Argentina–Uruguay football rivalry#List of matches

{{see also|Football in Argentina|Football in Uruguay|British football clubs tours to South America|label 1=}}

The foundation of the rivalry can be traced to the countries' similarities; both countries' share the same cultures and ethnicities derived from the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata from the 18th century, and later on, the influx of European immigration, starting as early as the 19th century, which would eventually establish the modern-day society of Argentina and Uruguay. Amongst the mass immgration included the British, but unlike most immigrants such as from Spain and Italy who were escaping poverty and political turmoil in their homeland, the British were skilled workers, ranchers, businessmen, and bureaucrats. During this time, Argentina and Uruguay were emerging nations and the settlers were welcomed for the stability they brought to commercial life. As a result, the British brought over their customs and traditions, including football. The name of the rivalry is based on their geographical location; the Río de la Plata forms part of the border between Argentina and Uruguay.{{Cite web |date=2009-12-12 |title=Argentina |url=https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/research-projects/politics-and-sport-in-latin-america/argentina/ |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=Soccer Politics / The Politics of Football |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130031927/https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/research-projects/politics-and-sport-in-latin-america/argentina/ |url-status=live }}

The first game was played in Argentina on 20 June 1867, with the establishment of Buenos Aires Football Club, the first football club not only in Argentina, but in South America. In Uruguay, football had been introduced in 1870. Argentina organised its first league championship, Primera División, in 1891 while Uruguay held its first domestic tournament, also named the Primera División, in 1900. The Argentine and Uruguayan Associations were the first national football organisations in South America, developing together the first international competitions in the Río de la Plata, such as Tie Cup (1900) and Copa de Honor Cousenier (1905), played by the champions of each association.{{Cite news |last=Carlin |first=John |date=2002-05-19 |title=England v Argentina - A history |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2002/may/19/worldcupfootball2002.football2 |access-date=2023-12-02 |issn=0029-7712 |archive-date=2020-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108103757/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2002/may/19/worldcupfootball2002.football2 |url-status=live }}

{{main|1902 Uruguay v Argentina football match}}

{{multiple image

| align = left

| direction = horizontal

| total_width = 400

| image1 = Argentina 1902.jpg

| image2 = Uruguay 1902.jpg

| footer = The Argentina (left) and Uruguayan (right) national teams that played the first international football match outside Great Britain in Montevideo on July 20, 1902

}}

Although the first match ever recorded between Argentina and Uruguay was played on 16 May 1901, the match isn't registered as an official game due to the match being organised by the Albion Football Club, not by the Uruguayan Football Association, at the club's home ground in Paso del Molino, Montevideo. The Uruguayan side had nine players from that club and the remainder from Nacional. Argentina won the match 3–2. The first official match was held in the same venue, on 20 July 1902, with Argentina beating Uruguay 6–0.

{{football box

| date = 20 June 1902

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|URU}}

| score = 0–6

| report =

| team2 = {{fb|ARG}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 = Charles Dickinson {{goal|3}}
Germán Arímalo {{goal|31|o.g.}}
Edward Morgan {{goal|64}}
Carlos Carve Urioste {{goal|66|o.g.}}
Juan Anderson {{goal|71}}
Jorge Brown {{goal|86}}

| stadium = Estadio del Albion Football Club

(Estadio Parque Dr. Enrique Falco Lichtemberger)

| attendance = 8,000

| referee = Robert Whall Rudd (Argentina)

| event =

| round =

| score1 =

| score2 =

| location = Paso del Molino
Montevideo, Uruguay

}}

Players that represented the Argentine squad were from Alumni (5 players), Quilmes (2), Belgrano AC (2), Lomas (1) and Barracas AC (1). For Uruguay, the squad was formed by eight players from Nacional and three from Albion. There were no players from CURCC in Uruguay, as the club didn't allow their players to participate in the match.[http://www.nacional.com.uy/mvdcms/uc_21_1.html Trayectoria] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718070511/http://www.nacional.com.uy/mvdcms/uc_21_1.html|date=2012-07-18}} on CNdeF website[https://web.archive.org/web/20020911152045/http://www.clarin.com/diario/2002/07/20/d-00815.htm Un siglo de Selección] by Oscar Barnade on Clarín, 20 July 2002 (archived)[http://www.elgrafico.com.ar/2012/07/04/C-4330-historias-curiosidades-y-estadisticas-de-la-seleccion-tras-sus-primeros-900-partidos.php "Historias, curiosidades y estadísticas de la Selección, tras sus "primeros" 900 partidos"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529211356/http://www.elgrafico.com.ar/2012/07/04/C-4330-historias-curiosidades-y-estadisticas-de-la-seleccion-tras-sus-primeros-900-partidos.php |date=2018-05-29 }}, El Gráfico, 4 Jul 2012{{Cite web |url=http://www.deportesenuruguay.eluruguayo.com/Futbol-Uruguayo01.htm |title="Historia del Fútbol Uruguayo" at Deportes en Uruguay |access-date=2018-04-06 |archive-date=2021-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004173847/http://www.deportesenuruguay.eluruguayo.com/Futbol-Uruguayo01.htm |url-status=live }}[http://www.futbolnostalgia.com/amsud1.htm "Uruguay 0-6 Argentina"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081619/http://www.futbolnostalgia.com/amsud1.htm |date=2016-03-04 }} on Fútbol Nostalgia

