Brazil crumbles against Messi-less Argentina in World Cup qualifier

Argentina defeated Brazil 4-1 in the 2026 World Cup qualifier at the Monumental Stadium, Buenos Aires. Despite playing without captain Lionel Messi, the hosts remained dominant—Brazil managed only one shot on target.

Vinícius Júnior acknowledged his team’s shortcomings after the match. “We all performed poorly, while Argentina played excellently with their fans’ support,” he stated.

“We need to rethink everything we’ve been doing. The World Cup is just a year away, and I don’t want to lose again. We need to do many different things to build a better team,” expressed Vinícius.

This defeat marks Brazil’s fifth loss in the qualifiers—placing them fourth in the standings, 10 points behind Argentina, who have already secured their ticket to the 2026 World Cup.

Raphinha’s provocative comments before the match drew responses from Argentine players. Emiliano Martínez stated that such statements only motivated their team to perform better.

Coach Dorival Júnior took full responsibility for his team’s poor performance. Amid mounting pressure, Brazilian media reports suggest that the Brazilian Football Confederation is considering Carlo Ancelotti as a coaching candidate if Dorival is dismissed in the coming months.

Brazil will return to action in June, facing Ecuador and Paraguay in the next World Cup qualifiers.