Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte became an internet sensation Thursday during the Argentina vs. Uruguay match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Ugarte and Co. picked up an impressive 2-0 win over La Albiceleste in Buenos Aires. However, aside from the final scoreline, many are talking about the midfielder’s confrontation with Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul.
Afterward, the 22-year-old would make an NSFW gesture at the 29-year-old. Nonetheless, De Paul spoke postgame about the incident and wasn’t interested in talking about it. De Paul noted that these situations tend to happen on the pitch.
“It’s nonsense,” De Paul said postgame (h/t TyC Sports).”It stays on the field, and nothing happens. I like to talk about football. Uruguay did better, and now we have to get up and play a great game in Brazil. Sometimes, football is unfair.
“We have to take care of everything that we won, achieved, and all the respect we have earned during this time. It is done on the field and nothing more.”
De Paul wasn’t the only one reacting to the NSFW gesture. Former PSG star Lionel Messi was asked about the gesture and offered to remain silent rather than say what he truly feels.
Argentina will look to have a bounce-back performance to close out this FIFA break. Messi and Co. will be traveling to Rio de Janeiro to face Brazil.
Meanwhile, Ugarte and Uruguay will look to get six out of six points this FIFA international break. La Celeste will welcome Bolivia to the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.