During its first years of existence, both national teams played only friendly matches amongst each other until the establishment of the Copa Lipton in 1905, organized by both Argentine and Uruguayan Football Associations. The trophy had been donated by the Scottish tea magnate Thomas Lipton with the condition that the teams be made up of only native-born players. The tournament was contested on an annual basis between 1905 and 1992. The decade of 1910 is considered "the golden age" of the competition, due to Argentina and Uruguay were the predominant teams in South America by then and the Copa Lipton was the most important competition for both sides, considering that CONMEBOL had not been established until 1916. The first official title won by Argentina was the 1906 Copa Lipton, defeating Uruguay 2–0 in Montevideo. Throughout the duration of the competition, Argentina won the title 17 times, whereas Uruguay won it 11 times.{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesl/lipton.html |title=Copa Lipton 1905-1992 at RSSSF |access-date=2024-03-12 |archive-date=2022-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129013001/https://rsssf.org/tablesl/lipton.html |url-status=live }}

File:Argentina v uruguay 1912.jpg in Buenos Aires]]

Other notable competition for both sides was the Copa Newton, also established in 1906 and continued on an annual basis until 1930. Similar to the Copa Lipton, Nicanor Newton, director of Sportsman magazine, a former Argentine-based sports magazine company, donated the trophy for a competition which would be held for beneficial purposes. Argentina won the first edition as well, defeating Uruguay 2-1 at the Sociedad Sportiva Argentina in Buenos Aires. It has only been played sporadically since, with the last edition being contested in 1976. Argentina and Uruguay have also won the tournament 17 and 11 times, respectively.[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/newton.html Copa Newton] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030195016/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/newton.html |date=2022-10-30 }} by José Luis Pierrend at RSSSF

Apart from Copa Lipton and Copa Newton, two other competitions were established, with the particularity of each one being hosted in each side of the Río del Plata. The Copa Premier Honor Argentino was held in Buenos Aires (1908-1920) while the Copa Premier Honor Uruguayo (1911–1924) was held in Montevideo.[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesh/honorarg.html Copa Premio Honor Argentino] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220082314/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesh/honorarg.html |date=2020-02-20 }} by José Luis Pierrend on RSSSF{{cite web |last=Pelayes |first=Héctor Darío |date=24 September 2010 |title=ARGENTINA-URUGUAY Matches 1902–2009 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/argurures.html |accessdate=7 November 2010 |website=RSSSF |archive-date=5 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105020111/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/argurures.html |url-status=live }}

In 1910, the Argentine Football Association organized the Copa Centenario Revolución de Mayo in honor of the centennial anniversary of the May Revolution in Argentina. The competition is notable for being the first international tournament of South America where more than two football nations participated and is also considered a predecessor to Copa América. Participating teams featured the Argentine, Uruguayan, and Chilean national teams. Formtted in a round-robin system, all three games were played in Buenos Aires; the first match was played in Cancha de Colegiales and the Estadio Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires. Because of having featured three of the subsequent four founding members of CONMEBOL, the Copa Centenario Revolución de Mayo was sometimes called "the first Copa América". However, CONMEBOL recognizes the 1916 South American Championship as the first edition of the competition.[http://www.conmebol.com/es/aclaracion-sobre-el-titulo-de-campeon-de-copa-america-centenario Aclaración sobre el título de campeón de Copa América Centenario] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716101701/https://www.conmebol.com/es/aclaracion-sobre-el-titulo-de-campeon-de-copa-america-centenario |date=2021-07-16 }}, Conmebol.com[http://www.diariouno.com.ar/deportes/la-copa-centenario-argentina-1910-20100527-n180767.html La Copa Centenario para Argentina en 1910] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830234947/http://www.diariouno.com.ar/deportes/la-copa-centenario-argentina-1910-20100527-n180767.html |date=2017-08-30 }}, Diario Uno, 27 May 2010[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1905168-cinco-hechos-insolitos-de-la-historia-de-la-copa-america Del delantero desertor al goleador "de una noche", las 5 curiosidades de la Copa América] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715123408/https://www.lanacion.com.ar/1905168-cinco-hechos-insolitos-de-la-historia-de-la-copa-america |date=2018-07-15 }}, La Nación, 3 Jun 2016

File:Arg vs urug 1927.jpg during the 1927 South American Championship on 20 November 1927]]

Six years after the Copa Cenenario Revolución de Mayo, the first edition of the "Campeonato Sudamericano de Fútbol" (South American Football Championship), later known as the "Copa América", was contested in Argentina to commemorate the centenary of the Argentine Declaration of Independence. As a result, the four participating associations of the tournament (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay) gathered in Buenos Aires in order to officially create a governing body to facilitate the organization of the tournament. A week after the start of the tournament, on 9 July 1916, the continental governing body of football in South America, CONMEBOL, was founded under initiative of Uruguayan Héctor Rivadavia Gómez with the approval of the four associations. The first Constitutional Congress on 15 December of that same year, which took place in Montevideo, ratified the decision.{{cite web |access-date=6 March 2012 |archive-date=5 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305132103/http://www.conmebol.com/pages/Quienes_Somos2.html |author=Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (Conmebol) |date=2011 |format=HTML |publisher=www.conmebol.com |title=Quiénes somos - La Conmebol: Reseña histórica |url=http://www.conmebol.com/pages/Quienes_Somos2.html}}

