In a dramatic 2026 World Cup qualifier, Uruguay emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over Brazil. Darwin Nunez and Nicolas de la Cruz were the heroes of the match, securing the victory for Uruguay, while the game took a somber turn as Brazil’s star player, Neymar, was forced off the field with a severe knee injury.
The match saw Uruguay’s Nunez opening the scoring in the 42nd minute with a remarkable diving header. Just minutes later, Brazil’s night turned from bad to worse as Neymar suffered a distressing knee injury while tussling for the ball with De la Cruz.
Visibly distressed and in pain, Neymar had to leave the pitch on a stretcher after receiving extensive medical attention. Sources from the Brazil Football Association reported that Neymar had sustained a severe left knee sprain, and further tests would determine if there was ligament damage.
Brazil’s captain, Casemiro, expressed his concerns, stating, “Let’s hope it’s nothing serious. He’s an important player for us, and we’re very fond of him. He’s been suffering a lot from injuries, and when he starts to pick up the pace, he gets injured again.”
Despite having a significant share of possession in the first half, Brazil couldn’t capitalize on their dominance, while Uruguay capitalized on their first shot at goal. Maxi Araujo’s quick throw-in left Brazil’s defender Marquinhos trailing as he delivered a cross for Nunez to score.
Uruguay maintained their lead into the second half, with De la Cruz extending their advantage with a close-range effort in the 77th minute. Nunez played a pivotal role, providing the assist after winning a challenge against two Brazilian defenders inside the box.
Notably, this victory marked Uruguay’s first win over Brazil since 2001 and dealt Brazil their first defeat in a World Cup qualifier since 2015 after an impressive streak of 37 games unbeaten.
The result elevated Uruguay to second place in the CONMEBOL standings, with seven points, level with Brazil and Venezuela, who secured a 3-0 win against Chile earlier on Tuesday.
In other matches, Paraguay earned their first win in the South American qualifiers, triumphing over bottom-placed Bolivia with a 1-0 scoreline in Asuncion. Meanwhile, the Ecuador-Colombia clash ended in a goalless draw.
The leaders, Argentina, were set to take on Peru in another highly anticipated fixture on Tuesday.
