On March 25, 2025, at the Más Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina claimed a resounding 4-1 victory against Brazil in a highly anticipated clash during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The match served not only as a showcase for both teams but also as a reminder of Brazil's struggles in Argentina, where they have not won a World Cup qualifier in 16 years.
The night began dramatically with Argentina scoring just three minutes into the game. Julián Álvarez found the back of the net early, leading to enthusiastic "olé" chants from the home crowd that set a fevered atmosphere for the encounter. As the match progressed, tensions escalated, especially for Brazilian forward Raphinha, who faced boos from the Argentine fans during the lineup announcements. The fervor of the home crowd continued as they jeered the Brazilian national anthem.
Argentina quickly took command of the game, with Enzo Fernández doubling their lead in the 12th minute, capitalizing on Brazil's defensive lapses. Just moments later, Mac Allister added a third goal in the 36th minute to further tilt the scoreline in favor of the hosts. The Brazilian defense struggled throughout the first half, leaving their goalkeeper, Bento, scrambling to manage a barrage of Argentine attacks.
Despite the early setbacks, Brazil managed to respond before halftime, with Matheus Cunha pulling one back for his side in the 26th minute after seizing on a defensive error by Argentina. However, by halftime, Argentina maintained a comfortable 3-1 lead, showcasing their dominance.
The second half saw a substitution for Brazil, with Endrick replacing Rodrygo, aiming to inject more energy into their attack. Raphinha, still eager to make an impact, struck the crossbar with a well-executed free kick in the 31st minute but ultimately saw his efforts thwarted as Argentina’s Dibu Martínez expertly handled the threats posed.
As the second half unfolded, the match continued to see hard-fought exchanges. That fighting spirit became especially pertinent after Raphinha got entangled in a skirmish with Argentina’s Tagliafico and Otamendi, resulting in a yellow card for all three players involved. Raphinha's card would the exact reason for his absence in Brazil's next match against Ecuador in June, marking another challenge for the team looking for redemption in the qualifiers.
The final moments of the match sealed Argentina's emphatic victory, with Simeone scoring their fourth goal, solidifying the scoreline at 4-1. The confrontational rivalry displayed itself not just in the score, but also through the physical nature of the gameplay, illustrating the stakes each side felt.
For Brazil, this loss illustrates broader issues that have plagued them in recent years, particularly on Argentine soil. Since their last victory against Argentina as a visitor in World Cup qualifiers in 2009, when they won 3-1 in Santa Fé, Brazil has faced uphill battles in subsequent matchups, with draws in 2015 and 2021 and disappointments like this latest defeat.
Brazil’s coach, Dorival Júnior, had implemented several changes to the starting lineup, making six alterations from the team that narrowly defeated Colombia just days earlier. The shifts included suspensions for Gabriel Magalhães and Bruno Guimarães and an injury to Gerson, while Bento took the place of Alisson due to a head injury. For the match against Argentina, Brazil's squad was composed of Bento, Wesley, Marquinhos, Murillo, and Guilherme Arana; André, Joelinton, and Raphinha; Vini Jr., Rodrygo, and Matheus Cunha.
In contrast, Argentina fielded a strong lineup that included Dibu Martínez, Molina, Romero, Otamendi, and Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernández, and Alexis Mac Allister; with Thiago Almada and Julián Álvarez leading the attack.
As the World Cup qualifiers advance, Brazil must regroup quickly to face Ecuador in search of points to stay competitive, while Argentina edges closer to securing their spot in the upcoming tournament. The tension-ridden atmosphere during the match showed just how much these encounters mean to both sides, raising the stakes even higher for their future clashes on the international stage.