Hosted in the Estadio Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires and the Estadio Racing Club in Buenos Aires, six matches were played; each team played one match against each of the other teams. Two points were awarded for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat. Uruguay and Argentina met in the final match of the tournament at Racing Club on 17 July 1916, with the match ending in a goalless draw. Uruguay would win the first continental trophy with five points, whereas Argentina came second with four points. Despite Argentina and Uruguay's large history in the most important competition of South America, they have never played a final match facing each other.[https://archive.today/20110708162254/http://www.servicios.clarin.com/notas/jsp/v7/notas/imprimir.jsp?pagid=1019420 Chau tablón] by Gustavo Ronzano and Oscar Barnade on Clarín, 23 July 2005 (archived, 6 November 2013)[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/16safull.html South American Championship 1916] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120525064015/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/16safull.html |date=2012-05-25 }} by Martín Tabeira on the RSSSF

File:Gololimpicodeonzari.jpg, scores a goal for Argentina against Uruguay in 1924. This was the first goal scored direct from a corner]]

In 1924, Argentina played a friendly match against Uruguay at Sportivo Barracas' stadium. When only 15 minutes had been played, winger Cesáreo Onzari scored from a corner kick, with no other player touching the ball before scoring. Due to the fact that Uruguay was the Olympic champion, this play was called "Gol Olímpico". This denomination still remains.[http://www.clarin.com/diario/2004/10/02/deportes/d-07101.htm "El gol olímpico cumple 80"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828034003/http://www.clarin.com/diario/2004/10/02/deportes/d-07101.htm |date=2009-08-28 }}, Clarín, 2 October 2004

The goal stood since FIFA had previously regulated goals scored directly from the corner kick, as Onzari did during that match. According to La Nación newspaper, 52,000 fans attended the game, an Argentina 2–1 win, where the Uruguayan team left the field with only four minutes to play. Argentine players later complained about the rough play of the Uruguayans during the match, while their rivals also complained about the aggressiveness of local spectators, who threw bottles at them at the end of the match.[http://canchallena.lanacion.com.ar/1181561-el-gol-olimpico-cumple-85-anos "El gol olímpico cumple 85 años"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613035927/http://canchallena.lanacion.com.ar/1181561-el-gol-olimpico-cumple-85-anos |date=2015-06-13 }}, Canchallena.com, 2 October 2009

File:Final football Argentina vs Uruguay Olympics 1928.jpg and linesmen before the final match at the 1928 Summer Olympics]]

The 1928 Summer Olympics saw the first match of Argentina and Uruguay playing each other outside South America. In the final the Uruguayans played Argentina who had trounced Egypt, a team (Egypt) that would now fold like a house of cards; clearly out of their depth against more sophisticated opposition, conceding 6 goals to Argentina and as many as eleven to Italy in the Bronze medal match.

Argentina came to the final after thrashing United States 11–2, Belgium 6–3 and Egypt 6–0, while Uruguay had defeated The Netherlands, Germany and Italy in previous rounds. The interest was immense, with The Dutch having received 250,000 requests for tickets from all over Europe.

The first game (attended by 28,253 spectators) finished 1–1. The tie went to a replay. With the winning goal by Héctor Scarone, Uruguay won the replay match, also achieving their second consecutive gold medal, with 28,113 spectators in the stadium.[https://www.diariouno.com.ar/deportes/argentina-uruguay-los-juegos-1928-20120614-n110110.html Argentina-Uruguay en los juegos de 1928], Diario Uno, 14 Jun 2012

After the finals, players from both teams did not speak with each other. Tango singer Carlos Gardel invited Argentine and Uruguayan players to a show in the cabaret "El Garrón", in Paris. His efforts to achieve a reconciliation between both parts were not successful so Argentine and Uruguayan ended up in a fight during the show.

{{cquote|"(Carlos) Gardel knew I played the violin so he invited me to play with him on stage. When the song finished, players of both sides started to throw breadcrumbs at each other, then they started to throw breads and then, bottles of wine. The Rioplatense brotherhood went to hell. In the midst of chaos, I saw a black man coming over me, I'm not sure if he was Negro Andrade but I broke the Stradivarius on his head, just in case."

| source = Argentine player Raimundo Orsi, speaking about the riot at the cabaret.

| quoted = yes

}}

{{main|1930 FIFA World Cup Final}}

File:Uruguay goal v argentina 1930.jpg at the 1930 Final]]

In 1930 Uruguay organised the first FIFA World Cup. As two years before at the Summer Olympics, Argentina and Uruguay played the final, held in the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. Argentina had previously defeated France, Mexico, Chile and the United States, while Uruguay beat Peru, Romania and Yugoslavia. Both teams thrashed United States and Yugoslavia for the same score (6–1) at the semifinals.

