According to officials, Mercado Libre will bring its ball-reaching robot to Argentine football

The Unicorn received a patent to integrate this promotion into the country’s premier league stadiums. How it works

12/12/2025 • 6:50 p.m. • Promotion

Mercado Libre will be the title sponsor of the Argentine first division football tournament in 2026.

So the unicorn brand will accompany the Professional League next season.

The region’s most valuable company is also expected to contribute to the country Robot that returns the balls to the field, as used in Brazil.

Will Mercado Libre bring its robotic ball grippers?

Mercado Libre premiered in the year Brazilian a device that delivers a ball into the field of play when a corner kick is about to be taken: In the unicorn’s static advertisement, a small door opens, launching the ball at the appropriate speed so that it is received by the footballer taking the corner.

This is shown by the award-winning advertising campaign in Brazil The balls collected by stadium staff are delivered by Mercado Libre, indicating the speed and reliability of the delivery system of the company. And it ends with “The ball has arrived,” similar to the notification buyers receive on the site.

This means that the ball catchers, who are usually players from the training departments of the host club of the respective game, supply the device with balls, but retain their usual task when serving from the goal or from the wings.

Although the Unicorn has not yet communicated this, there is some information that suggests that the artifact will be available at the Argentine tournament in 2026, when it is its main sponsor. He The agreement was officially announced on October 31st on the property that the AFA has in Ezeiza, but a The decisive event occurred a few days earlier.

Mercado Libre has patented its device for reaching the ball in the country

According to the National Institute of Intellectual Property (INPI) Mercado Libre received the patent on October 13th for his “ball replacement device for sports exercises,” highlighting the possibilities that he will use it on Argentine pitches, as he has been doing in Brazilian stadiums since last year.

According to the text of the patent application, the device is similar, there is composed for “a support structure.” provided with a flat front surface with at least one ball release opening“, which includes at least the following:

• “A visual information display”
• “A ball insertion opening”
• “A ball launch mechanism in conjunction with the ball insertion opening”
• “An actuator of the ball launch mechanism”

The Description and documentation from Brazil The attached images suggest that it will be the same robot that will be used in the fields of the neighboring country.

Mercado Libre, sponsor of the AFA

The agreement between the AFA and Mercado Libre was signed by the head of the association, Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia; and the president of Mercado Libre, Juan Martin De La Serna.

The championship is renamed “Mercado Libre tournament“consolidating a global trend linking technology brands and sports competitions. During the meeting, Tapia emphasized that the association with Mercado Libre responds to a federal expansion strategy and modernization of Argentine football.

“The further involvement of companies that trust our project was a big goal. With Mercado Libre, the Professional League continues its growth and projects a lasting commitment,” said the leader.

De La Serna, in turn, celebrated the opportunity to get in touch with the country’s most popular sport and assumed that the company will try to improve the fans’ experience through technology, benefits and exclusive content.

Representatives from both institutions posed during the presentation T-shirts Argentinian selection and tailored yellow modelson which the years of validity of the agreement were stamped. The contract not only provides for the name change of the tournament, but also:

• Promotions
• Presence in stadiums
• Digital activations
• Participation in official Professional League events

The name change will take effect from January 2026, when the new Argentine football season begins.

In addition, the unicorn completed the sponsorship with Estudiantes de la Plata, which will now take over the management Professional Soccer League finals The Saturday December 13th and it will extend everywhere 2026.

The agreement includes the Mercado Libre logo in the Dress des men’s professional squad, Brand presence in it Stadium ONE And Marketing activations for fans And partner of the club.