Darwin Nunez, who is rumored to be on his way to Liverpool, was left out of Uruguay's 5-0 friendly victory over Panama on Saturday.
Following the announcement of the teams, the striker's absence from the encounter in Montevideo was confirmed.
Nunez was listed among four players who would not play in the game in a short message on Uruguay's Twitter website, with no explanation given.
That news came as talk grew over a potential transfer to Liverpool, with Benfica apparently prepared to earn an initial fee of £68.3 million (€80 million).
The Reds appear to have won the race for one of the world's most sought-after attackers.
Nunez scored 34 goals in 41 games for Benfica in 2021-22, including six goals in ten games in the Champions League, including both legs of the quarter-final against Liverpool.
The arrival of the 22-year-old would appear to accommodate the sale of Sadio Mane, who has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich ahead of his contract expiring next year.
In Nunez's absence on Saturday, Uruguay's Edinson Cavani scored two goals each side of halftime.
Six minutes before halftime, the veteran striker combined with Giorgian de Arrascaeta to score from close range, and he added his second only three minutes after the restart, finishing from the spot after winning the penalty himself.
Substitutes Nicolas De La Cruz, Maxi Gomez, and Diego Rossi added goals to make it a one-sided final score.
The 22-year-old's marking would apparently oblige the offer of Sadio Mane, who has been the subject of interest from Bayern Munich in front of his agreement lapsing one year from now.
In Nunez's nonattendance on Saturday, Edinson Cavani struck either side of half-time for Uruguay.
The veteran front man connected up with Giorgian de Arrascaeta to net from short proximity six minutes before the break, then had his second in the span of three minutes of the restart, changing over from the spot subsequent to winning the punishment himself.
Further objectives followed from substitutes Nicolas De La Cruz, Maxi Gomez and Diego Rossi to guarantee an uneven last scoreline.