File:Pasculli gol v uruguay.jpg]]

The final ended 4–2 to Uruguay after they trailed 2–1 at half-time, adding the title of World Cup winners to their status as Olympic champions. Jules Rimet, president of FIFA, presented the Uruguayan team with the World Cup Trophy, which was later named after him. The following day was declared a national holiday in Uruguay;{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/mcwc/ip-201_02e_fwc-origin_8816.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129182243/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/mcwc/ip-201_02e_fwc-origin_8816.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 November 2007 |title=FIFA World Cup Origin |work=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |accessdate=20 May 2007}} in the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires a mob threw stones at the Uruguayan consulate.Glanville, p21

The last living player from that final, Francisco Varallo (who played as a striker for Argentina), died on 30 August 2010 at the age of 100.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/do-you-remember/newsid=1166517/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628083753/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/do-you-remember/newsid=1166517/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 28, 2013 |title=Francisco Varallo, 100 not out |work=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |accessdate=20 June 2014}}

The second time Argentina and Uruguay met in a World Cup was in 1986, when Argentina beat Uruguay 1–0 at round of 16, with goal by Pedro Pasculli. The squad managed by Carlos Bilardo eliminated the Uruguayan side, advancing to the next stage. Argentina would then win their second world title when they beat West Germany 3–2 in the final.

{{see also|:es:Partido de clasificación para la Copa Mundial de 2002 entre Uruguay y Argentina}}In the eighteenth and last round of the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification, Uruguay was set to meet Argentina at the Centenario. Before the match, on 14 November 2001, Uruguay was fighting for fifth place, the inter-confederation play-off spot, against the Colombian national team. Colombia managed to win against Paraguay in Asunción 4–0 and surpassed Uruguay by one point with a total of 27 points in the qualification bracket. Uruguay had 26 points but had a greater goal difference than Colombia by one goal in favor. Therefore, a tie or win was a must for the Uruguayan side to keep their qualification hopes alive. According to Juan Sebastián Verón, who was in the starting eleven for Argentina, the team noticed that the Uruguayan players and local fans "were suffering" after the result in Asunción was already known. After the conclusion of the first half which saw Argentina and Uruguay tied 1–1, with a goal by Claudio López and Darío Silva respectively, the Argentine side stopped attacking in the second half and the match resulted in a tie. This was enough for Uruguay to qualify for the play-off competition and resulted in Colombia's elimination via goal differentiation. Argentine sports newspaper Olé entitled their article on the match, "You're Welcome, bo!", whereas Uruguayan newspaper El País entitled theirs, "Our Great Brother".{{cite news|access-date=10 January 2018|last=S.A.P.|date=6 October 2004|first=El Mercurio|language=es-LA|periodical=Emol|title=Ex DT de Uruguay afirma que su país "arregló" partido con Argentina {{!}} Emol.com|url=http://www.emol.com/noticias/deportes/2004/10/06/160367/ex-dt-de-uruguay-afirma-que-su-pais-arreglo-partido-con-argentina.html|archive-date=8 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108223920/http://www.emol.com/noticias/deportes/2004/10/06/160367/ex-dt-de-uruguay-afirma-que-su-pais-arreglo-partido-con-argentina.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|access-date=10 January 2018|title=Colombia pidió a la FIFA que se investigue el partido Uruguay v. Argentina|url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/353237-colombia-pidio-a-la-fifa-que-se-investigue-el-partido-uruguay-v-argentina|archive-date=18 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018163251/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/353237-colombia-pidio-a-la-fifa-que-se-investigue-el-partido-uruguay-v-argentina|url-status=live}}

Local media also attributed Argentine players Germán Burgos and Juan Pablo Sorín with saying that they would have let themselves lose the match if Uruguay needed the three points. Colombia asked FIFA the week of the playoffs to investigate the match, but no action took place. In 2004, then-Uruguayan coach Juan Ramón Carrasco clarified that an "agreement" was made with the Argentine team to maintain the result to qualify for the playoffs. Uruguay would eventually qualify in the playoff competition, having beat Australia 3–0 at home after a 1–0 defeat in the first leg.{{Cite web |title=ESPNdeportes.com: Mundial: La rivalidad se convirtió en amistad |url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/mundial2002/noticias/uruguay1argentina1111401.html |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=espndeportes.espn.com |archive-date=2023-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203041153/https://espndeportes.espn.com/mundial2002/noticias/uruguay1argentina1111401.html |url-status=live }}

Football journalists have criticised similar actions taken place between the two nations in later FIFA World Cup campaigns. Four years later, during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, an almost identical scenario took place; the Colombian national team earned a must-needed three points after winning against Paraguay in Asunción 1–0, and if Argentina did not lose its last game against Uruguay in Montevideo, Colombia would advanced to the playoffs. However, José Pékerman's Argentina had nothing at stake, they already qualified. In a little effort match on the Argentine side, the Uruguayans, led by Jorge Fossati, won the match 1–0 with a goal by Álvaro Recoba in the 46th minute. This gave Uruguay the advantage in qualifying for playoff competition. However, Australia won the playoffs and qualified for the World Cup via penalties 4–2, after a 1–1 series draw.{{Cite web |last=Tiempo |first=Casa Editorial El |title=¿Turno para Colombia?: el recuerdo de pactos entre Argentina y Uruguay |url=https://www.futbolred.com/copa-america-brasil-2019/el-recuerdo-de-amanos-entre-argentina-y-uruguay-para-eliminar-a-colombia-copa-america-2019-101674 |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=futbolred.com |language=spanish |archive-date=2023-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203041153/https://www.futbolred.com/copa-america-brasil-2019/el-recuerdo-de-amanos-entre-argentina-y-uruguay-para-eliminar-a-colombia-copa-america-2019-101674 |url-status=live }}

