Argentina secured a victory over their rivals Brazil at the Maracana stadium through a powerful header by Nicolas Otamendi.
This win allowed Argentina to maintain their position at the top of the 2026 World Cup qualifying standings, in a match characterized by physicality. However, the delay of the match by thirty minutes due to violent clashes in the stands was just an underlying theme in the overall story.
The hostility shown during the match was evident throughout the full 90 minutes, as Argentina and Brazil engaged in a match filled with fouls and limited opportunities. Gabriel Martinelli missed a clear scoring chance for Brazil during the match, shooting straight at Emiliano Martinez shortly after halftime.
This missed opportunity would later prove crucial, as Otamendi scored a powerful header from a corner after the match had passed the one-hour mark, securing the three points for his team. Brazil played with great intensity and lack of discipline for a majority of the game, resulting in 25 fouls being called against them.
However, it seemed unfair when Joelinton was ejected from the match with only eight minutes remaining, as Rodrigo de Paul deceived the referee with a clear act of diving.
The Brazil national team will be greatly concerned and alarmed after their chaotic defeat, as they have now fallen to sixth place in the qualifying standings. This defeat marks their third loss in the first six games.