived after heavy wins over Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin, La Nación reported. A minute's silence was held before kick-off in memory of Carlos Babington, according to Minutouno.
Forlán's Uruguay
Forlán took over as Uruguay coach after Marcelo Bielsa's departure, Minutouno reported. Before Friday his record was two wins and one defeat, according to the same outlet. No post-match comments from Scaloni, Forlán or the players appeared in the coverage reviewed.
Costa Rica next, venue unclear
Argentina play Costa Rica on Tuesday 17 November at 20:00 local time, according to Diario Popular. Reports differ on the venue. La Nación said the match will be in Córdoba, while Diario Popular said it will again be at La Bombonera. An official confirmation from Argentina's football association (AFA) was not among the sources reviewed.
Why it matters
Argentina's first match without Lionel Messi drew wide attention across South America and beyond. A home defeat by Diego Forlán's Uruguay, in a stadium with many empty seats, gives an early read on how Scaloni's team plays and draws crowds after the departure of its most famous player.
What we know
- Uruguay won 2-1 in a friendly at La Bombonera, Buenos Aires, on 13 November 2026.
- The first half ended 0-0, according to Minutouno.
- Balerdi scored an own goal in the 48th minute and Araújo scored in the 53rd, according to TyC Sports and Minutouno.
- Álvarez scored in the 73rd minute per TyC Sports; Minutouno's match text and Diario Popular put the move at 72.
- Rulli captained Argentina, according to La Nación's line-up.
- Minutouno reported a large number of empty seats.
What we don't know yet
- The official attendance figure.
- Any post-match comments from Scaloni, Forlán or the players.
- Whether Araújo scored with a header or off his back, as reports differ.
- Which flank Prestianni's cross came from, as reports differ.
- When Prestianni came on and which players Giay and Vega replaced.
- Whether the Costa Rica match will be played in Córdoba or at La Bombonera.
Sources
- 1.Julián descontó y Argentina cae 1-2 ante Uruguay en la Bombonera, diariopopular.com.ar
- 2.Uruguay se impuso por 2-1 ante la Selección Argentina en la Bombonera, minutouno.com
- 3.Asistencia de Gianluca Prestianni y gol de Julián Álvarez: así fue el descuento de Argentina ante Uruguay, minutouno.com
- 4.¡Pica la Araña! Julián Álvarez anota para acortar la desventaja, tudn.com
- 5.Argentina perdió 2 a 1 ante Uruguay en una Bombonera semivacía: dos goles de pelota parada y una reacción insuficiente - LA NACION, lanacion.com.ar
- 6.Argentina perdió 2-1 ante Uruguay en La Bombonera en el inicio de la era post Lionel Messi - Portal Ciudad, portalciudad.com.ar