In the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, with Alejandro Sabella as coach and Argentina having already classified, an alternative team was placed in the last match of the campaign on 15 October 2013 against Uruguay. The Uruguayan side came out with a 3–2 victory and secured a comfortable spot to advance to playoff competition once again, this time against Jordan. Uruguay easily qualified against the Jordan national team in a 5–0 series.{{Cite web |last=Clarín.com |date=2017-09-01 |title=Argentina-Uruguay: otro final con "pacto de no agresión" |url=https://www.clarin.com/deportes/seleccion-nacional/argentina-uruguay-final-pacto-agresion_0_Hy1GUNUt-.html |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=Clarín |language=es |archive-date=2023-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203041154/https://www.clarin.com/deportes/seleccion-nacional/argentina-uruguay-final-pacto-agresion_0_Hy1GUNUt-.html |url-status=live }}

A similar occurrence to that in 2002 and 2006 happened during the second matchup between Argentina and Uruguay during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. On 31 August 2017, the match ended in a goalless draw with both teams earning one point. Unlike previous qualifications, Uruguay was in a comfortable position, entering the fifteenth round in third place, whereas Argentina was desperate to breathe life into their World Cup campaign, fighting at the playoff spot in fifth place. Before the match, Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez wore specialised shirts of their national teams to promote Argentina and Uruguay's 2030 FIFA World Cup bid; Luis Suárez's kit boasted the large number 20 on the front, while Messi's jersey featured the number 30.{{Citation |last=Rein |first=Raanan |title=Football, Politics and Protests. The International Campaign against the 1978 World Cup in Argentina |date=2014 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.5771/9783835326064-240 |work=The FIFA World Cup 1930 – 2010 |pages=240–258 |access-date=2023-12-03 |publisher=Wallstein Verlag|doi=10.5771/9783835326064-240 |isbn=9783835326064 }}{{Cite web |title=Messi & Suarez Support Argentina's & Uruguay's 2030 World Cup Bid With Special Kits |url=https://www.footyheadlines.com/2017/08/messi-suarez-to-support-argentina-uruguay-world-cup-bid.html |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=Footy Headlines |language=en |archive-date=2023-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203041154/https://www.footyheadlines.com/2017/08/messi-suarez-to-support-argentina-uruguay-world-cup-bid.html |url-status=live }}

Argentine and Uruguayan journalists criticised the match, especially in the last 20 minutes, claiming that the game was all "business" and both sides didn't want to take any risks. Uruguayan newspaper El País headlined that week's newspaper as "Brothers again", stating that "there are bad draws, good draws, and also very good ones. Precisely, what occurred last night in that match falls in that last category."{{Cite web |title="Fue negocio": el empate de Uruguay y Argentina que despertó suspicacias |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/deportes/2017/09/01/fue-negocio-uruguay-argentina-medios-empate/ |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=infobae |language=es-ES |archive-date=2023-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203041153/https://www.infobae.com/america/deportes/2017/09/01/fue-negocio-uruguay-argentina-medios-empate/ |url-status=live }}

On 29 November 2019, Argentina and Uruguay played an international friendly match at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, Israel. During the second half, Lionel Messi was fouled by Matías Vecino, who reacted angrily to the challenge. Cavani then exchanged words with Messi, asking if he wanted to "fight it out," to which Messi replied, "Whenever you want." Both sides eventually brushed it off in a 2–2 draw. Both Cavani and Messi said in post-game interviews that there is no bad blood and that these are how the matches are.{{Cite web |date=2019-11-19 |title=Cavani on heated Messi row: 'Part of football' |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/37578949/cavani-says-heated-row-messi-uruguay-argentina-friendly-part-football |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203041153/https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/37578949/cavani-says-heated-row-messi-uruguay-argentina-friendly-part-football |url-status=live }}

Although Argentina and Uruguay were ineligible to be drawn at the same group given their CONMEBOL memberships, a fight did break out, albeit involving fans. From a bus carrying Mexican fans also included a group of Uruguayan fans who later jointly sang a song "Come to see! Come to see! In the Falklands, English language is spoken", with Falklands intentionally included, sparking wrath from Argentine fans. Originally, it was believed that only Mexican fans were singing this song, but later investigation by Mexican commercial newspaper El Imparcial revealed that Uruguayans were also among the people singing it.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mTtJQtpA_D4 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2024-01-26 |archive-date=2024-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126191811/https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mTtJQtpA_D4 |url-status=live }}

During the fifth round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, Argentina hosted Uruguay in La Bombonera. During the 19th minute of the match, several players got into a scuffle, most notably Rodrigo De Paul and Mathías Olivera. After the two got into a heated exchange, Messi approached Olivera and grabbed him by the throat. The trio was eventually separated; Manuel Ugarte then confronted De Paul with obscene gestures. Uruguay would eventually win the match 2–0 with goals from Ronald Araújo and Darwin Núñez.{{Cite web |title=Lionel Messi's Argentina loses 1st match since World Cup title, falling to Uruguay, 2-0 |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/lionel-messis-argentina-loses-1st-match-since-world-cup-title-falling-to-uruguay-2-0 |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=FOX Sports |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203041153/https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/lionel-messis-argentina-loses-1st-match-since-world-cup-title-falling-to-uruguay-2-0 |url-status=live }}

