Ahead of Wednesday's Argentina vs Brazil FIFA World Cup Qualifier, Barcelona winger Raphinha had claimed his team was capable of beating the World champions on and off the field. The in-form winger, during an interaction with former Brazil international Romario, vouched he would try to score against them in a fixture that his time was certain to win. "F**k them", Romario and Raphinha said towards the end of the conversation which was not well received by the rival camp.
However, when the two sides met at Buenos Aires' Estadio Monumental, not only did Raphinha fail to score, but Argentina ran away with a famous 4-1 win. There was a post-match flare-up as the home side hadn't forgotten Raphinha's statements.
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Lionel Messi, who is nursing an injury, was not part of the squad that played two games during the international team. It was veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi who led the La Albiceleste in the absence of the Inter Miami star. However, Messi threw his weight behind his team through a rare social media post, which is seen as a response to Raphinha.
"Inside, outside, wherever always with this national team. Always talking about football. Congratulations on the great game they played last night and also for the victory against Uruguay," the translation of the text on Messi's Instagram post read.
lionel-messi-instagram-post Lionel Messi's Instagram post
Brazil is in fourth place in South American qualifying with 21 points, 10 behind Argentina but only two behind second-place Ecuador, which was held to a 0-0 draw by Chile. Third-place Uruguay and fifth-place Paraguay also have 21 points, and Colombia is one point behind them in sixth. Seventh-place Venezuela has 15 points after a 1-0 win over 9th-place Peru.
Argentina vs Brazil: AS it happened
"A 0-0 draw between Uruguay and Bolivia earlier on Tuesday had sealed Argentina's spot at the 2026 World Cup as they became the first South American team to qualify for the tournament in North America. Even without the injured Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez Argentina were streets ahead of their rivals and they did not have to wait long to extend their lead with Enzo Fernandez making it 2-0 in the 12th minute. A terrific team goal saw Rodrigo de Paul, Almada and Alvarez combine before Fernandez finished off Nahuel Molina's low cross at the far post.
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Argentina were in full control and passing the ball around to chants of Ole from a sold-out crowd at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires when Brazil pulled one back, a mistake from defender Cristian Romero gifting Matheus Cunha a goal in the 26th minute. But Argentina restored their two-goal lead in the 37th minute through Alexis Mac Allister, who fired home from a Fernandez cross following another superb team move.
Argentina, who have not lost to Brazil in six years, wasted several chances to extend their lead before substitute Giuliano Simeone wrapped up the scoring in the 71st minute, handing Brazil their heaviest defeat in a World Cup qualifier.