The latest chapter of the Brazil vs Argentina rivalry was marred by crowd trouble at the Maracana Stadium last night as the world champions claimed a 1-0 win.
Kick-off was delayed by half an hour in Rio de Janeiro after rival fans and police clashed, with both sets of players trying to calm the situation down before eventually returning to the dressing room before the game could commence.
Once order was restored, Nicolas Otamendi’s second-half header gave Argentina an historic World Cup qualifying victory, with Joelinton sent off for the hosts.
It was Brazil’s first home defeat in a World Cup qualifier and their third in a row after previous losses to Uruguay and Colombia, with their path to the 2026 World Cup looking decidedly shaky.
There is no love lost between the South American heavyweights and as the dust settles on their latest showdown, we look back at seven other memorable Brazil vs Argentina meetings.
Brazil 3 Argentina 1 (July 1982, World Cup)
The brilliant Brazil side of Socrates, Zico and Falcao got the better of their rivals in a group clash in Barcelona. Their goals came from Zico, Junior and Serginho. Argentina, who had Diego Maradona sent off late on, scored a last-minute consolation through Ramon Diaz.
Argentina 1 Brazil 0 (June 1990, World Cup)
Claudio Caniggia raced on to a Diego Maradona pass eight minutes from time to score the only goal in a fiercely-contested last-16 clash in Turin. Controversy followed when it was claimed Brazil’s Branco was given a bottle of water spiked with tranquiliser by Argentina during the game.
Argentina 3 Brazil 2 (July 1991, Copa America)
Perhaps the most explosive of all the Brazil vs Argentina meetings given there were five goals and five red cards in a ferocious clash in Santiago. Franco struck early for Argentina before a Branco equaliser. Franco and Gabriel Batistuta put Argentina back ahead before Joao Paulo pulled one back. Caniggia and Mazinho were sent off after a clash. Further red cards went to Carlos Enrique for Argentina and Marcio Santos and Careca for Brazil.
Brazil 4 Argentina 1 (June 2005, Confederations Cup)
Brazil turned on the style as the sides met in the World Cup warm-up tournament in Frankfurt. Early goals from Adriano and Kaka set them on their way before Ronaldinho volleyed a third and Adriano added another. Argentina’s effort came from Pablo Aimar.
Argentina 4 Brazil 3 (June 2012, friendly)
The two sides tend not to hold back even when playing each other in friendlies and they played out a classic in New Jersey. Lionel Messi settled an absorbing contest by completing a hat-trick late on. Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marcelo were then sent off after an altercation in injury time. Federico Fernandez scored Argentina’s other goal, while Romulo, Oscar and Hulk struck for Brazil.
Brazil 2 Argentina 0 (July 2019, Copa America semi-final)
Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino were on target as the Selecao defeated their bitter rivals 2-0 in Belo Horizonte to secure a place in the Copa America final on home soil. Argentina, who last won the tournament in 1993, had hit the crossbar in the first half through Sergio Aguero’s header, while Messi struck the post. Afterwards, the then-Barcelona playmaker accused the referee of bias. “The officiating was crazy,” the Argentina captain said. “He (the referee) was on their side. In every divided ball or dispute, he inclined the pitch their way.”
Brazil 0 Argentina 1 (July 2021, Copa America final)
This was not one of the best Brazil vs Argentina meetings in terms of entertainment but it merits inclusion on our list for the significance as Messi’s long wait for a major trophy with his country ended. The 34-year-old fell to the floor at full-time in a sign of huge relief while his former team-mate Neymar was in tears after he was unable to inspire Brazil to victory. The match was decided by a goal midway through the first half from Angel Di Maria, who lobbed Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson following a perfect Rodrigo De Paul pass.
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