Messi was asked about the confrontation in a post-game interview, stating that young players from the Uruguayan squad, particularly Ugarte, should "learn respect to their elders." but did later say that these occurrences are normal, "in these types of games, qualifiers, it's always like this with Uruguay." De Paul and Ugarte also played down the match. De Paul said, "It's dumb, whatever happened stays on the pitch.", whereas Ugarte has apologised for the gestures, claiming it was in the heat of the moment, and agreeing with De Paul's statement.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-17 |title=Messi to Ugarte: 'Learn respect from elders' |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/38919090/messi-tells-uruguay-ugarte-learn-respect-elders |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203041153/https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/38919090/messi-tells-uruguay-ugarte-learn-respect-elders |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2023-12-02 |title=Rodrigo de Paul, la pelea en Argentina – Uruguay, y el exabrupto de Manuel Ugarte |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/rodrigo-de-paul-la-pelea-en-argentina-uruguay-y-el-exabrupto-de-manuel-ugarte-38583559 |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=OneFootball |language=en |archive-date=2023-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203041155/https://onefootball.com/en/news/rodrigo-de-paul-la-pelea-en-argentina-uruguay-y-el-exabrupto-de-manuel-ugarte-38583559 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-21 |title="I Didn't Realize It" – Manuel Ugarte Apologizes to Rodrigo De Paul for Alleged Lewd 'Lionel Messi' Gesture |url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/soccer-football-news-i-didnt-realize-it-manuel-ugarte-apologizes-to-rodrigo-de-paul-for-alleged-lewd-lionel-messi-gesture |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=EssentiallySports |archive-date=2023-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203042656/https://www.essentiallysports.com/soccer-football-news-i-didnt-realize-it-manuel-ugarte-apologizes-to-rodrigo-de-paul-for-alleged-lewd-lionel-messi-gesture/ |url-status=live }}

{{updated|21 March 2025}}

• 1928 Olympic final: Uruguay 1–1 Argentina, Uruguay 2–1 Argentina (replay){{refn|Note: Only the Olympic Games from 1908 to 1948 are considered official: [https://web.archive.org/web/20160305092943/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/stats-centclub/52/00/59/centuryclub1204.13.pdf].|group=note|name=olymoffic}}
• 1930 World Cup final: Uruguay 4–2 Argentina
• 1986 World Cup round of 16: Argentina 1–0 Uruguay
• 1987 Copa América semi-final: Uruguay 1–0 Argentina
• 2011 Copa América quarter-final: Argentina 1–1 {{pso|4–5}} Uruguay

The chart includes the complete list of matches played between both teams:[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/uru-intres.html Uruguay - international results] by Héctor Pelayes on the RSSSF[https://www.auf.org.uy/historico-partidos/1/---24-0/ Histórico de partidos: Uruguay v Argentina] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411204040/https://www.auf.org.uy/historico-partidos/1/---24-0/ |date=2021-04-11 }} on AUF{{Cite web |url=https://albicelestes.com/teams/uruguay |title=Argentina v Uruguay - Head to head |access-date=2021-04-11 |archive-date=2021-04-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410150224/https://albicelestes.com/teams/uruguay |url-status=live }}

;Notes

{{Reflist|group=n1}}

;Notes

{{Reflist|group=n2}}

;Notes

{{reflist|group=note}}

All the tournaments played between both countries exclusively:

File:Penarol vs river amadeo y abbadie.jpg

At club level, Argentine and Uruguayan teams always had a strong rivalry since the first international competition in Río de la Plata, the Tie Cup, was held in 1900. Other competitions played by teams from both associations include the Copa de Honor Cousenier (1905–1920) and Copa Aldao (1913–1955). Played (although irregularly) until 1955, the Copa Aldao is seen today as the first stepping-stone into the creation of Copa Libertadores, the highest level of competition in South American club football, in 1960. In 2015, CONMEBOL recognized the Aldao Cup as the first official international professional football cup in South America. By the first years of football in Río de la Plata, the more stronger sides of club football in Argentina were Rosario A.C., Belgrano A.C. and Alumni, in which they played memorable matches against Uruguayan teams CURCC, Montevideo Wanderers and Nacional.[https://www.pasionfutbol.com/fanaticos/La-madre-de-la-Copa-Libertadores-de-America-20130809-0004.html La madre de la Copa Libertadores de América] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405214846/https://www.pasionfutbol.com/fanaticos/La-madre-de-la-Copa-Libertadores-de-America-20130809-0004.html|date=2018-04-05}} on Pasión Fútbol, 9 Aug 2013[http://www.conmebol.com/es/14082015-1718/river-plate-ensancha-sus-vitrinas-para-seguir-sumando-copas River Plate, ensancha sus vitrinas para seguir sumando copas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402182235/http://www.conmebol.com/es/14082015-1718/river-plate-ensancha-sus-vitrinas-para-seguir-sumando-copas |date=2019-04-02 }} on Conmebol, 16 Aug 2015

Argentine and Uruguayan football clubs have been very successful in both intercontinental and international levels, respectfully, throughout the history of the sport. In Argentina, the Big Five (Boca Juniors, Independiente, Racing Club de Avellaneda, River Plate, and San Lorenzo de Almagro) have been the most successful and popularly recognized football clubs since the introduction of football to the country, whereas Peñarol and Club Nacional de Football have been the most dominant clubs of Uruguay. In Argentina, as of 2024, out of the 134 editions of the Argentine Primera División, 122 of the champions were of the Big Five; River Plate (38), Boca Juniors (35), Racing Club (18), Independiente (16), and San Lorenzo (15). Peñarol and Nacional have won the Uruguayan Primera División a total of 100 times out of the league's 121 editions; Peñarol have won the league 51 times and Nacional with 49.

