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Fede Valverde makes honest Lionel Messi admisison as he prepares to take on Argentina with Uruguay in World Cup qualifying.
The Uruguayan midfielder, ahead of his country’s upcoming clash with Argentina in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, openly admitted that he doesn’t know how to stop Lionel Messi. Uruguay is set to face Argentina in a crucial match, with Uruguay currently second in the Conmebol World Cup 2026 qualifying standings, trailing Argentina by five points.
Despite Messi’s recent absence from competitive matches, the Inter Miami and Argentina star remains a formidable force. Uruguay, led by Marcelo Bielsa, secured a notable victory against Brazil in their last World Cup qualifying fixture, adding to the anticipation of their upcoming clash with Argentina.
In a pre-match interview, Valverde said he doesn’t know how to slow down Messi and could never do so when both played in La Liga: “I don’t know how to stop Messi, I could never stop him. He is one of the best players in the world.”
The midfielder also praised Suarez, who earned his first Uruguay nod since the 2022 World Cup: “From the first moment Suarez has given me the values and rules to succeed in the national team. He is an idol for Uruguay.”
La Celeste is set to engage in two pivotal World Cup qualifying fixtures this week. Their first challenge involves a journey to face Argentina, who have maintained an undefeated record. This will be a crucial matchup, as Uruguay aims to make a statement and potentially narrow the gap in the standings.
Following the Argentina encounter, Uruguay will return home to host Bolivia, a team yet to secure a victory in the qualifying campaign. These back-to-back fixtures provide an opportunity for Uruguay to solidify their position in second place in the standings and strengthen their campaign for the 2026 World Cup.