- The Uruguayan striker scored Boca Juniors' second goal against Vasco da Gama in Rio de Janeiro and was one of the standout performers as they booked their place in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Final.
- Every time the vice-captain has scored in the knockout stages, the Xeneize have won. Now, the Final in Barranquilla is his next target.
The striker has scored four goals in this edition of 'La Gran Conquista' and dreams of lifting his first international trophy with the Argentine side after losing the 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores Final to Fluminense.
The clock showed 34 minutes of the first half at the Maracanã when 'La Bestia' raced through one-on-one with Léo Jardim and calmly placed his finish into the corner, sparking an unforgettable celebration among the Boca supporters in Rio de Janeiro.
The Argentine side had moved 2-0 ahead on aggregate and were beginning to script another epic continental night on Brazilian soil, always a demanding place to play. Boca had now won 18 knockout ties away from home against Brazilian opposition.
Since Rodolfo Arruabarrena took charge of Boca Juniors on 18 June, Merentiel — who won the 2020 CONMEBOL Sudamericana and the 2021 CONMEBOL Recopa with Defensa y Justicia — has scored eight goals. Each has carried considerable weight, particularly on the international stage.
The knockout stages have brought the best out of the Paysandú-born forward, who has made his mark on big occasions from the round-of-16 play-offs onwards. He scored in the 1-0 win over O'Higgins at La Bombonera, then found the net in the 4-0 away victory against Recoleta, a match in which he also wore the captain's armband. He scored the only goal in the 1-0 home win over São Paulo and struck again, wearing the armband on his left arm, in the 3-1 victory over Vasco da Gama. The pattern is clear: whenever Merentiel has scored in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana, Boca have won.
The 30-year-old has now scored 65 goals in 186 appearances for Boca Juniors, moving ahead of Juan Román Riquelme in the club's list of leading goalscorers in the 21st century.
'La Bestia' came close to winning his first international trophy with the Argentine side in 2023. Now, he has a chance to make amends. The date and venue are set: Saturday 21 November at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla.
