Javier Mascherano advised Paulo Dybala not to be too downhearted after being sent off on his Argentina debut and reminded him of Lionel Messi's success since being dismissed in a similar situation.
Dybala, 22, left the pitch in tears as he received a second yellow card just before half-time of the 1-0 World Cup qualifying win against Uruguay on Thursday for a late challenge.
Messi also saw red on his international debut during a friendly against Hungary in 2005, and Mascherano urged Juventus striker Dybala to take inspiration from this.
"I told him the same thing had happened to Messi when he started in the national team," he said. "And look how it went afterwards."
Messi, returning to the Argentina fold after changing his mind about international retirement, scored the winning goal moments before the sending off.
And Mascherano admitted he considered following his Barcelona teammate in quitting the Albiceleste following a second Copa America final defeat to Chile in as many years.
"Yes, I spent a lot after losing the final," he said. "I thought maybe not to come [back], but I started thinking what am I going to do? Will I stay in my house?"