As of 2024, 54 of the 64 finals of the Copa Libertadores have featured an Argentine or Uruguayan club; Argentine clubs have seen 38 finals appearances, with 25 of them coming out as champions, whereas Uruguayan clubs were featured in 16 finals, winning 8 of them. The first Copa Libertadores in 1960 featured Peñarol against Club Olimpia, in which Peñarol came out victorious in a 2-1 series, led by South American football legends such as Luis Cubilla, Néstor Gonçalves, and Alberto Spencer. Peñarol would eventually win back-to-back the following year in 1961 by defeating Palmeiras in the finals and would also reach the finals in 1962, but would fall short to Santos from a three-peat. In the 1963 edition, Boca Juniors would become the first Argentine team to reach the Copa Libertadores finals, but would also lose to Santos.

From the 1964 until the 1975 Copa Libertadores, the champions of the tournament were either an Argentine or Uruguayan club. This 11-year period would showcase Independiente's rise to dominance, as the team would win the 1964 and 1965 Copa Libertadores by defeating both Peñarol and Nacional in the finals, and would complete a four-peat by winning the 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1975 editions. This era of dominance was led by club legends that featured the likes of Ricardo Bochini, Ricardo Pavoni, and Miguel Ángel Santoro. In addition, this time period also featured Peñarol's second championship win in 1966, along with Racing Club's and Nacional's first championships in 1967 and 1971. By 1976, the first Brazilian club since Santos won in 1963 would come out as champions, as Cruzeiro narrowly defeated River Plate in a 3-2 victory. The following year, however, Boca Juniors would become champions for the first time after their defeat to Santos fourteen years prior by defeating defending champions Cruzeiro in a decisive penalty shoot-out. Boca Juniors would defend their title in the next years edition, as they defeated Deportivo Cali in a 4-0 series, but would lose to Club Olimpia in the 1979 Copa Libertadores.

The early 1980's presented Uruguayan dominance, as Nacional would win their second title in the 1980 Copa Libertadores by defeating Internacional de Porto Alegre, and Peñarol reaching the finals back-to-back in the 1982 and 1983 editions, winning the former against C.D. Cobreloa. Thereafter, Argentine and Uruguayan clubs would win the tournament on five consecutive occasions between 1984 and 1988, during which Colombian club América de Cali, considered one of the most dominant clubs of the 1980s with famous players including Argentine footballers Ricardo Gareca, Carlos Ischia and Julio Falcioni, would reach the finals on three consecutive occasions (1985, 1986, and 1987), but would lose in each one; River Plate and Peñarol would win the 1986 and 1987 editions. In the 1988 Copa Libertadores, Nacional would defeat Newell's Old Boys in the final, the first Argentine-Uruguayan final since 1970. This would be the last time a Uruguayan club, aside from Nacional's win of the 1989 Copa Interamericana against Hondurean Olimpia, would win an intercontinental or international championship as of 2024, and wouldn't be until 1994 for any Argentine club. Newell's Old Boys would appear again in the finals of the 1992 Copa Libertadores, but would come up short against São Paulo FC. In 1996 Copa Libertadores, captained by Uruguayan and club legend Enzo Francescoli, River Plate would win their second championship in a rematch with América de Cali, ten years after their 1986 encounter.

With the arrival of Carlos Bianchi in 1998, Boca Juniors established themselves as a dominant team in South American football and ushered in a golden generation that would continue onwards to the turn of the 21st century. After winning several national competitions, led by talented footballers such as, but not limited to, Sebastián Battaglia, Óscar Córdoba, Hugo Ibarra, Martín Palermo, Juan Román Riquelme, and Carlos Tévez, the club would win the 2000 Copa Libertadores after 22 years, defeating Palmeiras in the finals by penalty-shots after two matches ended in a draw (2–2 and 0–0). Boca Juniors became champion again in 2001, defeating Cruz Azul in a penalty shootout; Boca won 1–0 the first final match in Mexico and lost the second game in La Bombonera by the same score. Two years later, they would win their 3rd title in 4 years against Santos FC, as Boca won 2–0 in Buenos Aires and 3–1 in São Paulo. Boca Juniors would reach another Copa Libertadores final in 2004, but lost to Once Caldas in penalties. However, in the 2007 Copa Libertadores, Boca Juniors would win their sixth title, defeating Grêmio FBPA in a 5-0 series.

The 2010's would see the start of Brazilian dominance in the Copa Libertadores, as since 2010, 10 of the 13 finals resulted in a Brazilian club becoming victorious. For instance, in the 2011 Copa Libertadores, Santos FC would defeat Peñarol in a 2-1 series, Peñarol's first finals appearance since 1987 and a rematch from 1962. The following year, in the 2012 Copa Libertadores, Boca Juniors would lose to Corinthians Paulista. However, San Lorenzo would become the first Argentine club since 2009 to win the tournament, as they defeated Nacional Asunción in the 2014 Copa Libertadores. The following year, River Plate, having won the 2014 Copa Sudamericana and beginning to rebuild themselves under the guidance of Marcelo Gallardo, would win the tournament by defeating Tigres UANL. Three years later, River Plate would face-off against their rivals, Boca Juniors, in the 2018 Copa Libertadores finals, which was labeled by The New York Times as the "Final to End All Finals" and the biggest game in Argentine sport history. The final was met with significant fan violence on both sides, and as a result, the second leg was played in the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid after a 2-2 draw in the first leg. River would come out victorious in a 3-1 second leg victory. River Plate would return to the finals the following year in 2019, but would lose to CR Flamengo. The 2023 Copa Libertadores final feature Boca Juniors facing off against Fluminense, but the former would lose to the Brazilian side, 2-1.

