PREVIEW: WC Qualifier - Argentina v Uruguay

FOOTBALL - Click Read More to see some key facts concerning Friday’s World  Cup qualifier between Argentina and Uruguay.

> Argentina and Uruguay have met in 178 previous international matches. Neither team has faced any other opponents at least 100 times. This encounter is the most frequently played international match.

> Argentina host an international match in Mendoza for the first time since 19 April 2007, when a friendly against Chile ended in a goalless draw.

> Lionel Messi is the leading goalscorer in international matches in 2012, worldwide. Messi has scored nine times for the Argentina national team in this calendar year and leads New Caledonia’s Jacques Haeko and New Zealand’s Chris Wood, who are both on seven.

> Lionel Messi has scored in six of his last seven international matches for a total of 10 goals. However, he failed to score in his last.

> Lionel Messi’s 28 international goals rank him fourth in Argentina team history behind Gabriel Batistuta (56), Hernán Crespo (35) and Diego Maradona (34).