Lionel Messi: Argentina Captain Swaps Shirt With Tottenham Star Despite Defeat to Uruguay

• Argentina lost 2-0 at home to Uruguay in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier clash
• Lionel Messi was involved in a scuffle and was lucky to avoid a card in the first half
• However, he still showed a classy gesture to a Uruguayan midfielder after the game

Lionel Messi's anger does not go beyond the action on the pitch and despite the altercation during Argentina's 2-0 defeat to Uruguay, he showed his classy side afterwards.

La Albiceleste lost their first match since becoming world champions last year, losing their first game after Messi won his record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or last month.

Uruguay manager, Marcelo Bielsa's side tamed the Copa America champions and were superior in an uncharacteristic poor performance from the top team on the FIFA ranking.

Per Squawka, it was the first time Lionel Scaloni's side failed to win, keep a clean sheet, and score since winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

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Messi swaps shirt with Bentacur

Like a typical South American game, the match was intense and had players involved in a scuffle in the first half. Messi was fortunate to avoid being sent off after elbowing Mathias Oliveira.

The captain berated the young Uruguay squad for disrespect and told them to learn from their elders, but regardless, he never lost touch with his classy side after the game.

Per Diario Ole, Rodrigo Bentacur left the stadium with Messi's shirt and swapped shorts with his Tottenham Hotspur teammate, Cristian Romero, despite the intense battle on the pitch.

Next for La Albiceleste is their final game of the year against eternal rivals Brazil, who also lost their first game to Colombia, thanks to a five-minute brace from Luis Diaz.

Per BR Football, it was the first time since 2015 that both nations have lost a game on the same day.

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Messi escapes punishment during fracas

Sports Brief reported on Messi escaping being sent off after appearing to elbow Uruguay defender, Oliveira during a melee in the first half of the World Cup qualifying game.

The Inter Miami superstar claimed the Uruguayan players made some disrespectful gestures during the game, which led to the incident, but would not go into further detail.