 "Explained: Why Lionel Messi did not feature in Argentina's 4-1 thrashing of Brazil in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers")
Defending champions Argentina celebrated their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 4-1 thrashing of arch-rivals Brazil in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. ‘La Albiceleste’ have been by far the standout team in the CONMEBOL leg of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, winning 10 out of the 14 matches that they have played so far with one draw and three losses and a solid Goal Difference (GD) of 18.
Argentina currently enjoy a sizeable lead at the top of the South American standings with 31 points, eight points ahead of Ecuador and 10 more than Uruguay, Brazil an Paraguay – who have collected 21 points each.
The three-time world champions had already been assured of a place in the FIFA World Cup Finals after Bolivia held Uruguay to a goalless draw earlier on Tuesday. The Argentines would then celebrate even harder after Julian Alvarez (4’), Enzo Fernandez (12’), Alexis Mac Allister (37’) and Giuliano Simeone (71’) breached the Brazilian defence during their dominant victory.
🚨📉 Brazil have zero wins in their last 5 games against Argentina, with only 1 goal scored and 7 conceded.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 26, 2025
Brazil also conceded 4 goals last night for the first time in their history in World Cup Qualifiers. 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/YjsY3Qof0E
The evening would have been even more forgettable for ‘Selecao Canarinho’ had it not been for Mattheus Cunha capitalising on Cristian Romero’s blunder to score Brazil’s only goal in the 26th minute and half their deficit.
A notable absence in Tuesday’s match at Estadio Monumental was star forward Lionel Messi, who had played a major role in ending Argentina’s 36-year wait for a third world title in Qatar in 2022.
Why Lionel Messi did not feature in Argentina’s 4-1 victory over Brazil
Inter Miami star Messi sat out of Tuesday’s blockbuster World Cup Qualifying fixture due to an injury. The 37-year-old had been left out of Argentina’s squad due to a ‘low grade’ adductor injury that he had picked up during Miami’s 2-1 victory over Atlanta United in their Major League Soccer (MLS) fixture on Monday, 17 March.
Messi was on the pitch for the entire duration of the game, in which he scored the equaliser for The Herons in the 20th minute – nine minutes after Atlanta seized the lead. Haitian winger Fafà Picault later ensured Miami collected full points from the fixture with an 89th-minute winner.
Messi’s absence, however, was hardly felt by the Argentines as Lionel Scaloni’s men romped to a dominant victory over the five-time world champions.
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