The former Valencia player scored the only goal of a match in which the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner played with physical discomfort.
In the run-up to Argentina’s World Cup qualifier against Brazil, there was a lot of talk about Lionel Messi’s record against the Selecao. He had failed to score in an official match against his country’s biggest rival, and with the World Cup champion heading to the famous Maracana, could this be the match where he finally finds his big moment?
Ultimately, Messi’s most important role was that of peacemaker, as he led his team off the pitch after some horrific scenes before the match. Once the game started after a 30-minute delay, Messi would not be the hero. No, this time it was someone a bit more earthy. Nicolás Otamendi scored the only goal in Argentina’s 1-0 win, a goal that keeps them on course for early qualification for 2026.
Most importantly, it has added to the misery for Brazil, who have now lost three games in a row. an unexpected streak for the five-time World Cup winners.
It was not a comfortable victory for Argentina as the match lacked rhythm from the start and the players were clearly irritated by the events leading up to kick-off. However, once things calmed down, Argentina seized their moment and handed Brazil their first defeat in history when playing at home in the qualifiers.
GOAL rates the Argentinian players in the Maracaná…
Source: Goal