Argentina thrashed rival Brazil 4-1 in a hotly contested South American derby on Tuesday in Buenos Aires. The circumstances surrounding the World Cup qualifier changed when Bolivia and Uruguay drew 0-0 earlier in the evening, as that result secured Argentina’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup and changed the mood of this match ever so slightly.

Nonetheless, it was a clásico replete with animosity and goals, which has been a rarity over years when the two CONMEBOL giants face off. The build-up to the match was highlighted by Barcelona winger Raphina’s comments earlier in the week. As a guest on legendary Brazilian striker Romario’s podcast, Raphinha claimed that Brazil would give Argentina “a beating on and off the pitch” on Tuesday.

Then, a rumor swirled that Argentina would display the World Cup trophy that it won in Qatar in 2022 on pitchside before the match. “There is no possibility of that happening,” Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said on Monday. Whenever Brazil and Argentina meet, tempers flare and football history clashes with present-day realities. Less than 500 days from the next World Cup, Brazil is looking up at their eternal rivals, something Argentines are gleefully relishing.

Argentina has owned the series of late, winning the 2021 Copa América final 1-0 over Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, and then claiming a first-ever World Cup qualifying win on Brazilian soil in November 2024. That momentum carried onto the pitch on Tuesday, as Argentina raced to a 3-1 halftime lead amid a raucous atmosphere at River Plate’s Estadio Monumental. Atlético Madrid striker Julián Alvarez opened the scoring in the fourth minute after poking the ball past Brazil’s third-choice goalkeeper Bento.

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández’s goal in the 12th minute stunned the Brazilians and set off an already celebratory crowd into raptures. Fernández latched on to a deflected pass from Nahuel Molina and finished from close range to double Argentina’s lead. Brazil was sloppy and unorganized in defense, which allowed Argentina to attack effectively in transition.

Yet, it was an uncharacteristic mistake from Argentina central defender Cristian Romero that allowed Brazil to get on the scoresheet. The Tottenham Hotspur man was stripped of the ball close to his own penalty area by Wolverhampton’s Matheus Cunha, who promptly put the ball past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez in the 26th minute.

The strike quieted the Monumental crowd and gave Brazil renewed energy. The five-time world champions gained possession and began to attack through Vinicius Jr. on the left flank. The tide began to turn until the 37th minute, when Alexis Mac Allister met a sparkling ball from Fernández after a well-worked spell of possession in Brazil’s final third. The Chelsea captain picked out Mac Allister’s darting run, and the Liverpool midfielder flicked the ball cleverly over a desperate Bento. Argentina extended the lead when Giuliano Simeone scored from a nearly impossible angle in the 71st minute. It was his first touch of the match after entering seconds earlier.

Here are more thoughts on an Argentine rout and Brazilian embarrassment:

Argentina reigns supreme in South America 

With Argentina leading by three goals, Martínez, Aston Villa’s star goalkeeper, received a pass back and began to juggle the ball, further humiliating the Brazilians. Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes approached Brazil’s No. 10 Rodrygo and told him, “We have one World Cup and Copa Americas. You have zero.”

After Raphinha sought to stoke the flames of already heated rivalry, the Brazilians left Buenos Aires bullied and humbled. The Argentines danced around Brazil for the entirety of the second half. Brazil’s lack of urgency and ineffectiveness tactically would be alarming, but Brazil is an inconsistent football powerhouse that’s missing an identity on the pitch. Neymar, the beloved talisman, was set to return for this FIFA window, but a muscle injury ruled him out. There was hope that he would rekindle Brazil’s ego. Instead, the Seleção were beaten badly by an Argentine team that could lay claim to being the best in the country’s history.

Argentina just fine without Lionel Messi

Argentina claimed two wins and qualified for the World Cup in this window, as Messi stayed in Fort Lauderdale to train with Inter Miami. An adductor injury meant that he had to watch from home, but in Argentina, there was little worry about Scaloni’s men in these fixtures.

“We play the same way every time we put on this shirt,” Argentina captain Rodrigo De Paul said. “It doesn’t matter what competition we’re playing. We wanted to give the fans something to celebrate tonight.”

Added Paredes: “We played a spectacular game. We’re happy to have won in this manner.”

Lyon midfielder Thiago Almada, 23, took Messi’s place in Argentina’s starting XI vs. Uruguay and again against Brazil. He scored a stunning winner on Friday in Montevideo and assisted Alvarez on Argentina’s first goal on Tuesday. Almada performed admirably and was just one more example of how deep and complete this Argentina team is even without Messi, whose six goals remain the most in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying.

What’s next for Argentina and Brazil?

Argentina can now rest comfortably knowing that qualification to the 2026 World Cup is secured. La Albiceleste have joined Japan, New Zealand and Iran – in addition to the three cohosts – in the 48-team field and will officially have the chance to successfully defend their title. Expect Scaloni to continue to rest Messi and expand his player pool a year from the tournament in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Argentina will visit Chile and then host Colombia during the next FIFA window in June.

Brazil, on the other hand, will limp into the next fixtures against Ecuador and Paraguay. Head coach Dorival Junior will no doubt be heavily scrutinized after Tuesday night’s performance. The fear and anxiety that surrounded the team earlier in the qualification process had dissipated slightly before the Argentina match, and while the Brazilians will qualify for the World Cup – the Seleção sit six points clear for an automatic berth with four qualifiers remaining – their ongoing inconsistencies and diminishing prowess in South America are harsh truths for the world’s preeminent football nation.

(Top photo: Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)