Although the Copa Sudamericana is more recent, having been inaugurated in 2002, it is still considered an important tournament in South American football. In its history, Argentine clubs have represented in the final 15 times, winning it on 9 occasions. San Lorenzo won the first edition of the tournament by defeating Atlético Nacional in a 4-0 series. River Plate were runners-up the following year, losing to Cienciano in 2003. Thereafter, Boca Juniors would win back-to-back Sudamericanas in 2004 and 2005 by defeating Club Bolívar 2-1 and Pumas UNAM on penalties, 4-3, after a 2-2 series. Independiente would win their first Sudamericana in 2010 by winning on penalties 5-3 after the series came to a draw of 3-3 against Goiás Esporte Clube. They would eventually become Sudamericana champions once again in 2017 by defeating CR Flamengo.

However, aside Argentina's Big Five, other Argentine clubs have rose to international prominence, the most notable of which includes Estudiantes de La Plata, four-time Copa Libertadores winners, having won the tournament three years in a row (1968, 1969, 1970) under the leadership of club legends Carlos Bilardo, who would guide the Argentine national team to their second FIFA World Cup in 1986, and captain Juan Ramón Verón. In 2008, Estudiantes were runners-up in the Copa Sudamericana, having lost to Internacional de Porto Alegre, but would eventually win their fourth Copa Libertadores the following year in 2009, captained by Juan Ramón's son, Juan Sebastián Verón. The club are also former intercontinental champions, defeating Manchester United in the 1968 edition of the cup, and also won the inaugural Copa Interamericana in 1969, beating CONCACAF Champions of the previous year, Deportivo Toluca F.C. In terms of national achievements, Estudiantes are six-time champions of the Argentine Primera División and have recently won several Argentine competitions such as the Copa de la Liga Profesional and the Copa Argentina.

Other Argentine clubs that have seen recent success include ten-time national league champions Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield, who, in 1994, won the Copa Libertadores against São Paulo FC and eventually defeating AC Milan in the Intercontinental Cup. Two years later, the club would win the Interamericana Cup in 1996 against C.S. Cartaginés and the Supercopa Libertadores. Argentinos Juniors are also former Copa Libertadores champions, having won the 1985 edition and eventually winning the Copa Interamericana against Defence Force F.C.

Arsenal de Sarandí, Club Atlético Lanús, and Defensa y Justicia are also former Copa Sudamericana champions, having won the title in 2007,2013, and 2020, respectively, the latter of which would also win the Recopa Sudamericana in 2020 following that year's Libertadores. Lanús have also won the 1996 Copa CONMEBOL by defeating Independiente Santa Fe in the finals and were runners-up in the 2017 Copa Libertadores. They were the runners-up in Defensa y Justicia's Sudamericana championship win in 2020. Other Argentine clubs that have seen recent accomplishments include 2012 Copa Sudamericana runners-up Club Atlético Tigre, Club Atlético Huracán, who historically have been successful on the national level and have more recently were runners-up in the 2015 Copa Sudamericana, and Club Atlético Colón who reached the finals in the 2019 Copa Sudamericana.

Although Peñarol and Nacional have always been the forefront of Uruguayan football across international competition, no other Uruguayan clubs has won either the Copa Libertadores or the Copa Sudamericana, in part because of the two team's overwhelming support in the country. The biggest teams in the nation, aside from Peñarol and Nacional, have historically been Defensor Sporting, Danubio, and Montevideo Wanderers. Both Defensor Sporting and Danubio are four-time national league champions, whereas Montevideo Wanderers has won three. In recent years, however, clubs such as Liverpool Montevideo and Montevideo City Torque, the latter of which has been owned since April 2017 by the City Football Group, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi United Group, have seen national and international progress through its promising academies and financial support.[http://www.infobae.com/2007/12/06/352772-la-argentina-es-el-pais-mas-titulos-america Infobae: La Argentina es el país con más títulos de América] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614001742/https://www.infobae.com/2007/12/06/352772-la-argentina-es-el-pais-mas-titulos-america/ |date=2018-06-14 }} on Infobae.com

The table below compares titles won by Argentine and Uruguayan clubs since the first official international competition in 1905:

AFA / AUF competitions often generalized as Copas Rioplatenses were official international competitions contested only by Argentine and Uruguayan clubs before the creation of official South American club competitions by CONMEBOL. Unofficial and unfinalized editions were excluded.

The following is a list of all the matches played:

;Notes

{{reflist|group=note}}

• Argentina–Uruguay relations

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{{Commons category}}

{{Argentina national football team}}

{{Uruguay national football team}}

{{Association football international rivalries in South America}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Argentina-Uruguay football rivalry}}

Category:International association football rivalries

Uruguay

Category:Uruguay national football team rivalries

football

Category:Argentina at the 1930 FIFA World Cup

Category:Uruguay at the 1930 FIFA World Cup

Category:Argentina at the 1986 FIFA World Cup

Category:Uruguay at the 1986 FIFA World Cup