- The Uruguayan forward scored the winner in Boca’s 1-0 victory over São Paulo in the first leg of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Quarter-finals.
- ‘La Bestia’ found the net for the third time in the tournament and reached 61 goals in Boca’s blue-and-gold shirt.
Miguel Merentiel is always there. His name has been one of the constants at Boca Juniors over the past three years, ever since his debut against Central Córdoba in February 2023. Since then, despite the arrival of several high-profile and accomplished forwards at La Bombonera, the Uruguayan has always found his place thanks to one decisive quality: scoring when the pressure is at its highest.
The night against São Paulo provided another example. Boca needed to establish an advantage in the first leg of their CONMEBOL Sudamericana Quarter-final, and it was Merentiel who broke the deadlock to seal a 1-0 victory. Once again, the striker delivered when the tie demanded composure and precision inside the penalty area.
His mark on the club’s history is already indelible. He is Boca’s second-highest-scoring Uruguayan, behind Sergio ‘Manteca’ Martínez, who scored 87 goals. Merentiel also ranks fourth among the ‘Xeneize’s’ all-time foreign goalscorers, behind Delfín Benítez Cáceres, Martínez and Brazilian forward Paulo Valentim.
The numbers speak for themselves: Merentiel has now scored 61 goals in Boca’s blue-and-gold shirt. ‘La Bestia’, as he was nicknamed at the club, has already produced a collection of unforgettable goals, including strikes in the clásicos against River Plate and against Bayern Munich at the 2025 Club World Cup. His performances have made him a firm favourite with the supporters, who on more than one occasion have serenaded him with the traditional chant of “uruguayo, uruguayo”.
That support also remained during the scoring droughts that any striker can naturally go through. With Rodolfo Arruabarrena back in charge and a new system in place, Merentiel began the second half of the season in a different role from the one he was used to, operating as the lone striker and Boca’s main focal point in attack.
Adapting to the new setup brought different responsibilities as he looked to contribute to the team’s overall play. Usually deployed as a second striker, he had to adjust to playing as a No. 9, battling with centre-backs and creating space for midfield runners. His contribution was not always reflected on the scoresheet, and he went six matches without finding the net.
“I know it’s not the most comfortable position for him, but he’s adapting. He’s a player who gives us a lot, and I would have liked him to score because he needs it. Every striker needs goals. He works very well, he does everything. His moment will come. The one thing he mustn’t do is rush or become desperate,” Arruabarrena explained after the 3-1 victory over Deportivo Recoleta in the first leg of the Round of 16.
That moment did not take long to arrive. Away to Platense in the Argentine league, Merentiel came on at half-time and scored Boca’s equaliser: Santiago Ascacíbar headed the ball down, and the Uruguayan controlled it before finishing past the advancing goalkeeper.
He then carried his renewed goalscoring form onto the international stage. In the return leg against Recoleta, he latched onto a through ball from Milton Delgado, battled to keep possession, nutmegged a defender and finished delicately past Nelson Ferreira to make it 3-0. Boca went on to win 4-0 and secured their place in the Quarter-finals with a 7-1 aggregate victory.
Further confirmation came against São Paulo. Six minutes into the second half, Boca put together a flowing team move that travelled through several areas of the pitch before finding Lautaro Blanco bursting forward down the left. The full-back sent in a low cross and Merentiel controlled inside the box. Rafael blocked his first attempt, but the striker reacted quickest to the rebound and scored the only goal of the night.
It was no ordinary goal. Merentiel had already scored the winner against O’Higgins in the opening match of the Playoffs, found the net again in the emphatic victory over Recoleta and now decided the opening leg of the tie against São Paulo. With three goals, he became Boca’s leading scorer in this CONMEBOL Sudamericana.
“He presses, he runs, today he played very well with his back to goal and he scored. He’s a player who has adapted to a position that isn’t the most comfortable for him, he’s doing it very well and giving us a lot to be happy about. I hope he keeps it going,” Arruabarrena said in praise of the striker after the victory.
From rediscovering his scoring touch against Platense to another decisive night at La Bombonera, ‘La Bestia’ has found his goalscoring form again. Boca will travel to Brazil with a slender advantage and one certainty: when the stakes are highest, Merentiel is always there.
