Argentina Crushes Brazil 4-1 Without Messi, Secures WC Spot



Argentina Crushes Brazil 4-1 Without Messi, Secures WC Spot

Argentina delivered a resounding 4-1 victory over arch-rival Brazil in the 14th round of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match, held at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, saw Argentina dominate despite the absence of their talisman, Lionel Messi.

Even before kickoff, Argentina had already secured their place in the World Cup, thanks to Bolivia and Uruguay playing to a goalless draw. With this victory, Argentina strengthened their hold on the top spot in the standings with 31 points (10 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses). Meanwhile, Brazil, unable to add to their points tally, remained in fourth place with 21 points (6 wins, 3 draws, 5 losses).

Argentina lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation. Julián Álvarez spearheaded the attack, supported by an offensive midfield quartet of Thiago Almada, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, and Rodrigo De Paul. Leandro Paredes sat in a defensive midfield role, shielding the backline of Nicolás Tagliafico, Nicolás Otamendi, Cristian Romero, and Nahuel Molina. Emiliano Martínez started in goal.

Brazil countered with a 4-2-3-1 setup. Vinícius Júnior played as the lone striker, with Rodrygo, Matheus Cunha, and Raphinha behind him in attacking roles. Joelinton and André anchored the midfield, while the defense featured Guilherme Arana, Murilo, Marquinhos, and Wesley. Bento was in goal.

Argentina struck first in the fourth minute. Taking a quick free-kick, De Paul sent a pass down the left flank to Almada, who whipped the ball into the box. Álvarez collected it, stayed composed under pressure, and slotted home to give Argentina an early lead.

The second goal came just nine minutes later. Molina delivered a low cross from the right, and Fernández made a perfectly timed run into the box to finish clinically, putting Argentina up 2-0.

Brazil pulled one back in the 26th minute. Matheus Cunha pressed aggressively, dispossessing Romero before immediately firing past Martínez to make it 2-1.

However, Argentina quickly reasserted their dominance. In the 37th minute, a corner kick found Fernández, who lofted a precise cross into the box. Mac Allister latched onto it and smashed a shot into the net, restoring Argentina’s two-goal cushion at 3-1 before halftime.

Tensions flared between the two teams, leading to confrontations as they headed into the tunnel at the break.

Both teams made substitutions in the second half. In the 68th minute, Argentina replaced Almada with Giuliano Simeone, while Brazil swapped Matheus Cunha for Savinho.

Argentina extended their lead in the 72nd minute. Tagliafico sent a low cross from the left flank, and Simeone, making a well-timed run at the back post, drilled home a powerful strike to make it 4-1.

Desperate to close the gap, Brazil struggled to mount meaningful attacks. Argentina, on the other hand, continued to apply pressure with sharp passing and relentless pressing.

In the dying moments, De Paul unleashed a fierce long-range shot, narrowly missing the target as the ball skimmed over the crossbar. The final whistle confirmed Argentina’s dominant 4-1 victory, marking their biggest win over Brazil in 66 years.


 

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