Many fans flocked to the Maracana Stadium on Tuesday with the expectation of witnessing Lionel Messi’s likely final match in Brazil, a superclasico in World Cup qualifying against the hosts. Instead, they witnessed Nicolás Otamendi scoring the sole goal in a 1-0 victory for Argentina after a brawl between fans caused a delayed start to the game.
The World Cup champions handed Brazil their first-ever home defeat in World Cup qualifying. It marked Brazil’s third consecutive loss in the round-robin tournament, adding another setback for new coach Fernando Diniz.
Messi left the pitch in the 78th minute, receiving a mix of jeers and applause from Brazil fans. Dozens of children adorned the Maracana wearing Barcelona shirts, Messi’s previous club, and Inter Miami jerseys.
Despite his departure, Messi was unable to overcome one of the last remaining challenges in his illustrious career – scoring against the Brazilians in a World Cup qualifier.
Argentina heads home not only leading the South American qualifying standings but also providing its fans with another chance to celebrate a victory at the historic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Two years ago, Ángel Di Maria scored the lone goal in an empty Maracana to secure the Copa América title for Argentina.
The violent pre-match incident, erupting shortly after the national anthems, halted the start of the game for 27 minutes. Argentina, led by Messi, retreated to the locker rooms for 22 minutes. The brawl resulted in at least one fan leaving the stadium with a head injury, and Rio police reported eight arrests.
The aggression between fans spilled onto the field in the first 20 minutes of the encounter, with the referee awarding fouls against Brazil during that period. Tensions eased, allowing Argentina to avoid direct confrontations.
Brazil missed opportunities, including Raphinha’s free kick in the 38th minute and Cristian Romero’s goal-line save for Argentina six minutes later after a crossed shot by Gabriel Martinelli.
Although Brazil hinted at maintaining pressure after the break, Rodrygo’s close-range attempt in the 54th minute forced Argentina’s goalkeeper Dibu Martinez to make a crucial save.
In the 63rd minute, Argentina broke the deadlock with a header by Otamendi, who soared above Brazilian defenders to connect with a corner kick. It was one of the few chances Argentina created.
Teenager Endrick, a significant hope for Brazil in the attack, made little impact after coming on in the 72nd minute.
In the 81st minute, Brazilian midfielder Joelinton, a substitute, was sent off after pushing Rodrigo de Paul. As the match concluded, Brazil fans chanted “ole” for every touch by the Argentinians, while visiting supporters waved their shirts as some players celebrated on the pitch.
Argentina leads the 10-team South American qualifying competition with 15 points from six matches, followed by Uruguay with 13 and Colombia. Brazil could finish the year in sixth position with seven points.
The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada will feature 48 teams, providing direct entry for the top six teams from South America. The seventh-placed team has the opportunity to earn a spot in an intercontinental playoff.
In other Tuesday matches, Colombia secured a 1-0 victory over Paraguay, Uruguay defeated Bolivia 3-0 in Montevideo, and Ecuador claimed a 1-0 win over Chile.
Peru and Venezuela were still playing when the Brazil vs. Argentina match concluded.
The seventh and eighth rounds of South American qualifying are scheduled for September following the next edition of the Copa América in the United States.