Messi drives down the right wing and is brought down, earning a free kick in an advanced wide position. His sharp movement forces Uruguay’s defenders into a foul.

Messi unleashes a left‑footed drive from outside the box that is heading for the bottom left corner, but Muslera gets down to make the save after a pass from Rodrigo De Paul. It’s Argentina’s first real test of the Uruguayan keeper.

Messi swings in a precise cross from the right after a corner, allowing Guido Rodríguez to head in from close range for the winning goal. His delivery bends perfectly to the back post, catching Uruguay’s defense flat-footed.

From the right, Messi threads a clever ball to Nahuel Molina, whose right‑footed shot from inside the box is saved high at the near post by Muslera. Messi’s vision opens up Uruguay’s back line.

Messi slides a pass into the box for Lautaro Martínez, whose right‑footed effort from the left side of the area is blocked by the defense. The move stems from Messi dropping deep to orchestrate the attack.

Guido Rodríguez looks to release Messi with a through ball, but the captain times his run just a fraction early and is flagged offside. The sequence shows Argentina trying to spring Messi in behind Uruguay’s back line.

Messi commits a foul in midfield, halting a Uruguayan move and drawing the referee’s whistle. It’s a tactical infringement as he battles to regain control for Argentina.

Messi drifts centrally and feeds Ángel Di María outside the box, but Di María’s left‑footed shot is blocked by Uruguay’s defense. The play highlights Messi’s role as creator late in the match.

Messi surges forward in the attacking half and is fouled, earning a free kick as Argentina look to manage the closing stages. His drive with the ball relieves pressure and keeps Uruguay pinned back.

Messi takes on a long‑range left‑footed shot from outside the area that is blocked before it can trouble Muslera. He finds a pocket of space but Uruguay close him down quickly.

Near the end, Messi attacks down the right and draws another foul, winning a free kick on the wing to help Argentina run down the clock. His close control continues to trouble Uruguay even in the final minutes.