Since 2015, they have gone 37 games unbeaten in South American World Cup qualifying. The Brazilians fell on Tuesday in Uruguay (2-0, goals from Darwin Nunez and Nicolas de la Cruz), five days after an unflattering draw at home against Venezuela (1-1).
Interim coach Fernando Diniz also lost Neymar, who left in tears on a stretcher shortly before half-time. The former Paris Saint-Germain striker, now at Al-Hilal, fell badly after clashing with de la Cruz and injured his left knee.
Accustomed to long periods of convalescence, the 31-year-old player will attend the infirmary of his Saudi club for a period which remains to be determined.
An a priori already failed reunion with Lionel Messi
On a sporting level, the victory of the Celeste allows the men of Marcelo Bielsa, second in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, to move ahead of Brazil in the standings with 7 points in four matches, before going to the Argentinian leader the November 16, in Buenos Aires.
Five days later, the world champions will face Brazil at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Lionel Messi, author of the two goals in Argentina’s success on Tuesday in Lima against Peru (0-2), should not find his former teammate at FC Barcelona then at PSG.