Life after Lionel Messi has begun with a bump for Argentina. Playing for the first time since their talisman quit the national side, the reigning world champions went down 2-1 against their River Plate neighbours on Friday night, in front of a home crowd at La Bombonera. Tellingly, the famous Boca Juniors ground was not full, a rare sight for a national team game there.
Lionel Scaloni’s side dominated the ball, holding roughly 72 percent of possession and firing 17 shots, but they rarely carved out clear openings. Julián Álvarez, Thiago Almada, Enzo Fernández and Nico Paz all tested goalkeeper Cristopher Fiermarín or narrowly missed before the interval, and it was goalless at half-time.
The game turned soon after the restart. From a set piece, a clearance by Lisandro Martínez struck team-mate Leonardo Balerdi on the head and flew into Argentina’s own net in the 48th minute. Five minutes on, Maximiliano Araújo nodded in from a corner, set up by Giorgian de Arrascaeta, to double the visitors’ advantage. Álvarez reduced the gap in the 73rd minute, but the hosts could not find a leveller.
Victory stretched Uruguay’s winning run under new coach Diego Forlán to three games. For Scaloni, who had just signed a contract extension until 2030, the evening was a sobering one. He chose not to hand Messi’s No. 10 shirt to anyone, explaining that he has not yet picked a successor, even as many fans in the stands still wore it.
Back in October, the No. 10 had bowed out with a goal as his team beat Benin by three clear goals. Next up for Scaloni is a meeting with Costa Rica in Córdoba in three days, while Forlán’s squad welcome the Dominican Republic at home.
