The Argentine captain offered his take on what unfolded in the lead-up to the clash, focusing on the charged scene between Brazilian authorities and Argentine supporters.
Argentina secured a landmark victory over Brazil at the Maracanã, with Nicolas Otamendi netting the decisive goal to seal a 1-0 win on the sixth matchday of the South American Qualifiers. The result marked a historic moment for the visitors and snapped a lengthy period without triumphs in Brazil’s famous stadium.
The synopsis of Brazil 0-1 Argentina in the 2026 South American Qualifiers highlights the key moments, tactical setups, the solitary goal, and the surrounding debates that followed.
In the lead-up to the game, Brazilian security forces faced sharp criticism for their crackdown on Argentinian supporters. Amid the chaos and pleas for restraint, the Argentine players stood up in defense of their fans and then retired to the locker room as officials sought to restore order.
After the final whistle, Lionel Messi commented on the disturbing scenes, saying: “We saw people being struck, reminiscent of what happened in the Libertadores final. There was heavy-handed force aimed at fans with families present. It shifts focus away from playing and reminds everyone of what can go wrong.”
Messi added that returning to the locker room was a measure to help calm the situation. “We went to the changing room to cool things down a bit. Downstairs there wasn’t much we could do, and we witnessed the crowd being targeted. An accidental escalation could have occurred. Once things quieted, we returned to locker rooms to regroup and then went back out when it was safe.”
As the match concluded, the sentiment within this squad remained clear: the group continues to achieve historic feats. Winning in Brazil, a country historically formidable as the home team, carried extra significance especially after the setback against Uruguay and the long-standing resistance of Brazil as a host nation.
Overall, the report underscores a night of football that combined on-field drama with off-field tensions, and it reflects the broader narrative of South American qualifiers where passion, politics, and sport often collide (Goal).”