Argentina’s star player and captain, Lionel Messi, expressed his disapproval towards an insulting gesture from the Uruguay players following Argentina’s 2-0 loss in the fifth round of the South American qualifier for the 2026 World Cup earlier today.
Messi openly condemned the disrespectful conduct displayed by the Uruguayan players during the match held at La Bombonera.
The game was rife with altercations, culminating in a particularly contentious incident involving Uruguay’s Manuel Ugarte and Argentina’s Rodrigo De Paul.
In a disturbing turn, Ugarte was witnessed making an obscene gesture towards De Paul during their altercation.
In his post-match interview, Messi conveyed his thoughts by stating (via Albiceleste Talk), “I prefer not to say what I think about some gestures. But these young people have to learn to respect their elders.
“This game was always intense and hard but always with a lot of respect. They have to learn a little bit.”
