After a shock loss to Uruguay, Messi has urged Argentina to ‘get back up’

Lionel Messi has urged Argentina to recover quickly ahead of their next 2026 World Cup qualifier against rivals Brazil, after the world champions’ 14-match unbeaten streak was ended on Thursday by Uruguay.

Argentina, who entered the game at La Bombonera top of the South American qualifying group after four straight wins, was defeated 2-0 by Uruguay, thanks to goals from Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo in the 41st minute and Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez in the 87th.

It was Argentina’s first defeat since being defeated 2-1 by Saudi Arabia in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“We never felt comfortable,” Messi said after the defeat.

“They’re a physical team that works well, and on the counterattack, they were very dangerous,” Messi added, praising Uruguay’s revered Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa’s work.

“You can see his influence in the team. You can see his hand in all of the teams or clubs he’s been a part of, including Argentina.”

Meanwhile, Argentina’s captain challenged his teammates to rebound in next week’s qualifying match against Brazil, who have had a stuttering start to their qualifying campaign and currently sit fifth in the table after a loss to Colombia on Thursday.

“Today was our day to lose. “It’s a test,” Messi explained. “We have to get back up and play a great game in Brazil.”

Argentina maintains its lead in the standings with 12 points from five games. Uruguay’s victory puts them in second place with 10 points.

In other South American qualifiers, Nunez’s Liverpool teammate Luis Diaz scored two goals in five minutes to help Colombia beat Brazil 2-1 in Barranquilla.

Diaz’s dramatic double capped a wild month for the forward, whose father was kidnapped by Colombian guerrillas in late October before being released last week.

Diaz’s father, Luis Manuel Diaz, was in tears as his son scored in the 75th and 79th minutes to propel Colombia to a crucial victory.

Diaz’s second-half double cancelled out Brazil’s early lead, which came from Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli.

Brazil’s disappointing result was exacerbated by an injury to Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, who limped off after 27 minutes clutching his left thigh.

Meanwhile, Diaz said he had “hard moments” after learning of his father’s kidnapping in late October.

“But life makes you strong and brave, and I think that’s football, and not just football, but life,” Diaz said, dedicating his performance to his Colombian teammates.

“I’m grateful to my teammates and the coaching staff for always being there for me at all times.” And I dedicate victory to the people who earned it.”

Colombia moved up to third place with nine points from five games after the win.

Venezuela drew 0-0 with Ecuador, while Bolivia moved off the bottom of the 10-team standings with their first points of the qualifiers, a 2-0 home win over Peru.

After a goalless draw in Santiago, Chile and Paraguay remain outside the qualifying spots.

The top six teams in the round-robin home-and-away qualifying tournament will earn places in the expanded 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while the seventh-placed team will compete in a play-off.