Lionel Messi reacted to an obscene gesture from Manuel Ugarte towards Rodrigo De Paul by advising certain Uruguayan players to “learn respect”.

A heated 2026 World Cup qualification clash between the South American neighbours was played out at Boca Juniors’ La Bombonera home on Thursday evening. Argentina suffered a dramatic 2-0 loss in that contest, with the Albiceleste slipping to their first defeat since capturing a global crown at Qatar 2022.

There were numerous flashpoints in the game – which saw Ronald Araujo and Darwin Nunez on target for the visitors – with one first-half tussle seeing Ugarte clash with De Paul. The Uruguayan midfielder accused World Cup winner De Paul of being Messi’s “bottle feeder” – with a distasteful gesture thrown into the mix – leading to players from both side becoming embroiled in an unsightly brawl.

Messi told reporters afterwards when asked about the incident: “It’s normal. These kinds of games, qualifiers, against Uruguay, it’s always like that. I prefer not to say what I think. Young people have to learn to respect from their elders. This classic was always intense, hard, but always with a lot of respect. They have to learn a little.”

Messi went on to say of the game itself, which saw Argentina fall behind late in the first-half before conceding a second in the 87th minute: “We never felt comfortable. They’re a physical team that works well and on the counter-attack, they were very dangerous. Today it was our turn to lose. It’s a test. We have to get back up and play a great game in Brazil.”

Argentina will be back in action against arch-rivals Brazil on Tuesday. They will enter that fixture still perched at the top of the CONMEBOL qualification table – with a two-point lead held over Uruguay, while inconsistent Brazil sit in fifth place.